SECURITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY AUTHORIZES MULTINATIONAL MILITARY IMPLEMENTATION FORCE TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH PEACE AGREEMENT FOR BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Press Release
SC/6143
SECURITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY AUTHORIZES MULTINATIONAL MILITARY IMPLEMENTATION FORCE TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH PEACE AGREEMENT FOR BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
19951215 The Security Council, acting under Chapter VII of the Charter, this afternoon evening authorized Member States to establish a multinational military Implementation Force (IFOR), under unified control and command and composed of ground, air and maritime units from North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) nations and non-NATO nations, to ensure compliance with the provisions of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (document A/50/790-S/1995/999).The Council took that action in unanimously adopting resolution 1031 (1995) which also authorized Member States concerned to take all necessary measures to effect implementation of the Peace Agreement and ensure compliance with its provisions.
The Council stressed that the parties to the agreement shall be held equally responsible for such compliance, and equally subject to such enforcement action by IFOR as may be necessary to ensure implementation of the Peace Agreement and the protection of IFOR.
Demanding that the parties respect the security and freedom of movement of IFOR and other international personnel, the Council recognized IFOR's right to take all necessary measures to defend itself from attack or threat of attack.
It decided to review the situation one year after the transfer of authority from the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) to IFOR, in order to determine whether to end the authorizations granted above. That determination would be based on recommendations from States participating in IFOR and from the High Representative called for in the Peace Agreement, reporting to the Council through the Secretary-General. (The Council agreed with the designation of Carl Bildt, of the European Union, as High Representative, confirming that he is the final authority in the theatre, on civilian implementation of the Peace Agreement.)
The Council further decided to terminate UNPROFOR's mandate with effect from the day the Secretary-General reports to it that the transfer of authority from UNPROFOR to IFOR has taken place. It approved the arrangements
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set out by the Secretary-General on the withdraw of UNPROFOR and headquarters elements from United Nations Peace Force (UNPF) headquarters. At the same time, it stipulated that civilian, police, demining and other personnel required to carry out the tasks outlined by the Secretary-General shall remain in theatre. It also decided to act swiftly on the Secretary-General's recommendation on the establishment of a United Nations Civilian Police Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In related sections of the same resolution, the Council recognized the "unique, extraordinary and complex character of the present situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, requiring an exceptional response". It authorized Member States to use all necessary means to assist in the withdrawal of UNPROFOR from the country and called upon the parties to the Peace Agreement to ensure the safety and security of UNPROFOR.
The Council welcomed the parties' commitment to securing "the highest level of internationally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms" for all persons within their jurisdiction. It welcomed the conclusion of agreements concerning the status of forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and demanded that the parties comply fully with those agreements.
Further, the Council welcomed the agreement by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to adopt and put in place a programme of elections for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It further recognized that the parties shall cooperate fully with all entities involved in implementation of the peace settlement, as described in the Peace Agreement, or which are otherwise authorized by the Council -- including the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia -- and that the parties have authorized IFOR to take action as required, including the use of necessary force, to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Peace Agreement.
Statements before the vote on the draft resolution were made by the United Kingdom, Germany, Argentina, Oman, China, Rwanda, Indonesia, Nigeria, Botswana, Honduras. Speaking after the resolution was adopted, were the United States, France, Italy, Czech Republic and the Russian Federation. Also taking part in the meeting at their request, without the right to vote, in accordance with the Charter and the Council's provisional rules of procedure were the following States: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), Brazil, Canada, Ukraine, Norway, Spain (speaking on behalf of the European Union), Egypt, Japan, Malaysia and Turkey.
The meeting, which was called to order at 5:34 p.m., was adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
Documents before Council
When it met this evening, the Security Council had before it the Peace Agreement and annexes thereto (document A/50/790-S/1995/999), in which the parties -- Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) -- broadly undertake to respect each other's sovereign equality, to settle disputes by peaceful means, and refrain from any action against the territorial integrity and independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina or any other State.
The agreement, initialled by the parties, by the Contact Group for the Former Yugoslavia (France, Germany, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States), and the European Union, covers the military aspects of the peace settlement, including the cessation of hostilities agreement, the withdrawal of forces "not of local origin" from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the phased redeployment of forces around Sarajevo, Gorazde and other locations, and on deployment of the Implementation Force (IFOR).
The agreement covers the United Nations Protection Force's (UNPROFOR) withdrawal, establishment of a Joint Military Commission to be chaired by the IFOR Commander, and prisoner exchanges. It stipulates full cooperation by the parties with all entities involved in implementation of the Peace Agreement, including the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. It further stipulates that the parties shall communicate the terms of the agreement to all their forces, and that the IFOR Commander is the final authority in theatre regarding interpretation of the military aspects of the peace settlement.
The agreement spells out the understanding between the parties and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on the status of NATO personnel. It outlines regional stabilization measures, including Bosnian and regional confidence- and security-building measures and measures for regional and subregional arms control. It details the agreement between the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Republika Srpska on the "Inter-Entity Boundary Line" and related issues concerning their respective territories, stipulating that a transitional period be designated in areas transferring from one entity to another.
Also covered in the document are the parties' agreement on the holding of democratic elections (including the role of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and of the Provisional Election Commission), the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, arrangements for observation of human rights, return and repatriation of refugees and displaced persons, amnesty for such returnees (except in cases of serious violations of international law as defined in the statute of the International Tribunal).
On the civilian implementation of the peace settlement, the parties -- the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, the Federal
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Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska -- broadly agree that a wide range of activities will be involved. Those will include: continuation of the humanitarian aid effort for as long as necessary; rehabilitation of infrastructure and economic reconstruction; the establishment of political and constitutional institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina; promotion of respect for human rights and the return of displaced persons and refugees; and the holding of free and fair elections.
The parties' efforts towards those ends will be facilitated by the High Representative, to be designated consistent with relevant Council resolutions. The High Representative will mobilize and coordinate the activities of organizations and agencies involved in civilian aspects of the peace settlement, and monitor the implementation of that settlement. The High Representative's mandate will include coordination and liaison and staffing. He is the final authority in theatre on interpretation of the agreement on civilian implementation of the Peace Agreement.
Also detailed in the agreement are arrangements for civilian law enforcement, which include a request by the parties to the Council for establishment -- as a United Nations Civilian Police (UNCIVPOL) operation -- of a United Nations International Police Task Force (IPTF) to carry out a mandated programme of assistance in Bosnia and Herzegovina. That programme will include monitoring of law enforcement activities and facilities, advice and training, and response to requests for assistance. The agreement stipulates that any obstruction of IPTF activities shall constitute a failure to cooperate with the IPTF, with such failure communicated by the IPTF Commissioner to the High Representative.
Report of Secretary-General
Another key document before the Council was the report of the Secretary- General (document S/1995/1031), issued at the Council's request, on developments in the peace process in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The report provides 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 the orderly transfer of authority envisaged in the Peace Agreement.
The report addresses the transition from UNPROFOR to IFOR provided for in the Peace Agreement; coordination of the United Nations contribution to implementation of that agreement; and the United Nations role concerning humanitarian relief and refugees; demining, civilian police, human rights, elections, and rehabilitation of infrastructure and economic reconstruction. In that connection, the Secretary-General's report notes that the Peace Agreement entrusts the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) with continuing as lead agency in coordinating humanitarian relief assistance, and with implementing a plan for the return of refugees and displaced persons.
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The High Commissioner for Refugees had declared that the efforts of her agency, other United Nations agencies, as well as international and non- governmental organizations would be crucial over the current winter, although the UNHCR's aim was to reduce the scale of that work as soon as possible and redirect its efforts to the return of refugees and displaced persons. The UNHCR hoped that IFOR, like UNPROFOR, would have the capacity to facilitate civilian movements, provide logistic support and share information on security conditions.
The Secretary-General expresses his belief that IFOR will not undertake any demining in theatre during its deployment except where required for its own operational purposes. Since the Mine Action Centre at the United Nations Protection Force (UNPF) headquarters in Zagreb had accumulated a wealth of information as a result of its mines information networks, he stresses that the continuity of these networks and databases must be maintained. He therefore proposes that four military mines information officers remain for the time being in Bosnia and Herzegovina to maintain accurate and up-to-date records under the direction of the United Nations coordinator.
