SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS UNPROFOR MANDATE UNTIL 31 JANUARY 1996

Press Release
SC/6134

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS UNPROFOR MANDATE UNTIL 31 JANUARY 1996

The Security Council this afternoon extended the mandate of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) for a two-month period until 31 January 1996, pending further action by the Council with regard to implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace (Peace Agreement) in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Unanimously adopting draft resolution 1026 (1995), the Council once again welcomed the 21 November initialling of the Peace Agreement and its annexes by the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) and the parties thereto in Dayton, Ohio.

Also welcoming the positive role played by UNPROFOR and paying tribute to its personnel in the performance of their mandate, the Council stressed the need for all parties to comply fully with all provisions of the Peace Agreement and to cooperate fully with UNPROFOR and maintain the current cease- fire prior to the entry into force of the Peace Agreement.

The Council invited the Secretary-General to keep it appropriately informed on developments in the peace process and report as soon as possible on implementation of the Peace Agreement, in order to enable members to take a decision ensuring an orderly transfer of authority to a multinational Implementation Force as envisaged in the Peace Agreement.

The meeting, which was called to order at 12:39 p.m., was adjourned at 12:44 p.m.

Resolution Adopted

Council resolution 1026 (1995), sponsored by Argentina, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and the United States, reads as follows:

"The Security Council,

"Recalling all its previous relevant resolutions and in particular its resolutions 982 (1995) of 31 March 1995 and 998 (1995) of 16 June 1995,

"Reaffirming its commitments to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

"Welcoming again the initialling of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Annexes thereto (collectively the Peace Agreement, S/1995/999, annex) by the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the other parties thereto on 21 November 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, signifying agreement between the parties to sign formally the Peace Agreement,

"Stressing the need for all parties to comply fully with all provisions of the Peace Agreement, and, prior to the entry into force of that agreement, the need for all parties to cooperate fully with the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) and to maintain the current cease-fire agreement,

"Welcoming the positive role played by UNPROFOR, and paying tribute to the personnel of UNPROFOR in the performance of their mandate,

"Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 23 November 1995 (S/1995/987),

"Reaffirming its determination to ensure the security and freedom of movement of the personnel of United Nations peace-keeping operations in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, and, to these ends, acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

"1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General of 23 November 1995;

"2. Decides to extend the mandate of UNPROFOR for a period terminating on 31 January 1996, pending further action by the Council with regard to the implementation of the Peace Agreement;

"3. Invites the Secretary-General to keep the Council informed on developments in the peace process and to submit as soon as possible to the Council reports, containing the necessary information and recommendations, on aspects of the implementation of the Peace Agreement as they affect the United Nations in order to enable the Council to take a decision ensuring an orderly transfer of authority as envisaged in the Peace Agreement;

"4. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter."

Secretary-General's Report

In considering extension of UNPROFOR's mandate, which expires today, the Council had before it the report of the Secretary-General (S/1995/987) on the three "separate, but interlinked" United Nations peace-keeping missions in the former Yugoslavia.

Security Council - 3 - Press Release SC/6134 3601st Meeting (PM) 30 November 1995

On UNPROFOR, the report states that the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the current mandate period was dominated by three main elements: an unprecedented level of military activity; the changed roles of UNPROFOR and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), both of which had become militarily engaged against the Bosnian Serbs; and the United States-led peace initiative, which had ushered in real opportunity for a political solution to the conflict.

Compliance with the cease-fire that entered into force on 12 October 1995, has been noticeably better than with previous cease-fires. United Nations military observers were now operating in Bosnian Serb-held areas and UNPROFOR and humanitarian convoys, as well as escorted civilian vehicles, moved freely in and out of Sarajevo and Gorazde.

Investigations of recent expulsions from northern Bosnia revealed significant human rights abuses, while denial of access to Srebrenica continued to impede efforts to determine the full extent of humanitarian and human rights abuses following the fall of the enclave, the report continues. Of particular concern are reports that hundreds of men of military age have been separated from persons forcibly displaced from Banja Luka and other Bosnian Serb-controlled towns. The fate of those men and of hundreds of others remains unknown.

Meanwhile, limited progress in the political, social and economic integration of the Bosniac-Croat Federation has resulted in difficulties for United Nations activities. Continuation of the Federation, which serves as a foundation for the peace process, is threatened by the failure of both parties to agree on fundamental issues such as transfers of responsibility to the Federation and resettlement of displaced persons.

The report states that the Peace Agreement initialled at Dayton promises to mark a turning-point in the endeavour to re-establish stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since the Agreement envisages implementation of the military and regional stabilization aspects as the responsibility of a new Implementation Force (IFOR), to be authorized by the Council, it will be a primary task for UNPROFOR to arrange for the transfer of responsibility to IFOR. Planning for that transfer has been under way in close consultation with NATO, on which the Secretary-General will report to the Council as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, UNPROFOR's recently improved ability to carry out its mandate in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been due primarily to the revitalization of the peace process. That process, which culminated in the initialling of the Peace Agreement, coupled with Bosnian Serb military reverses, has brought about enhanced compliance by the parties with the cease-fire of 12 October. The assumption by President Slovodan Milosevic of the authority to conduct negotiations on behalf of the Republika Srpska has been an important factor. Another critical element is the increased deterrence achieved as a result of

Security Council - 4 - Press Release SC/6134 3601st Meeting (PM) 30 November 1995

the manner in which NATO air power and the rapid reaction force were employed in August and September, following redeployments that greatly reduced UNPROFOR's vulnerability throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In light of the improving situation and of the critical financial situation of the United Nations, the Secretary-General has accepted the recommendations of his Special Representative and the Force Commander that only essential forces should be retained to implement UNPROFOR's mandate pending a transition to other arrangements. As a result, UNPROFOR will decline in strength from about 30,500 to about 21,600 by mid-December 1995. Further reductions are also possible, given the greatly reduced need for UNPROFOR to escort humanitarian convoys. Those reductions do not pre-empt any decision by the Security Council on the military aspect of the implementation of the Peace Agreement. Some countries contributing troops to UNPROFOR have expressed interest in joining the Implementation Force (IFOR). It will be the Secretary-General's intention to withdraw as soon as practicable contingents not joining the multinational force.

The Secretary-General recommends that the current mandate of UNPROFOR be extended for two months, or until an appropriate transfer of authority is executed between UNPROFOR and the incoming Implementation Force. United Nations Peace Forces headquarters in Zagreb has held exploratory discussions with NATO about action to be taken if it should be decided to replace UNPROFOR with a NATO-led multinational force. The Secretary-General is currently analyzing the implications for the United Nations, should the Security Council decide to authorize the continuation of civilian tasks, such as humanitarian and civilian police activities, which were contained in the Peace Agreement.

It is anticipated that, prior to any such transfer of authority, increased demands will be placed on the United Nations Peace Forces to allow Sarajevo Airport to be used for categories of air traffic other than those specified in the agreement of 5 June 1992 (document S/24075, annex), as endorsed by the Security Council in its resolution 761 (1992) of 29 June 1992. Considering that expanded use of the airport is now critically needed, the Secretary-General is authorizing his Special Representative to permit, on a case by case basis, expanded use of the airport.

The Secretary-General concludes by stating that in light of actions that will have to be decided to implement the Peace Agreement, including the transfer of responsibility from UNPROFOR to a multinational force, he is not in a position at this stage to recommend definitive changes in the structure of the United Nations presence in the former Yugoslavia.

Also before the Council, as it considered extension of UNPROFOR's mandate, was a letter of 29 November from the Permanent Representative of the United States to the Secretary-General, transmitting the text of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (document S/1995/999).

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