DUSHANBE, June 24, 2009, Asia-Plus — “We were ready for negotiations form the very first days. We expressed full readiness in the spring of 1993 already, but the government that time was still in euphoria. They stated that they will negotiate only with those who did not stain their hands with blood during the civil. Simultaneously, they accused the Islamic Revival Party of unleashing war,” known Tajik cleric and one of leaders of former Tajik United Opposition (UTO Hoji Akbar Turajonzoda said in an interview with Kazakhstan’s STAN TV.
“At that time, we were really a powerful political movement and had strong support both inside the country and outside it and under such an approach, long and bloody war would be inevitable,” Mr. Turajonzoda noted.
Reconciliation was the main issue of bilateral meetings. “We all wanted peace but the ways of seeking solution to the problem were different. It is natural that the government wanted peace without any opposition movements in the future, that is it wanted to have the monopoly on power,” said Turajonzoda, “We thought not only about the peace, we also thought about what Tajikistan will be in the future. Therefore, opposition offered to establish a bicameral parliament…that allowed providing balance of regional and local interests. For Tajikistan, it was historical chance to join leading democratic countries. Today we are glad that peace had come to the country…”
According to him, the Islamic Revival Party (IRPT) now does not influence any political decision making in the country, however, “we have our own view on many things taking place in the country…and sometimes, it differs from the government’s one.” “And it is good because society cannot develop freely if there are no opposition forces within it,” Mr. Turajonzoda said.
We will recall that Tajikistan marks a National Unity Day on June 27. The General Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and National Accord in Tajikistan was signed in Moscow on June 27, 1997.