Turning to the question of civilian police and the establishment of a United Nations IPTF, the Secretary-General lists the high number of weapons in the country, as well as large numbers of refugees, as areas of concern. In his recommendations for a proposed IPTF structure, he suggests that the IPTF central and regional headquarters should, where possible, be co-located with IFOR headquarters.
On the human rights aspects of implementation of the Peace Agreement, the Secretary-General notes that the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has identified three areas in which experience gained from existing efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina can contribute to the process: training of personnel charged with human rights monitoring; making available to the High Representative a limited number of experienced and trained human rights officers; and continuing to support the work of the Special Rapporteur and the Expert on the special process dealing with missing persons in the former Yugoslavia, both of them appointed by the Commission on Human Rights.
The Secretary-General's report goes on to say that while the World Bank and the European Commission would take the lead in international efforts for rehabilitation and reconstruction in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he had no doubt that the specialized agencies and other programmes, funds and offices of the United Nations will be ready to play their usual part in such endeavours.
On the appointment of a High Representative to mobilize and coordinate the activities of bodies involved in the civilian aspects of the peace settlement, the Secretary-General notes that the Peace Implementation Conference in London on 8 December had designated Carl Bildt, subject to Council concurrence, to that post. The Secretary-General says that he has encouraged Mr. Bildt to consider appointing a number of UNPROFOR civil affairs
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and public information officers, whose experience with the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina would greatly assist him in carrying out his functions.
The report closes with a glance at United Nations activities to be discontinued. It would be appropriate, says the Secretary-General, to dissolve the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia as well as its Steering Committee. He recommends that the office of his Special Coordinator for Sarajevo be subsumed in arrangements to be established by the World Bank, the European Commission and others for rehabilitation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Secretary-General further recommends that UNPROFOR's responsibilities concerning monitoring of the ban on military flights in the airspace of Bosnia and Herzegovina be discontinued.
The Secretary-General concludes by saying that while this is a time of hope, the price to the United Nations has been high, with too many United Nations personnel being killed or suffering crippling injuries. The conflicts in the former Yugoslavia have dominated the Organization's peace-keeping agenda and distorted its peace-making and peace-keeping efforts at the expense of other parts of the world. He welcomes the fact that Member States have decided that the vast task of helping implement the Peace Agreement in Bosnia and Herzegovina should not be entrusted to the United Nations alone. He will shortly present to the Council preliminary cost estimates of the proposals contained in his report. He pays tribute -- "not in a routine way but in heartfelt recognition of dedicated service and sacrifice, to all those men and women who have contributed to the long-delayed birth of hope in the former Yugoslavia and who have risked, and too often given, their lives in the largest peace-keeping operation ever deployed by the United Nations".
The "London Conclusions"
Also before the Council is a letter (document S/1995/1029) from the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom addressed to the Secretary- General which contains the conclusions of the Peace Implementation Conference held in London on 8 and 9 December. According to the document, known as the "London Conclusions", the purpose of the Conference was to mobilize the international community behind a new start for the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The conclusions state that peace should bring stability and security and a lasting political settlement; new political and constitutional arrangements to bring the country together under democracy and the rule of law; the protection and promotion of human rights and the early return of refugees and displaced persons; an open, free market economy; a kick start to economic reconstruction; and the normalization of relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and her neighbours, the region and the rest of the international community.
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Peace should also result in a dynamic contractual relationship between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union, implementation of the Basic Agreement on the region of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium and economic opportunities for countries neighbouring the former Yugoslavia.
The international community and regional organizations and agencies will need to help in areas such as the military disengagement of the parties, regional stabilization measures, the return of refugees and displaced persons, and the holding of free and fair elections. The military mission is to ensure continued compliance with the Cessation-of-Hostilities Agreement and the withdrawal of forces from the Agreed Cease-Fire Zone of Separation as well as the separation of forces from the Inter-Equity Boundary Line. The IFOR might also be asked to help secure conditions for others to complete their tasks, facilitate the freedom of movement of civilian populations, refugees and displaced persons, monitor the clearance of minefields and obstacles and assist the UNHCR and other international organizations.
The Conference approved the designation of a High Representative to monitor the implementation of the Peace Agreement and mobilize and coordinate activities of the civilian organizations and agencies involved. A Peace Implementation Council (PIC) composed of all those States, international organizations and agencies attending the Conference, will subsume the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia. A Steering Board of the PIC, composed of representatives of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States, Presidency of the European Union, the European Commission and the Organization of the Islamic Conference will be established, with immediate effect, under the chairmanship of the High Representative.
The Conference also decided that the implementation of humanitarian tasks would require an extra effort by the international community. It called for immediate and generous help.
Also according to the London conclusions, six to nine months after the signature of the Peace Agreement, elections supervised by a provisional election commission established by the OSCE would be held in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Also before the Council was a draft resolution (S/1995/1033*), sponsored by Argentina, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy Russian Federation, United Kingdom and United States, the text of which reads as follows:
"The Security Council,
"Recalling all its previous relevant resolutions concerning the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia,
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"Reaffirming its commitment to a negotiated political settlement of the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, preserving the territorial integrity of all States there within their internationally recognized borders,
"Welcoming the signing on 14 December 1995 at the Paris Peace Conference 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,
"Welcoming also the Dayton Agreement on implementing the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina of 10 November 1995 (S/1995/1021, annex),
"Welcoming further the conclusions of the Peace Implementation Conference held in London on 8 and 9 December 1995 (the London Conference) (S/1995/1029), and in particular its decision to establish a Peace Implementation Council and its Steering Board as referred to in those conclusions,
"Paying tribute to the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia (ICFY) for its efforts aimed at achieving a peace settlement and taking note of the decision of the London Conference that the Peace Implementation Council will subsume the ICFY,
"Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 13 December 1995 (S/1995/1031),
"Determining that the situation in the region continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security,
"Determined to promote the peaceful resolution of the conflicts in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,
"Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
I
"1. Welcomes and supports the Peace Agreement and calls upon the parties to fulfil in good faith the commitments entered into in that Agreement;
"2. Expresses its intention to keep the implementation of the Peace Agreement under review;
"3. Welcomes the progress made towards mutual recognition among the successor States to the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, within their internationally recognized borders;
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"4. Reaffirms its resolutions concerning compliance with international humanitarian law in the former Yugoslavia, reaffirms also that all States shall cooperate fully with the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and its organs in accordance with the provisions of resolution 827 (1993) of 25 May 1993 and the Statute of the International Tribunal, and shall comply with requests for assistance or orders issued by a Trial Chamber under article 29 of the Statute, and calls upon them to allow the establishment of offices of the Tribunal;
"5. Recognizes that the parties shall cooperate fully with all entities involved in implementation of the peace settlement, as described in the Peace Agreement, or which are otherwise authorized by the Security Council, including the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, and that the parties have in particular authorized the multinational force referred to in paragraph 14 below to take such actions as required, including the use of necessary force, to ensure compliance with Annex 1-A of the Peace Agreement;
"6. Welcomes the agreement by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to adopt and put in place a programme of elections for Bosnia and Herzegovina, at the request of the parties to Annex 3 of the Peace Agreement;
"7. Welcomes also the parties' commitment, as specified in the Peace Agreement, to securing to all persons within their jurisdiction the highest level of internationally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms, stresses that compliance with this commitment is of vital importance in achieving a lasting peace, and welcomes the invitation by the parties to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the OSCE, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other intergovernmental or regional human rights missions or organizations to monitor closely the human rights situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina;
