TAJIK OPPOSITION ACCEPTS GOVERNMENT POSTS.

President Imomali Rahmonov yesterday appointed representatives of the United Tajik Opposition, or candidates acceptable to the UTO, to several cabinet-level posts. The appointees are Dovlat Usmon as minister of Economics and Foreign Trade, Hudoiberdy Huliknazarov as Labor minister, Dovlatbek Maksudov as minister for Land and Water Resources, and Rahim Karimov as head of the State Committee for Customs. Rahmonov’s office–but not the president himself–announced that more cabinet appointments might follow. Under the June 1997 political agreement to end the civil war, the UTO is entitled to 30 percent of government posts. (Russian and international agencies, February 12; see also Monitor, February 12)

The most conspicuous of yesterday’s appointments is that of the UTO’s military chief of staff, Usmon, to the economics portfolio. Usmon has been remarkably successful as a commander. Switching him to civilian status confirms that those around Rahmonov intend the "integration" of UTO and government forces as simply the dissolution of the former into the latter, under the incumbent regime commanders. The same intention is implicit in the appointment of Karimov — better known as Mullo Abdurrahim, a field commander of UTO forces — to the customs post.

On the other hand, the customs portfolio is more significant than meets the eye because that State Committee has until now been considered as one of the regime’s sources of graft. The labor portfolio going to Huliknazarov is far less meaningful compared to his post as foreign minister in the 1992 government of "national reconciliation". In his new capacity, Huliknazarov might help former opposition fighters to settle down to homes and jobs.

UTO’s First Deputy Chairman Akbar Turanjozoda, considered the most sophisticated political leader of the opposition, does not yet feel that he can safely return and remains in Tehran for now. Turanjozoda, the principal negotiator of the 1997 agreements, is in line for a first deputy prime minister’s post as part of the UTO’s quota. But Rahmonov insists that Turanjozoda return first and receive his appointment from the president later. (Tehran Radio, February 11)

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