SECRETARY-GENERAL PRAISES NEGOTIATORS WHO LAID FOUNDATION FOR PEACE IN BOSNIA, PLEDGES UN SUPPORT FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF AGREEMENT
Press Release
SG/SM/5848
SECRETARY-GENERAL PRAISES NEGOTIATORS WHO LAID FOUNDATION FOR PEACE IN BOSNIA, PLEDGES UN SUPPORT FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF AGREEMENT
19951213 Following is the text of a statement made by Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali on Friday, 8 December, in London before the third London Conference on Bosnia and Herzegovina:A negotiator tries to deny himself the luxury of hope. But through perseverance and creativity, the negotiator can produce hope. At Dayton the world was given the gift of hope. We salute the brilliant diplomacy which has brought us here today. As I do so, I ask you also to pay tribute to the dedicated efforts of Cyrus Vance, Lord David Owen and Mr. Stoltenberg, and those of the Contact Group. Their work laid the foundation for the breakthrough that has brought us here today. While war raged on, when peace seemed forever elusive, the negotiators continued. They have achieved an agreement that can succeed. We owe them our deepest thanks.
Thus, it is with a sense of hope that I address this third London Conference that it has been my privilege to attend. Thank you, Prime Minister Major, for convening this important gathering. Let us hope that this is the last time we must meet to consider the terrible tragedy of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
At this bright time of hope for peace, I cannot but recall -- and pay tribute to -- the courageous and committed personnel of the United Nations. Whether their duties were military or civilian, they have risked their lives and suffered hardship for three and a half years in order to bring relief and hope to the innocent victims of war. Two hundred and thirteen have been killed and about 2,000 have been injured, some grievously. Throughout this long and horrible conflict many lives have been saved, many people have been comforted, many refugees have been helped because of the presence of United Nations personnel. The war has been contained. Diplomacy was given time to succeed. These too are achievements for which heroic United Nations personnel and also those of international humanitarian organizations, including non- governmental organizations, deserve much credit. With inadequate resources and with often impossible requirements, they did their best. I cannot tell you how proud I am of them.
- 2 - Press Release SG/SM/5848 13 December 1995
In 1992 we met here in London to unite the peacemaking efforts of the European Union with the peace-keeping efforts of the United Nations. Last July we met here at a turning point in our efforts to end the fighting. Today we are meeting to finalize the means to ensure a lasting peace for the peoples affected by this war.
Let me mention some general principles that will guide us in the United Nations in our future endeavours. Our mandate stems from the provisions of the Charter and the resolutions of the Security Council. Within this framework we shall do our utmost to assist the parties to the peace agreements to live up to their commitments. But it must be understood that the primary responsibility lies with the parties themselves. The United Nations can, of course, only assist to the extent that we are provided with the resources to do so.
Some questions remain to be addressed in the course of this meeting. These include the accountability of the United Nations elements, through the Secretary-General, to the Member States. I look forward to working with you to ensure that the many and complicated tasks called for by the Agreement are carried out as smoothly and cooperatively as possible.
My Special Representative, Kofi Annan, has been working closely with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to ensure a smooth transition to the Implementation Force (IFOR). Military planning is well advanced. United Nations personnel have been working to clear land-mines in advance of IFOR's arrival. I am here to pledge to you that the United Nations stands ready to help implement the peace Agreement. Within the range of its abilities and the resources provided to it, the United Nations will do all that it can to support the Agreement.
On the civilian side, much remains to be done. A division of labour is foreseen. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the European Union, the World Bank and other major organizations will be involved. The United Nations has been asked to help in specific areas, namely humanitarian relief, refugees and civilian police.
Let us then look forward. We have all learned bitter lessons from three violent years. Let us join hands here in London, go to Paris and then go to work in Bosnia and Herzegovina. There is much to be done. Winston Churchill said that one cannot guarantee success, one can only deserve it. Let us deserve it.
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