"8. Welcomes further the parties' commitment to the right of all refugees and displaced persons freely to return to their homes of origin in safety, notes the leading humanitarian role which has been given by the Peace Agreement to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in coordination with other agencies involved and under the authority of the Secretary-General, in assisting with the repatriation and relief of refugees and displaced persons, and stresses the importance of repatriation being phased, gradual and orderly;
"9. Emphasizes the importance of the creation of conditions conducive to the reconstruction and development of Bosnia and Herzegovina and encourages Member States to provide assistance for the programme of reconstruction in that country;
"10. Underlines the relationship, as described in the conclusions of the London Conference, between the fulfilment by the parties of their
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commitments in the Peace Agreement and the readiness of the international community to commit financial resources for reconstruction and development;
"11. Welcomes the agreement of the parties to Annex 1-B of the Peace Agreement that establishment of progressive measures for regional stability and arms control is essential to creating a stable peace in the region, emphasizes the importance of all Member States supporting their efforts to this end, and supports the OSCE's commitment to assist the parties with the negotiation and implementation of such measures;
II
"12. Welcomes the willingness of the Member States acting through or in cooperation with the organization referred to in Annex 1-A of the Peace Agreement to assist the parties to the Peace Agreement by deploying a multinational implementation force;
"13. Notes the invitation of the parties to the international community to send to the region for a period of approximately one year a multinational implementation force to assist in implementation of the territorial and other militarily related provisions of Annex 1-A of the Peace Agreement;
"14. Authorizes the Member States acting through or in cooperation with the organization referred to in Annex 1-A and of the Peace Agreement to establish a multinational implementation force (IFOR) under unified command and control in order to fulfil the role specified in Annex 1-A and Annex 2 of the Peace Agreement;
"15. Authorizes the Member States acting under paragraph 14 above to take all necessary measures to effect the implementation of and to ensure compliance with Annex 1-A of the Peace Agreement, stresses that the parties shall be held equally responsible for compliance with that Annex, and shall be equally subject to such enforcement action by IFOR as may be necessary to ensure implementation of that Annex and the protection of IFOR, and takes note that the parties have consented to IFOR's taking such measures;
"16. Authorizes the Member States acting under paragraph 14 above, in accordance with Annex 1-A of the Peace Agreement, to take all necessary measures to ensure compliance with the rules and procedures, to be established by the commander of IFOR, governing command and control of airspace over Bosnia and Herzegovina with respect to all civilian and military air traffic;
"17. Authorizes Member States to take all necessary measures, at the request of IFOR, either in defence of IFOR or to assist the force in carrying out its mission, and recognizes the right of the force to take all necessary measures to defend itself from attack or threat of attack;
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"18. Demands that the parties respect the security and freedom of movement of IFOR and other international personnel;
"19. Decides that, with effect from the day on which the Secretary- General reports to the Council that the transfer of authority from the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) to IFOR has taken place, the authority to take certain measures conferred upon States by resolutions 770 (1992) of 13 August 1992, 781 (1992) of 9 October 1992, 816 (1993) of 31 March 1993, 836 (1993) of 4 June 1993, 844 (1993) of 18 June 1993 and 958 (1994) of 19 November 1994 shall be terminated, and that the provisions of resolution 824 (1993) of 6 May 1993 and subsequent resolutions regarding safe areas shall also be terminated from the same date;
"20. Requests the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina to cooperate with the IFOR commander to ensure the effective management of the airports in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the light of the responsibilities conferred on IFOR by Annex 1-A of the Peace Agreement with regard to the airspace of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
"21. Decides, with a view to terminating the authorization granted in paragraphs 14 to 17 above one year after the transfer of authority from UNPROFOR to IFOR, to review by that date and to take a decision whether that authorization should continue, based upon the recommendations from the States participating in IFOR and from the High Representative through the Secretary- General;
"22. Decides also that the embargo imposed by resolution 713 (1991) of 25 September 1991 shall not apply to weapons and military equipment destined for the sole use of the Member States acting under paragraph 14 above, or of international police forces;
"23. Invites all States, in particular those in the region, to provide appropriate support and facilities, including transit facilities, for the Member States acting under paragraph 14 above;
"24. Welcomes the conclusion of the agreements concerning the status of forces as referred to in Appendix B to Annex 1-A, and demands that the parties comply fully with those agreements;
"25. Requests the Member States acting through or in cooperation with the organization referred to in Annex 1-A of the Peace Agreement to report to the Council, through the appropriate channels and at least at monthly intervals, the first such report be made not later than 10 days following the adoption of this resolution;
"26. Endorses the establishment of a High Representative, following the request of the parties, who, in accordance with Annex 10 on the civilian implementation of the Peace Agreement, will monitor the implementation of the
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Peace Agreement and mobilize and, as appropriate, give guidance to, and coordinate the activities of, the civilian organizations and agencies involved, and agrees the designation of Mr. Carl Bildt as High Representative;
"27. Confirms that the High Representative is the final authority in theatre regarding interpretation of Annex 10 on the civilian implementation of the Peace Agreement;
"28. Decides that all States concerned, and in particular those where the High Representative establishes offices, shall ensure that the High Representative enjoys such legal capacity as may be necessary for the exercise of his functions, including the capacity to contract and to acquire and dispose of real and personal property;
"29. Notes that close cooperation between IFOR, the High Representative and the agencies will be vital to ensure successful implementation;
"30. Affirms the need for the implementation of the Peace Agreement in its entirety and, in this context, stresses the importance it attaches to the urgent implementation of Annex 11 of the Peace Agreement, decides to act expeditiously on the report of the Secretary-General recommending the establishment of a United Nations Civilian Police Force with the tasks set out in that Annex, together with a civilian office with the responsibilities described in the report of the Secretary-General, and further decides that in the interim civilian police, de-mining, civil affairs and other personnel that might be required to carry out the tasks described in that report shall continue in theatre, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 33 and 34 below;
"31. Stresses the need for early action in Sarajevo to create confidence between the communities and to this end requests the Secretary- General to ensure the early redeployment of elements of United Nations civilian police from the Republic of Croatia to Sarajevo;
"32. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Council reports from the High Representative, in accordance with Annex 10 of the Peace Agreement and the conclusions of the London Conference, on the implementation of the Peace Agreement;
III
"33. Decides that the mandate of UNPROFOR shall terminate on the date on which the Secretary-General reports to the Council that the transfer of authority from UNPROFOR to IFOR has taken place;
"34. Approves the arrangements set out in the report of the Secretary- General on the withdrawal of UNPROFOR and headquarters elements from the
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United Nations Peace Force (UNPF), including the arrangements for the command and control of UNPROFOR following the transfer of authority from it to IFOR;
"35. Expresses its warmest appreciation to all UNPROFOR personnel, who have served the cause of peace in the former Yugoslavia, and pays tribute to those who have given their lives and those who suffered serious injuries in that service;
"36. Authorizes the Member States acting under paragraph 14 above to use all necessary means to assist in the withdrawal of UNPROFOR;
"37. Calls upon the parties to ensure the safety and security of UNPROFOR and confirms that UNPROFOR will continue to enjoy all existing privileges and immunities, including during the period of withdrawal;
"38. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council when the withdrawal of UNPROFOR is complete;
IV
"39. Recognizes the unique, extraordinary and complex character of the present situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, requiring an exceptional response;
"40. Decides to remain seized of the matter."
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Statements Made
The Council approved requests by the representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), Brazil, Canada, Ukraine, Norway, Spain, Egypt, Iran, Malaysia and Turkey to participate in its discussion without the right to vote, in accordance with the Charter and the Council's provisional rules of procedure.
IVAN MISIC (Bosnia and Herzegovina) said that as a host to the Implementation Force, his country pledged its unwavering support for and partnership in the implementation of the Peace Agreement. With the signing in Paris yesterday of that agreement, one of the most savage aggressions against a Member State might now be coming to an end, and the restoration of the culture of peace might now be under way.
He acknowledged that the Peace Agreement might not be perfect, but he believed that it was more than just the continuation of war -- and that in the long run, it could work against the criminals and the crimes they had committed. As the logic of peace and tolerance replaced the logic of division along ethnic and religious lines, they would have to learn that the effects of crimes must be reversed, and that they would have to abide by the law and the standards of civilized society. They would also have to accept that there would be no absolution from justice, since absolution for crimes committed never had been and never would be a part of a peace deal. In that regard, commitment to the pursuit of justice through the International War Crimes Tribunal must be unwavering both by the parties to the Peace Agreement and by the members of the international community.
