DAILY HIGHLIGHTS FOR: 22 November 1995
Press Release
DH/2028
DAILY HIGHLIGHTS FOR: 22 November 1995
19951122 * Security Council, welcoming Dayton breakthrough, decides to terminate arms embargo against former Yugoslavia in phases as soon as parties formally sign Peace Agreement.* Security Council decides to suspend sanctions against Federal Republic of Yugoslavia indefinitely, provided it signs Dayton Peace Agreement; sanctions to remain in force against Bosnian Serbs until they withdraw behind zones of separation.
* Special Envoy Annan meets with representatives of UNPF, UNHCR and ICRC in Zagreb to discuss ongoing humanitarian efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
* Secretary-General arrives in Ottawa for two-day official visit to Canada; hails Canadian commitment to peace, development, justice and human rights.
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The Security Council today welcomed the initialling of the Peace Agreement by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) in Dayton, Ohio. The Council decided to terminate the arms embargo imposed by resolution 713 (1991) as soon as the Secretary-General reported that the parties had formally signed the Agreement. It took that action by adopting resolution 1021 (1995) by 14 votes in favour to none against, with the Russian Federation abstaining.
The Council decided that the provisions of the embargo should remain in place during the first 90 days following the submission of the Secretary- General's report. During the second 90 days, all provisions should be terminated, except that the delivery of heavy weapons and ammunition for them, mines, military aircraft and helicopters should continue to be prohibited until an arms control agreement took effect. After 180 days, and after a report from the Secretary-General on the implementation of Annex 1B of the
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Peace Agreement (Agreement on Regional Stabilization), all provisions would terminate unless the Council decided otherwise.
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The Security Council also decided today to suspend its sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), with the proviso that they would be automatically reimposed if the Federal Republic did not sign the Peace Agreement reached yesterday in Dayton. The Council took that action by unanimously adopting resolution 1022 (1995), which welcomed the initialling of the Agreement.
The Security Council specified that the suspension of sanctions would not apply to the Bosnian Serb party until the day after all Bosnian Serb forces had withdrawn behind the zones of separation established in the Peace Agreement. The Council also stipulated that sanctions would be reimposed if the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) or the Bosnian Serbs failed significantly to meet their obligations under the Peace Agreement, unless the Council decided otherwise taking into consideration the nature of the non-compliance.
The Council decided that the sanctions would be terminated on the tenth day following the holding of free and fair elections provided for in the Peace Agreement, provided the Bosnian Serbs had withdrawn from and respected the zones of separation. It decided that all funds and assets frozen or impounded under the sanctions regime could be released in accordance with applicable law. It added that suspension or termination of obligations pursuant to today's action would be without prejudice to the claims of successor States to the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
The Council urged all parties concerned to assist in locating the two French pilots missing in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to ensure their immediate and safe return. * * *
Special Envoy Kofi Annan today convened a meeting in Zagreb of representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations Peace Forces (UNPF). They discussed the transition to the international force as it will effect ongoing humanitarian efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Mr. Annan and Thorvald Stoltenberg, Co-Chairman of the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia, met yesterday with Serb leaders in Sector East to discuss follow-up to the Basic Agreement on the Region of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium. The Agreement was signed by the Croatian Government and the local Serbs on 12 November.
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Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali arrived in Ottawa last night at the start of a two-day official visit to Canada. He was received at the airport by Romeo LeBlanc, Governor-General of Canada, the Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations, Robert Fowler, and senior Government officials.
This morning, the Secretary-General laid a wreath at the Peace-keeping Monument in Ottawa, and met peace-keepers from the Canadian Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He was later awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws by Carleton University.
In the afternoon, Mr. Boutros-Ghali attended the final meeting of the Canadian Committee for the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations. He later delivered a public lecture at the Ottawa Congress Centre, as part of the World Leaders Series hosted by the United Nations Association of Canada and the Canadian Committee for the Fiftieth Anniversary.
During the day, the Secretary-General expressed gratitude for Canada's dedication to the United Nations, and for its involvement in international affairs. With its unwavering commitment to peace, development, justice and human rights, Canada could be crucial to the future of the world Organization, he said.
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