Zulkharneyev AlbertUrals State UniversityDepartment of International RelationsEkaterinburg

1. Zulkharneyev Albert Urals State University Department of International Relations (Ekaterinburg, Russia)

2.  The Iranian policy and security in Central Asia

(Iran and the Civil War in Tajikistan (1992 – 1997)

3. Iran and the Civil War in Tajikistanmain aspects of the problem:

By the early 1990-s Iran had no stated interests or positions in Central Asia - investigation of main approaches to policy in Central Asia discussed in the Iranian power circles Clarification of the Iranian aspirations in the conflict - exploration of the Iranian activities during the conflict,especially the relationships with the hostile sides

4. The Civil War in Tajikistan(1992-1997)

50 000 (some sources estimate 150 000) civil and military fatal casualties 500 000 people had been displaced (overall population 5,4 million) Military involvement of approximately 25 000 peacekeepers Photo: Zhukov Sergey / ITAR -TASS

6. Opposition

Islamic Renaissance Party – for revival of the role of Islam Rastokhez Popular Movement – nationalist movement Democratic Party of Tajikistan - 1994 – the United Tajik Oposition – for participation in negotiations Said Abdullah Nuri –Leader of the United Tajik Opposition Muslim leader during the war – Qazi Kalon Turajonzoda (in 1991 and today)

7. The official government (Dushanbe) The People’s Front – based on the Presidential Guards of President Nabiev (1991-1992) The Communist Party Nabiev- the Communist Leader (1982 –86) and the Pesident (1991-92) Rakhmonov – President of Tajikistan (since 1992)

8. Main stages of the Tajik conflict

December 1991 - Collapse of the USSR - Independence of Tajikistan (the former Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic) - Presidential elections – the Opposition did not accept the results of the elections and did not accept new president Nabiev December 1991-May 1992 - mass public demonstrations of supporters of the Opposition and President in capital Dushanbe, clashes between demonstrators

9. Main stages of the Tajik conflict

May 1992 – Nabiev formed the coalition government - The Leaders of the South region did not recognize this government and began marching to capital Dushanbe - November 1992 – Dushanbe had been captured – Rakhmonov became the President 1992 –1997 – the Civil War, breakthroughs over the Tajik- Afghan border

10. Searching for peace

1993 – 2000 – CIS peacekeeping forces 1994 – beginning of the Inter-Tajik negotiations under the aegis of the UN Observers: Russia Pakistan Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Iran Afghanistan Uzbekistan Turkmenistan OSCE OIC

11. The end of the war

1996-1997 – intensification of the Inter-Tajik negotiations June, 27 1997 – General Agreement on the establishment of Peace and National Accord was signed (Moscow)

12. The Islamic Republic of Iran in the beginning of the1990-s

1988- Cessation of the Iraq – Iran War 1989 – death of Imam Khomeiny Certain political and economic liberalization, growth in the living standards Main aims overcoming the consequences oh the War with Iraq Modernization of the national economy Khomeiny Khatemi - leader Rafsanjani - President (1989-1997)

13. Main political powers in Iran ( in the early 1990-s)

More conservative and radical clergy - supported the idea of spreading the Islamic revolution Moderate Clergy - Iran should have the status of «civilized» member of the world community.

14. Interests and Positions of Iran in Tajikistanmain approaches

The Russian diplomat: “ The Persians did not have any unified approach to the Tajik question: Tehran took “weighed” position, but the leaders of the religion Iranian capital Qom categorically supported the sacred war of the opposition”

15. We can say that the idea of caution in policy in Central Asia and Tajikistan prevailed

Global and regional Iranian interests: Breakthrough of the International Isolation and receiving the status of the leading country in the region

16. Interests

Inadmissibility of western presence in the region Rivalry and cooperation with Turkey Stabilization of situation in Afghanistan and preserving Iranian influence there Spreading the ideas of the Islamic revolution and the Iranian culture Development of cooperation which is useful for modernization of the country Internal domestic security

17. Interests in Afghanistan

Before 1996 retention of leading role of the ethnic Tajiks in power preservation of the territorial integrity of Afghanistan (stability on the eastern Iranian borders)

18. Afghanistan : new threats

since 1996 the threat of the Taliban’s offensive contradictions between Sunnites and Shiites destabilization on the Eastern borders and awaited flow of refugees and upset of the ethnic balance

19. Ideology and Culture

The possibilities for spreading the ideas of Islamic revolution and state in Tajikistan were limited Mesbahi: “skeptical optimism” Skepticism in today’s practice and optimism in the sphere of future possibilities

20. Possibilities of Culture

To use the great potential of the Iranian Culture , especially of the non-religious ethnic part to break through the international isolation Close connections between the questions of policy and security and culture were emphasized The common culture in the past was interpreted as common Iranian culture.

22. Main Iranian Interests in Tajikistan during the conflict (1992-1997)

Achieving the situation in Tajikistan which could not threaten external or domestic security of Iran (the territorial integrity of Tajikistan, inviolability of its borders, stabilization) Emergence of the Iranian political, cultural, ideological and economic influence in Tajikistan

23. Main principles of the Iranian policy in Tajikistan (1992 –1997)

Creation, support and retention of the source of political, cultural and economic influence in Tajikistan The Islamite opposition was considered as this source at that time The officials in Tehran presumed that the best and the most effective way to achieve this goal was the Iranian involvement in the settlement of the conflict This participation could help to improve Iran’s image and to win recognition among other countries of Central Asia

24. Main principles of the Iranian policy in Tajikistan (1992 –1997)

But the radical part of the Iranian elite thought that it was possible to render unofficial military and financial support to the opposition

25. Relationships of Iran with the sides of the conflict

Flexible policy Tehran sympathized with the Tajik opposition and rendered assistance for it At the same time tried to develop relations with the official government Mesbahi: the purpose of the Iranian policy was to achieve the situation in Tajikistan when the opposition would be perceived as the serious political power. Rakhmonov and Rafsanjani

26. Relationships with opposition

Diplomatic and political support to the UTO during the negotiations Officially Iran did not gave military or financial assistance, but it is difficult to define the role of different Iranian organizations which could provide this kind of support Iran saw in the UTO the way for its influence in Tajikistan, but the UTO saw in Iran just one of the possible sources of assistance and because of the limited character of this aid the opposition changed its attitude to Iran

27. Iran - Russia

1992 –1993 – mutual misgivings 1993 – 1996 – beginning of cooperation 1996-1997 – intensification of the Inter-Tajik negotiations Russia influenced the official Dushanbe, Iran influenced the Tajik opposition at the critical junctures of negotiations and the eventual success and cessation of war were achieved.

28. Conclusion

Iran taking in account its domestic policy, problems of security, necessity to have positive relationships with Russia, Central Asia and Transcaucasus republics played an important role in the Tajik settlement Iranian policy was one of the main factors of preserving security and stability in Central Asia