As for his country, it would not seek revenge. It had learned to define its victory in terms of the lives it could save, and in the opportunity to rebuild and restore democracy and the highest standards of human rights, safety and security for all its citizens. In that context, he again stressed his assurances to the Serb population which would come under the control of the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasizing its long-held belief that the dream of a multi-ethnic Bosnia could be preserved only when Bosnians, Croats and Serbs lived together in equality, tolerance and respect for all.
MARIO NOBILO (Croatia) recalled that this century had begun in 1914, with the tragic events in Sarajevo. The Council's action today to establish a multinational implementation force to police a final peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in effect had turned the closing page on the twentieth century. It had not achieved a just peace, but a fair peace based on a balance of power and the reality of scarce resources. A just peace remained attainable, however, and could come about only with the full implementation of all aspects of the Peace Agreement.
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Four years ago on 1 October the first Bosnia and Herzegovina village, Ravno, was ethnically cleansed by units of the Yugoslav Peoples' Army (JNA) and irregulars from Montenegro. A few months later, at Kupres, citizens took up arms for the first time to defend themselves in an organized way from another long column of advancing JNA tanks. They, like the innocent victims of Ravno, paid a heavy price. What followed in Sarajevo and elsewhere in Bosnia, was much worse. The people, however, stood up bravely and relentlessly to defend their principles and ideals and gave Bosnia the spirit to fight the ills imbedded in ideologies of the past that were intent on destroying it and two of its peoples.
To them could be added the political leaders, the peace-keepers, the journalists, and the humanitarian workers -- all of them helped Bosnia -- some more, some less, but helped all the same. His delegation recognized the goodwill and sacrifices of the international community in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He said the Peace Agreement would move Bosnia and the whole region forward. Many injustices were yet to be remedied, but they would be. The momentum of peace provided hope and confidence. The timely deployment of IFOR, that would be authorized by the present draft resolution, would continue that momentum. That momentum could not stop there -- the economic and electoral aspects of the Peace Agreement must be implemented with the same commitment and vigour. The IFOR alone could not secure a lasting and just peace in Bosnia. All participants faced the responsibility not to allow the peace efforts to fail. He regretted that the agreement on normalization of relations between Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), including mutual recognition, had not been signed in Paris. Unconditional recognition was a prerequisite for the equitable resolution of all outstanding issues between any two sovereign States.
He recalled that operative paragraph 8 of the draft resolution recognized the right of all Bosnian refugees and displaced persons to return to their homes of origin in safety, and called on the United Nations to play a leading role in their repatriation. Croatia was greatly burdened by costs for the care of about 400,000 refugees and displaced persons at present in Croatia; costs that now approached $2 billion. But he was even more concerned about the welfare of close to 320,000 Bosnian Croat refugees and displaced persons who lived throughout Europe. That number represented almost one half of the whole Bosnian Croat community. They must be provided with an opportunity to return to their homes or compensated for their property fairly and in a timely manner. His Government would prefer the former. The Bosnian Croat community, but also Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole, would be significantly weakened politically if the majority of them did not return to their homes.
He went on to say that the present situation might allow the earliest repatriation to those Bosnian Croat refugees and displaced persons whose homes
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of origin were on the Federation territory. Their number might be as high as 200,000. The viability of the Federation and the multi-ethnic fabric of Bosnia rested primarily with the ability of that group of Croats to return home before elections planned for next fall. This Bosnian Croat community, which had often weathered severe international criticism, some that might have been warranted, also deserved praise for its defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its struggle for national rights and autonomy was wholly justified in view of the persecutions and depopulation it had suffered throughout the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He expressed concern that the options outlined in the 12 December report of the Secretary-General concerning the implementation of the Basic Agreement on Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium, or the occupied Vukovar region of Croatia, gave counterproductive emphasis on region-external risks, and not enough emphasis on the most important element of the Agreement -- rapid demilitarization. His Government could not accept an attempt to build a new and improved "Safe Area" in the occupied Vukovar region; nor should the Security Council. That approach would achieve nothing more than to preserve the status quo. This was not in the interest of the parties, nor of the international community. He could not accept those proposals.
He said a force of less than 5,000 was satisfactory for implementation of the Basic Agreement. If the Council should decide to increase the size of the force presently in Vukovar, its numbers could be reduced immediately following the first month of the implementation period. The military aspect of the new implementation force could be drawn down completely after the 30- day demilitarization period ended. The civilian aspect, meanwhile, could be strengthened.
The demilitarization period should begin as soon as possible, he said. He called on Members of the Council to consider and decide on that issue next week, and certainly before 25 December. Any delay in addressing the implementation of the Basic Agreement would minimize the possibility of its success. Croatia could not, under any circumstances, accept a new force that would take more than a month to deploy. The momentum for peace in implementing the Peace Agreement in Bosnia should be emulated and utilized to secure peace in Croatia.
VLADISLAV JOVANOVIC (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) said his country had signed the Peace Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina, fully convinced that it established the equality of the constituent peoples of that country -- the Muslims, Serbs and Croats -- and its two entities, the Republic of Srpska and the Muslim-Croat federation. The basic tasks that now lay ahead was full implementation of the accords. The responsibility lay not only with the Republic of Srpska or the Muslim-Croat federation and other interested parties, but with the key international players, particularly those assigned major tasks in the implementation.
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It had not been easy to achieve that comprehensive agreement, he said. All sides were compelled to make concessions. Consequently, there were no winners or losers. For its part Yugoslavia stood ready to honour and fully implement all the commitments it had undertaken under the Agreement. The people of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the international community as a whole were confronted with the difficult challenge of implementation of peace and normalization of life. It was imperative that the military and civilian components of the international presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina take an impartial and objective position towards all parties.
One of the most sensitive issues during the negotiation process had undoubtedly been the status of the Serbian population of Sarajevo, he said. It was imperative that the Serbs of Sarajevo receive concrete and reliable guarantees that their freedom, security, equality and human rights be fully and unconditionally respected.
Throughout the whole process, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and President Milosevic in particular had repeatedly affirmed their commitment to the notion that all peoples in the regions should be treated equally. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia welcomed the appointment of Carl Bildt as the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It expected that the Security Council would soon, in accordance with the Agreement, undertake measures to lift all sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Economic reconstruction and cooperation was of vital importance, and all parts of the former Yugoslavia should receive their equal share.
Crippled by international sanctions and isolated from the international community, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was eagerly seeking to restore its rightful place in the family of nations, he said. It was also dissatisfied over the fact that the Security Council had not taken the decision to restore Yugoslavia's status in the United Nations. That was even more surprising in view of the fact that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was expected to fully cooperate with the international organizations playing a specific role in the implementation of the Peace Agreement while the decision to suspend Yugoslavia from such cooperation was still kept in place.
The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia certainly could not be responsible for unavoidable negative consequences, he warned. He considered that the new spirit from Dayton and Paris should not be burdened with an old approach to problems. As a founding Member of the Organization, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia requested the Security Council to restore its rightful place in the United Nations without delay, on the basis of continuity and in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and international law.
It was particularly unacceptable that additional conditions were now being asserted for the normalization of the status of Yugoslavia in the United Nations. The exclusion of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from the work of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council had been directly
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linked to the crisis and war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. With the signing of the Peace Agreement and its implementation, it was only logical that Yugoslavia's right be fully restored.
JOHN WESTON (United Kingdom) told the Council that the signature of the Peace Agreement in Paris sounded the clarion call for the most comprehensive operation to reconstruct a European country to be mounted by the international community for the last 50 years. One important aspect of that task was military in nature. British troops had been in Bosnia from the beginning of efforts to reach a political settlement. First of all, as part of UNPROFOR, and now as part of a multinational force, British troops would help provide the security necessary to allow the rebuilding of Bosnia. Out of the overall total of 60,000 troops that would make up IFOR, the United Kingdom was sending over 13,000 troops for approximately one year.
