DUSHANBE, March 17, Asia-Plus  -- Muhammadsharif Himmatzoda was the only member of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) who admitted that IRPT’s participation in the inter-Tajik armed confrontation in the 1990s had been a mistake, Professor Ibrohim Usmonov, who was head of the government group in the inter-Tajik peace negotiations in 1994-1997, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

“As member of the United Tajik Opposition (UTO) in this negotiations, Himmatzoda did a lot for reestablishment of peace and national accord in the country,” said Usmonov, “He was clever and fair man, he always could persist in his opinion, but in case of necessity, he could make compromise with his opponents if it was in the interest of the country.”

He stressed that Mr. Himmatzoda had devoted his life for restoration of freedom of religion in the country.