DUSHANBE, April 29, 2011, Asia-Plus — A meeting of the Public Council of Tajikistan is being held in Dushanbe today.
Presided over by President Emomali Rahmon, the meeting is expected to consider issues related to development of civil society in the country as well as preservation of dialogue between the government and political parties and public associations.
The meeting will also review the results of its work and determine further plans of work, the source at the government said.
The Public Council of Tajikistan was established in April 1996 on the basis of the Public Accord Agreement signed first on March 9, 1996 for the period of three years by pro-government political parties and NGOs in a show of support for the peace process. It was prolonged for further three years in 1999.
The Public Council now comprises representatives of state bodies, political parties, religious organizations and civil society. Seven of eight officially registered political parties of the country were represented in the Public Council; the Social Democratic Party (SDPT) has never been member of the Public Council. The Public Council established the Social partnership Club, which brings together some 70 representatives of the Public Council to discuss and find consensus on pressing social issues.
The Islamic Revival (IRP) and Democratic (DPT) parties decided to withdraw from the Public Council of Tajikistan in March 2010 in protest against the official results of the February 28 parliamentary elections in the country.