The IFOR was not imposing the peace settlement; but it would take the necessary action to ensure compliance, he said. The IFOR would indeed be a Joint Endeavour, involving troops from 32 NATO and non-NATO countries. It would also be the first time that NATO and Russian forces had worked together side by side for a common purpose -- a fitting way in which to mark the end of the United Nations fiftieth anniversary year.
But implementation was not simply a military operation, he continued. The scale of the task ahead was daunting. It involved providing for the safe return of some 2 million refugees and creating the conditions by which multi- ethnic communities could once again flourish; it involved ensuring that the human rights of all the Bosnian people were fully and equally respected; it involved encouraging the emergence of an open and dynamic market economy to underpin peace with prosperity; it involved the holding of free and fair elections in the next six to nine months; and last but not least it involved convincing not only the parties but also other countries in the region that they must work earnestly and urgently towards a regional arms control regime.
The international community was fortunate that the task would go forward under the able coordination and guidance of Carl Bildt, with the backing of the Peace Implementation Council recently established by the London Conference. It was perhaps appropriate to note in particular the important continuing role for the United Nations and its agencies as set out in the Secretary-General's report. That showed that the United Nations remained very much part of the picture.
The most pressing task was to convince the Serb population of Sarajevo that their future was secure and that their rights be respected, he continued. The same, of course, applied to all other ethnic minorities elsewhere in Bosnia. That was why it was essential that the Council take urgent action, as foreshadowed in the draft resolution, to get the International Police Task Force (IPTF) recommended by the Secretary-General up and running as soon as possible. The challenge ahead was formidable. But the international
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community was ready to face up to that challenge. The United Kingdom intended to remain in the vanguard of the effort.
TONO EITEL (Germany) said he supported the statement to be made by Spain on behalf of the European Union. Soldiers and civilians of many countries, including Germany, would soon go to Bosnia to safeguard peace, to help rebuild the country, to provide security by police work, to assist in bringing about democratic elections -- all united in a joint, complex and far-reaching international peace endeavour.
Today's resolution was a signal of hope for the people in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It authorized the deployment of a multinational force to implement the Peace Agreement. All the parties had consented to the deployment of IFOR including the use of force would that be necessary. It was essential that the parties refrain from the use of force, and that they cooperate with IFOR in the military side of the implementation of the Dayton Agreement.
Another remarkable aspect of the implementation of the Peace Agreement, he said, was that the Russian Federation -- for the first time -- would cooperate with NATO in such an operation. He hoped that would give a new quality to the relationship between NATO and Russia.
In terms of the civilian tasks in implementing the Agreement the political consensus must be strengthened and should lead to the holding of free and fair democratic elections. The local security forces, through the work of the International Police Task Force, must be assisted; human and minority rights must be monitored; important humanitarian tasks must be fulfilled; and reconstruction and development must be begun. He supported the concept of a strong United Nations International Police Task Force and of a United Nations Civilian mission.
He stressed that Germany, out of its own sad experiences, would oppose any solution which would lead to a division of yet another European capital. On the other side, it followed with concern the current expressions of fear and anguish among the Serb population of Ilidza and other suburbs of Sarajevo. While trusting that the Bosnian Government would honour its commitment to respect the rights of its Serb citizens, he supported steps to strengthen security and confidence-building also in those part of Sarajevo.
Both in the military as in the civilian field Germany would contribute actively to the implementation of the Peace Agreement, he said. The deployment of 4,000 troops was the first time in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany that it would contribute on that scale of such a military mission abroad. It was now time for Germany to demonstrate solidarity and to show its readiness to assume responsibility in the maintenance of international peace and security on a larger scale.
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As far as disarmament, arms control and a comprehensive system of confidence-building measures were concerned, he hoped that the Petersberg conference to be held in Bonn on Monday would be the starting point for intensive and successful negotiations in that regard.
A similar problem had to be solved in Eastern Slavonia, he said. If the international community and the members of the Council were unable to live up to the responsibilities conferred upon them by the Basic Agreement, there was an additional risk that the peace process in Bosnia might be endangered.
Those responsible for war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law must be brought to justice, he went on. On 16 November, the International Tribunal had issued indictments against the Bosnian Serb leaders Karadzic and Mladic for their supposed role in the atrocities committed against the Bosnian population of Srebrenica in July. Without finding out the truth, without justice, national reconciliation could hardly be achieved. The parties themselves must face their responsibility and use the chance to achieve peace with the help of the entire community of nations. If that effort failed, the parties would be alone a long time.
HOLGER FEDERICO MARTINSEN (Argentina) said that as the resolution before the Council underlined, the conflict in the former Yugoslavia represented a standing threat to international peace and security. Hence the concern of one and all, and hence, too, the fact that the chief role of the Council and the United Nations would probably be to keep the implementation of the Peace Agreement permanently under review. The greatest care would have to be taken to ensure that what had been achieved at Dayton not be jeopardized.
Today's resolution, he continued, left in place many tasks of major importance for the United Nations, in areas as sensitive as the protection of human rights, humanitarian assistance, civil police and demining. He hailed the fact that the parties to the Peace Agreement had opted to propose those endeavours to the United Nations.
Once again, he said, geographical and political frontiers were being drawn in the Balkan region. He hoped that the international community and the Security Council were aware of the potential for instability inherent in the new migratory waves such as a new drawing of lines threatened to set in train.
SALIM MOHAMMED AL KHUSSAIBY (Oman) said that words could not describe events in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in which more than a quarter of a million had died and in which half a nation had been displaced. Bosnia had written its declaration of independence with the blood of its people. The Peace Agreement was a new chapter in the Bosnia story. Justice should prevail and the mistakes of the past should be corrected. Whoever took part in crimes against humanity and massive violations of international humanitarian law should bear full responsibility for their acts. Support should be provided to
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the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in the investigation and prosecution of those crimes.
Oman would vote in favour of the draft resolution, understanding that the parties concerned would refrain from any acts that might undermine the Peace Agreement or the multinational Implementation Force.
OIN HUASAN (China) said he hoped the parties would respect the Peace Agreement so that the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina could live in harmony. The fundamental way out of the situation was to achieve an overall settlement by peaceful means and for the international community to respect the sovereignty of the parties to the Agreement. He emphasized that the Security Council must strive for an early solution to the status of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the United Nations.
He said the actions of the United Nations had achieved some results, but there were lessons to be used in future endeavours. The implementation of the Peace Agreement was important and the United Nations and the Council should play an important role, based on the principles of the Charter.
He would support the draft resolution but China's position had not undergone a change. It did not approve the evocation of Chapter VII at every turn. The wanton use of force must be avoided. The IFOR should provide the Council with timely reports on the implementation of its tasks. He supported the peace process and hoped that lasting peace, security and development could be realized. His Government would continue to support the peace process.
MANZI BAKURAMUTSA (Rwanda) said his country rejoiced in the fact that the Peace Agreement signed yesterday had put an end to a war in which innocent populations, particularly women, children and others who had taken no part in the fighting, had suffered. Hundreds of thousands had suffered and died, often atrociously, for nothing.
His country was also gratified to see that the resolution contained a clause on the International Tribunal for Yugoslavia. It fervently hoped that those who had committed crimes against society be prosecuted, and that the impunity that had reigned in the region -- as in the Great Lakes Region of Africa -- should be eradicated.
Finally, his country addressed a wish to the Council as well as to Member States to the effect that the impressive means that were about to be put at the disposition of the former Yugoslavia in the service of respect for peace might be deployed in the same manner and with the same swiftness for no matter what Member State might find itself in need of such assistance.
ISAAC E. AYEWAH (Nigeria) said that his country would extend its full cooperation to the work of the International Tribunal for the former
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Yugoslavia, because in the end "there can be no lasting peace without justice, and unless justice is done, the cycle of killings in the Balkans may never cease".
All States in the region must mutually recognize their sovereignty and territorial integrity. It was also their obligation to respect provisions of the peace accord on arms control and regional stabilization. Nigeria called on States in the region, many of which were capable of producing their own armaments, to be responsible in their dealings with other parties.
