DUSHANBE, April 29, 2011, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan needs the Public Council and its main tasks is in joining efforts of civil society and political forces for further development of the country.
President Emomali Rahmon remarked this in his address to a meeting of the Public Council of Tajikistan that took place in Dushanbe on April 29.
Rahmon denied speculations by some politicians and experts that the Public Council allegedly outlived its usefulness as baseless. According to him, to make some important decisions he has always ordered his executive office to know opinion of members of the Public Council.
“The main task of the Public Council has been in joining efforts of civil society and political forces for development Tajikistan,” stressed the head of state, “This task remains topical today as well.”
Rahmon offered to establish institutions similar to the Public Council in the provinces as well. These institutions could become consultative-analytical centers, he noted.
72 of 86 members of the Public Council have attended today’s meeting.
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.
We will recall that known Tajik religious leader and politician Hoji Akbar Turajonzoda told Asia-Plus on Aril 28 that there is no need for the Public Council, because it does not discuss and resolve any acute problems facing Tajik society. According to him, there have been no any real discussions on serious subjects during the Council’s meetings. “I have never been member of the Public Council, but according to some of its members, the Council meets one or twice a year just for the sake of appearances, while president’s participation in work of the Council reminds me of one-gate-game (one-way street). The president usually speaks on any subject and leaves, without knowing opinions of the Council members,” Turajonzoda said.
