Dushanbe, June 27 (RFE/RL) -- A high-ranking United Nations official in Tajikistan says the U.N. Security Council is running out of patience with the stalemate over negotiating a settlement between the Tajik government and opposition forces.
The U.N. Secretary General's special representative, Gerd Merrem, told RFE/RL that he hopes the next round of talks -- scheduled for July 8 -- will produce an effective truce.
At present, the worst fighting continues to be in the opposition-controlled eastern region of Tavildara.
Merrem said he met recently with Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov and that he would meet in Afghanistan during the next few days with opposition leader Abdulloh Nuri for preparatory talks.
Merrem said continued fighting puts enormous burden on the people of Tajikistan at a time when other countries of the region are showing signs of social and economic recovery.
The U.N. Secretary General's special representative, Gerd Merrem, told RFE/RL that he hopes the next round of talks -- scheduled for July 8 -- will produce an effective truce.
At present, the worst fighting continues to be in the opposition-controlled eastern region of Tavildara.
Merrem said he met recently with Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov and that he would meet in Afghanistan during the next few days with opposition leader Abdulloh Nuri for preparatory talks.
Merrem said continued fighting puts enormous burden on the people of Tajikistan at a time when other countries of the region are showing signs of social and economic recovery.