Nigeria, he continued, would have preferred a United Nations operation under the political control of the Security Council and the managerial supervision of the Secretary-General. What the Organization lacked was political backing and support to directly undertake enforcement operations as envisaged under Chapter VII of the Charter. Member States should not contract out what would normally be a United Nations responsibility to a group of powerful States.
Member States could not be expected to make meaningful contributions to the intricacies of the multinational force in less than 48 hours. "We would not like to believe it was deliberately done to achieve that purpose", he said. Also, one could not say exactly where the High Representative, in spite of the qualities of the nominee, derived his legitimacy and authority.
Member States of the United Nations should not support decisions which had the effect of subordinating the Organization or the Secretary-General to other bodies, no matter how powerful their members were.
MAKARIM WISISONO (Indonesia) said the war had inflicted suffering on all in its path and had left profound scars on the people of the region. He hoped they would be able to put the conflict behind them. The draft resolution provided an opportunity for the peace process to begin and succeed. Peace and reconciliation would be elusive without the commitment of the parties and the assistance of the international community. It was essential to pursue arms control. It would require that neighbouring countries bear the responsibility to cooperate towards that effort.
He paid tribute to all the men and women of UNPROFOR who had dedicated their talents towards the cause of peace, particularly those who had made the ultimate sacrifice. His country was proud to be a troop contributor.
He supported the Secretary-General's observation that the Council should focus on the situation of the refugees and the displaced persons. Effort needed to be directed to the rehabilitation of the country's infrastructure. The credibility of the peace agreement would be impacted by the level of contributions that were received.
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His Government felt that the draft resolution provided the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina the opportunity to end the strife. He would vote in favour of the draft resolution.
LEGWAILA J.M.J. LEGWAILA (Botswana) said prospects for peace and security in Bosnia and Herzegovina had never been brighter. The General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina was in no way a perfect peace. There was no doubt that the scars of the deep wounds that the people of Bosnia inflicted upon one another during the war would remain visible for a long time to come, but the Agreement signed yesterday offered the best prospects for a peaceful future.
The onus for resumption of hostilities or for adherence to the Dayton Peace Agreement rested squarely with the parties, he continued. They should seize the opportunity presented by this Agreement to create conditions conducive to a secure and durable peace in their country. They should turn a new leaf and start a journey on the road to national reconciliation and healing and a peaceful future. They owed that to future generations of Bosnians.
He urged the donor community to contribute generously to the process of reconstruction and development in Bosnia, but warned that that too would depend upon the willingness of the parties to cooperate not only with their cooperating partners but, more important, among themselves.
A lot had been said and written about the United Nations peace-keeping operation in the former Yugoslavia. The lessons to be drawn from it would not be ordinary lessons. The international community would do a lot of soul- searching in order to draw conclusions on the many setbacks and successes. There was no doubt that the United Nations Peace Forces had played an important role in Bosnia, but they had been sent on a mission impossible. The United Nations did not have at its disposal the requisite financial, manpower and logistical resources required for the task. UNPROFOR had come under heavy attack for failing to do the things it was not equipped to do, and the credibility of the United Nations had been put on the line. Its reliability as an instrument for the maintenance of international peace and security had been called into question. The perceived failures of the United Nations to restore peace to Bosnia and Herzegovina had resulted in the parties seeking help elsewhere. Nevertheless, the victims of the tragedies that befell the people of Bosnia continued to look to the United Nations for assistance in the mitigation of their conflicts and the alleviation of the misery and wretchedness visited upon them by those wars.
It was unfortunate, he concluded, that the peace process in the former Yugoslavia also envisaged the arming of one of the signatory States to bring it to the level of parity with the others. He feared that that might lead to the resumption of hostilities when either Bosnia felt strong enough to
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challenge the others, or when others felt threatened and tried to pre-empt Bosnia's growing power.
GERARDO MARTINEZ BLANCO (Honduras) told the Council that the Agreement signed yesterday in Paris was a momentous event which his delegation applauded, as it applauded the Basic Agreement on Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium. Those accords permitted hope for a peaceful solution in the region of the former Yugoslavia, and a final end to a conflict that had brought unspeakable suffering to its peoples.
By the same token, Honduras had been pleased to see the conclusions of the London Conference on Implementation of the Peace Agreement, which had stressed the need to create a climate of security and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the establishment of political rules leading the country onto the road to democracy and the rule of law, the protection and promotion of human rights, the return of refugees and displaced persons, and the swift launching of national reconstruction and the normalization of relations with neighbouring States and the international community. Honduras supported those objectives.
The transition from UNPROFOR to the multinational IFOR was an important aspect of the military implementation of the Peace Agreement, he said. It was an important step towards assuring the continuation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, the withdrawal of forces from the zone of separation and the freedom of movement of the civilian population, refugees and displaced persons.
The Council then unanimously adopted the resolution.
Statements after Vote
MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT (United States) said that, over the past four years, Security Council resolutions and statements had promised much but accomplished little. On many occasions she had sat in the Council chamber "in anguish", looking over at the representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina, whose country was being victimized by aggression.
But today, the international community had helped Bosnia to negotiate a peace agreement, and was authorizing a powerful military force to implement that peace and enable Bosnia to ensure that peace upon the departure of that force, she said. The Agreement forged in Dayton and signed in Paris had been the product of diplomatic skill, courage, sacrifice and simple exhaustion with war.
The resolution adopted by the Council authorized Member States to establish a multinational force under unified command and control to implement the Peace Agreement, she went on. It called upon all Members, including those
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in the region, to cooperate with that force and recognized the right of the force to take all necessary measures to defend itself.
The United States welcomed the decision of more than two dozen countries -- including the Russian Federation -- to contribute troops to the Bosnia peace Implementation Force. It also recognized the contribution of Belgium, the Russian Federation and others who, she hoped, would help implement the Agreement in Eastern Slavonia.
The mission of the IFOR was to make peace work, not to fight a war or occupy a hostile country, she said. It would treat all Bosnians with respect and would deal with contentious issues fairly and in accordance with its mandate. Those foolish enough to attack or threaten those forces would regret doing so.
Annex 1-A of the Dayton Agreement obliged the parties fully to cooperate with the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, she said. The North Atlantic Council had underscored that obligation by explicitly authorizing the troops of the IFOR to transfer indicted persons to the Tribunal and to detain persons for that purpose.
Every country had an obligation to cooperate with the Tribunal and comply with its orders, she said. Unless the parties to the conflict complied with their obligations, they could not hope to reap the benefits of peace, ensure the easing of economic sanctions, or hope to rejoin fully the international community -- including membership in the United Nations.
The United States would cooperate fully with Carl Bildt, the High Representative, in assuring a well coordinated effort on the civilian side. Special attention must be give to holding democratic elections, ensuring respect for human rights, returning refugees, creating a police force and initiating a comprehensive program of economic reconstruction. United Nations agencies would be deeply involved in those activities, she said.
ALAIN DEJAMMET (France) said that at yesterday's Paris signing the President of France, Jacques Chirac, said: "All the peoples of the former Yugoslavia had their place in the European family. Ever since General de Gaulle, France had always rejected barriers raised in the heart of the continent. Today it offered the peoples of the former Yugoslavia a promise of peace. But real peace remained to be built in minds and hearts, and with it democracy, human liberty and the reconciliation of peoples."
The duty of the international community today was to look to the future and assume its responsibility for giving full weight to the provisions of the Peace Agreement. In France's view, the Council should now assume three missions: perfecting arrangements for the civil and military aspects linked to the Peace Agreement; maintain the United Nations presence wherever it was indispensable; and underline the Council's own authority. For it was the
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Council, and the Council alone, that could legitimize the military means that were about to be deployed. The resolution adopted this afternoon met those objectives.
Alongside IFOR, the resolution also put in place a considerable civil presence, whose role would be critical for the success of the Peace Agreement. The resolution also defined the role the United Nations must still play upon the ground -- that is, civil mission and civil police -- indispensable tasks, particularly in Sarajevo. In all those fields, as in that of humanitarian questions -- from assistance to refugees and displaced persons, monitoring of human rights -- the experience and dedication of United Nations personnel were irreplaceable. On the eve of this new phase in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it was France's hope that the coming months would finally bring back peace, security and dignity to the people of that battered country.
PAOLO FULCI (Italy) said that Italy would participate in IFOR with a contingent of 2,300 troops. Italian naval forces would continue to operate in the Adriatic Sea and air force and naval personnel at 20 air bases and nine ports would support the new operation -- a total of 11,000 men operating in conjunction with contingents from NATO and non-NATO nations.
Italy was convinced that a force of 60,000 in Bosnia and Herzegovina would act as an "effective deterrent" to any and all attempts to destabilize the situation, he continued. The newly designated High Representative, Carl Bildt, would be a central figure in the civilian component of the operation.
The rapid establishment of the IPTF would also take on special importance in stabilizing the situation and safeguarding human rights, he said. The withdrawal of forces behind the zones of separation must not bring about any new exodus of the civilian population or any new instances of "ethnic cleansing".
The peace process would in all likelihood be long, difficult and complex, but would ultimately lead to the normalization of life in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to the peaceful coexistence of communities that would thereafter better appreciate what they had in common.
DUSAN ROVENSKY (Czech Republic) said that the signing of the General Framework Agreement in Paris yesterday had been the most important milestone in the efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in the former Yugoslavia -- the most terrible conflict that had rocked Europe since the Second World War. "After more than four years of war, after hundreds of thousands of dead and maimed, after horrific destruction, there is finally a solid basis for peace", he said.
The decision of the Government and the Parliament of the Czech Republic to participate in the IFOR, he said, had been an unequivocal expression of commitment to establishing and maintaining durable peace and stability in the
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region of the South Slavs. It was also a continuation of the Czech involvement in the United Nations peace-keeping efforts.
The primary burden of responsibility for the success or failure of the peace process rested squarely on the shoulders of the Bosnians, Croats and Serbs, who had one year to translate the still fragile peace into an irreversible process.
The work of the United Nations would not end today; on the contrary, it should be revitalized to advance the peace process. In that endeavour, it could count on the full support of the Czech Republic.
SERGEY LAVROV (Russian Federation) said the Peace Agreement was a breakthrough for the settlement of the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It had been possible to convert the compromises reached by the parties into tangible language. Today's resolution made it possible to begin the practical implementation of the Peace Agreement. The parties to the Agreement must bear the full responsibility for compliance with the commitments into which they had entered.
He emphasized that the most important feature of the resolution was that the Member States were authorized to do only what the Bosnian sides agreed to and that included the use of force. He stressed the need to avoid the unjustified use of force in the operation. The Security Council and no other council must specifically take a decision regarding the need to extend the military aspect of the operation at the end of year. That would ensure reliable control on the part of the Security Council. There should in no way be a replacement of the United Nations responsibility in that area by any individual regional organization.
He said it would not be the first time that the Russian Federation had worked side by side in such an operation. He drew attention to its participation in UNPROFOR.
The achievement of peace in Bosnia, he said, would only be possible on the basis of political negotiations. The most complex situation arose in Sarajevo. He expected an immediate implementation of the task entrusted to the Secretary-General to ensure the speedy arrival of United Nations civilian police. He was in agreement with lifting the sanctions against Belgrade. Similarly, the time was right for reaching an agreement for returning the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the United Nations.
Paying tribute to UNPROFOR, he said the "Blue Helmets" had saved the defenceless and helped the homeless and the sick. Their mandate had not been impeccable, but it had not been adopted by them but by the members of the Council. It was not surprising that they had committed errors. Under such circumstances, however, only a person who was idle would have proved faultless. If the United Nations had not come to Bosnia, the number of
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victims would have been higher. One of the most important lessons learned was the need for joint action. Without the active participation of the United Nations it would have been difficult to deal with the problems.
HENRIQUE R. VALLE (Brazil) said that yesterday's signing ceremony in Paris was a momentous diplomatic achievement. He offered heartfelt tribute to the innocent victims of the conflict and to the peace-keepers who had lost their lives. He recalled the incredulity of the international community when, after celebrating the end of several decades of East-West tensions, it had seen the ominous forces of intolerance and destruction revived in the Balkans. The United Nations, created upon the ashes of the deadliest world conflict ever, had become involved in the efforts to thwart that new threat to international security with the only weapons at its disposal: its Charter, and its commitment to peace.
That involvement became a major operation, draining considerable human and material resources, improvising a role for itself in a shifting and complex scenario, he went on to say. With the agreement just signed, an opportunity had now been created for the leaders of the former Yugoslavia to choose a new path: one leading to reconciliation, to democracy, to economic and social reconstruction and development.
Persuaded by its own historical legacy that fruitful coexistence among people of different religious, racial and cultural backgrounds is viable and natural, Brazil had consistently and vigorously rejected the twisted logic of the ethnic borderline, he said. That logic had yet to be defeated in the Balkans. The peace agreement deserved credit for putting an end to bloody fighting and institutional breakdown. But it was now up to the leaders and the peoples who had lived through that nightmare to create a new environment, through tolerance and respect for diversity.
The resolution just adopted, he said, requested the Member States concerned to report to the Security Council on a monthly basis. As the Implementation Force took up its position in a terrain still fraught with uncertainties, it was essential that the organ responsible for safeguarding international peace and security, be given the necessary tools for it to exercise the role ascribed to it by the Charter. The creation of multinational forces at the behest of the Security Council had ceased to be an unusual feature If those forces were to be perceived as legitimate and credible before the eyes of the international community, however, the necessary accountability towards the Security Council must be strictly observed. As an organ acting on behalf of the entire United Nations membership, the Security Council had wide powers in responding promptly to evolving situations. That they should envisage the creation of multinational forces for dealing with certain situations and not with others was a matter that deserved to be clarified to all United Nations Members in the most satisfactory manner, if support for such decisions was to have the desired firmness and unanimity.
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ROBERT FOWLER (Canada) said that, in marking the achievement of the peace agreement, it was important to highlight the contribution of the international community, particularly the role of the UNPROFOR. It had helped to moderate the scope, intensity and the consequences of the conflict. It had also permitted the peace negotiations to proceed and made it possible for humanitarian organizations to bring in supplies to needy civilians. Many, including 10 Canadians, had given their lives, and many more would bear the scars of their too often thankless tasks for the remainder of their lives. He paid tribute to all those individuals from more than 35 countries who had participated in and supported the operation.
He said the Member States should reflect carefully before taking future decisions establishing new operations in the region. He strongly welcomed the views and observations of the Secretary-General in his report on the implementation of the Basic Agreement on Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium. His remarks had a strong echo in views which Canada and a number of others had expressed in a wide variety of United Nations forums over the past weeks.
He said that, through its participation in IFOR, Canada would be working to ensure the success of the Force. He regretted that it had not been possible to authorize today the United Nations civilian police mission and the United Nations civilian office recommended by the Secretary-General. He looked forward to early action by the Council. Canada would continue its engagement on the humanitarian front and would participate in the multinational efforts aimed at economic reconstruction and social rehabilitation in the former Yugoslavia. The demonstration of solidarity by the international community would continue, but, in the end, it was for the parties themselves and their neighbours to consolidate and ensure peace.
ANATOLI ZLENKO (Ukraine) said the ultimate responsibility for implementing the peace agreement lay with the conflicting parties. The Security Council, by its resolution, had clearly defined the relationship between the fulfilment of those commitments and the readiness of the international community to commit financial resources for reconstruction and development.
Ukraine supported the authorization by the Security Council of IFOR which would report to the Council monthly. By authorizing IFOR, the Council was taking a decisive step towards the comprehensive settlement of the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ukraine hoped that the parties would live up to their commitments and that the IFOR commanders would interpret the resolution's article 17 (which authorizes the taking of "all necessary measures" in defence of IFOR) in a restrictive manner. As a major troop-contributor to UNPROFOR, Ukraine was honoured to participate in IFOR, he said.
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The designation of Carl Bildt as High Representative under the civilian implementation annex to the Peace Agreement would contribute to international efforts to render humanitarian aid, rehabilitate infrastructure, establish political and constitutional institutions, promote human rights and the return of refugees, and assist with the holding of free elections.
Ukraine supported the request of the Security Council to the Secretary- General to ensure the early redeployment of United Nations civilian police from Croatia to Sarajevo as a means of creating an atmosphere of confidence between communities and extending guarantees of their rights
HANS JACOB BIORN LIAN (Norway) said Norway, a country which would participate in IFOR with approximately 1,000 troops, was satisfied that the resolution contained the necessary elements for IFOR to carry out its task efficiently. The contribution of IFOR to prevent a resumption of the war must be supplemented by concentrated efforts aimed at peace-building, nation building and economic reconstruction. The Peace Implementation Conference in London had created a good framework for the coordination of those efforts. Successfully implementing peace in Bosnia would also depend upon developments in the rest of former Yugoslavia, and in particular on the follow-up of the Basic Agreement for Eastern Slavonia.
Norway would continue its active involvement, through IFOR, and extensive participation in humanitarian efforts and in the process of reconstruction. The High Representative would need the support of all organizations and countries involved in order to ensure the rational utilization of the resources available. He emphasized the relationship between the fulfilment by the parties of their commitments in the Peace Agreement, and the willingness of the international community to provide funds for reconstruction.
He said that for the initial phase of the peace-building in 1996, Norway was prepared to commit close to $50 million. Half of that amount would be earmarked for reconstruction and rehabilitation purposes. The remainder would cover areas of a more short-term humanitarian nature. Norway supported UNHCR as the lead agency for promoting the voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons. He urged other States hosting refugees from the former Yugoslavia to cooperate with the UNHCR with a view to integrating repatriation into the overall peace process.
All competent authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina should cooperate with and provide unrestricted access to the Tribunal's investigators, he said. The task of the United Nations international civilian police force should consist of monitoring, observing and inspecting law enforcement activities and facilities throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its effectiveness would depend, to a major extent, on the willingness of the parties to cooperate, and its operational guidelines should be formulated accordingly. Norway had been and
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would continue to be a major contributor to the United Nations civilian police force in the former Yugoslavia.
He said the OSCE would be instrumental in establishing a democratic constitutional structure in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and would contribute to the humanitarian and reconstruction efforts, in cooperation with the United Nations and other international organizations. Norway would support the OSCE with respect to democratic elections and human rights monitoring. The successful conclusion of an arms control agreement for the Balkans was an indispensable part of the broader peace process.
JUAN ANTONIO YANEZ-BARNUEVO (Spain), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said that Union members had in the past been the major contributors of United Nations peace-keepers to the former Yugoslavia. They would continue to take a major part in the multinational force and in civil and humanitarian tasks. He called upon the parties to fulfil in good faith the commitments into which they had entered, bearing in mind that the consolidation of peace was primarily their responsibility.
The European Union expected that a process of stability would take hold in the whole region. It called upon the parties to mutually recognize those States which had emerged in the territory of the former Yugoslavia. Such recognition would lead as well to the normalization of relations with the international community. Arms control was essential to creating a stable peace, he continued. The conference to be held in Bonn next week would provide an early opportunity to start such a process.
He was deeply concerned over the precarious situation in Eastern Slavonia, he said. Any failure to implement the Basic Agreement could have serious consequences for stability in the region. He expressed confidence that the Security Council would soon address that issue on the basis of the report of the Secretary-General.
Free and fair democratic elections would be crucial in reconciliation and society-building for Bosnia. The European Union would fully support the OSCE in conducting the task it had been requested to undertake by the parties to the peace agreement. Without genuine improvements in human rights, peace could not have a solid foundation. The Union also strongly supported the work of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. The parties must cooperate with the Tribunal and comply fully with its decisions. The guilty must be brought to justice, he said.
Having been among the first in alleviating the suffering of the civilian population in the former Yugoslavia, the European Union was determined to contribute to the task of reconstruction in the context of the widest possible burden-sharing with other donors.
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The European Union hoped that the Security Council would approve the establishment of the IPTF and of a civilian mission of the United Nations, to be financed through assessed contributions.
NABIL EL-ARABY (Egypt) said the success of the Peace Agreement depended entirely on the implementation of all its provisions by those who had committed to it. He supported the diplomatic effort that had brought about the Agreement. He hoped that the successor States would prosper and be able to live in a climate of friendship and harmony. It was time for the international community to redouble its efforts to overcome the consequences of the armed conflict, to guarantee the voluntary return of all refugees and victims of the policy of "ethnic cleansing". The International Tribunal must do its work and the necessary resources provided to it. For the time being, it was the only international agency capable of restoring credibility to international law and deterring anyone who might be contemplating defying international law.
He stressed that IFOR would be working on behalf of the international community. Egypt had offered its contribution to the force.
He said the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina aspired to a show of generosity from the international community, and to their support by providing credit and other allocations. Egypt would pursue its own efforts of assistance.
HISASHI OWADA (Japan) said that peace in the former Yugoslavia was a fragile peace. It was essential that all the parties to the conflict strictly abide by the terms of the Agreement, demonstrating maximum restraint and scrupulously honouring the rights and duties that they had freely accepted.
The Peace Agreement was a first step on the road to reconstruction and rehabilitation. The international community must give full-fledged cooperation for the full implementation of the agreement. Japan, as a member of the Steering Board, would cooperate with rehabilitation in the former Yugoslavia. It was determined to be part of that historic process on the basis of the Agreement and would dispatch a government mission to analyse the situation.
Humanitarian relief and the safe return of all refugees and displaced persons would have to be extended to the whole region. Providing assistance to parties that had played key roles to peace in the region would be crucial to durable peace and security. Japan had already extended $180 million to assist refugees and persons affected by the war and would contribute approximately $20 million to the UNHCR and other organizations to ease suffering during the severe winter months.
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V. YOOGALINGAM (Malaysia) said that Security Council's resolution had endorsed the recent Agreement while upholding principles such as those dealing with the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and crimes against humanity. The establishment of IFOR under the command of NATO had been a centrepiece of the Peace Agreement. As a country which had agreed to take part in IFOR, Malaysia believed that every effort should be made to ensure the success of the force's mission. Any attempt to undermine the Peace Agreement should be resolutely resisted. The credibility of the multinational force would be judged by its actions to fully and immediately implement the agreement.
The Council's decision to call upon Member States to cooperate with orders issued by the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia regarding the arrest and detention of persons accused of committing violations of international humanitarian law was commendable. The safe and early return of 2.1 million refugees and displaced persons was essential to the holding of fair elections, he said. Arrangements should be made for voluntary return. He hoped that IFOR would provide logistic support to the UNHCR in that regard.
HUSEYIN CELEM (Turkey) said that the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina had resisted with determination against the evil forces of ethnic and xenophobic nationalism. They had struggled for survival and democracy. Their aim was to keep the spirit and tradition of living and working together in Bosnia, to preserve the territorial integrity, sovereignty and unity of their multicultural, multi-ethnic and multireligious country. The tragedy had unfolded before the world's eyes. Yesterday, the signing of the Dayton Agreement in Paris had hopefully marked the beginning of a new era in Bosnia.
The resolution just adopted started the implementation process, he continued. For a just and viable peace, the commitments undertaken with today's Agreement should be honoured with good faith. Preservation of sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, within its internationally recognized borders was and would remain vital for a lasting peace and for stability in the region.
Turkey would actively participate in all the military and civilian aspects of peace implementation. It would contribute troops to IFOR. The Turkish civilian Police had already assumed a responsibility as part of a joint police force overseeing the return of refugees from Croatia to Bihac. It would also shoulder its share of responsibility for the rehabilitation and reconstruction work ahead, he stated.
The conflict in former Yugoslavia had illustrated that ethnic nationalism, racism and intolerance were the biggest threats to freedom and democracy, peace and prosperity. The world should never forget the terrible suffering of the Bosnian people, the mass executions, the concentration camps, the ethnic cleansing, the campaigns of rape and terror. The Agreement signed yesterday promised that those who have committed genocide and war crimes would be brought to justice. If peace was to take hold, justice must prevail. Turkey would continue to stand by the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina in their march on the long and difficult road to reconciliation. * *** *
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