ROLE OF ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE IN BOSNIAN PEACE WELCOMED BY GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Press Release
GA/9039

ROLE OF ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE IN BOSNIAN PEACE WELCOMED BY GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Also Appoints Members to ACABQ, Committee on Contributions, Board of Auditors, Investments Committee, Administrative Tribunal

The General Assembly this morning welcomed the important role assigned to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including supervising the preparation and conduct of free and fair elections. It also acknowledged the important role of the OSCE in the implementation of the Basic Agreement on the Region of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium and the future role of the OSCE in other regions of Croatia.

By adopting a resolution without a vote on cooperation between the United Nations and the OSCE, the Assembly also welcomed the intensified coordination between the two and encouraged OSCE States to work to achieve peaceful settlement of disputes in the region through conflict prevention and crisis management.

Also acting without a vote, the Assembly adopted a decision authorizing Switzerland, during its chairmanship of the OSCE next year, to submit communications on behalf of the OSCE States for circulation as United Nations documents and to participate in discussions in the General Assembly that were of direct concern to the OSCE during that period.

Speakers in this morning's debate highlighted the important role to be played by the OSCE in implementing the Dayton Agreement, and many voiced their determination to actively support that process. The representative of Ukraine expressed his country's intention to support OSCE activities in the organization of elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the search for a just solution to the problem of refugees in the region. Similarly, the representative of Bulgaria expressed his country's willingness to send experts to the OSCE's long-term mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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The representative of Romania said his country stood ready to contribute to the establishment of a support fund for OSCE efforts in the former Yugoslavia. It was necessary for all States to participate in decision-making in OSCE, which would imply extending membership to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, he added.

Several speakers also welcomed the OSCE decision to deploy a peace- keeping operation to the Nagorny Karabakh region. The representative of Turkey said that such an operation would be a test for participating States to reaffirm their common aim of pursuing peace and legitimacy in the OSCE region. The representative of Azerbaijan reiterated his country's full support for the OSCE activities aimed at achieving a peaceful solution to the conflict in and around the Nagorny Karabakh region of the Azerbaijani Republic and alleviating remaining tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan pursuant to Security Council resolutions on the matter.

Other statements were made by the representatives of Slovenia, Russian Federation, Spain (on behalf of the European Union) and Lithuania. The draft resolution and decision were introduced by the representative of Hungary.

Also this morning, the Assembly, acting on the recommendation of its Fifth Committee, made appointments to the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, the Committee on Contributions, the Board of Auditors, the Investments Committee and the Administrative Tribunal.

The Assembly will meet again at 3 p.m. Tuesday, 19 December, to consider the following issues: appointment of a member of the Joint Inspection Unit; the situation in Afghanistan and assistance to that country; the situation in Burundi and assistance to that country; international cooperation to study, mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster; financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon; and financing of the United Nations Mission in Haiti.

Assembly Work Programme

The General Assembly met this morning to consider three items: appointments to subsidiary organs and other bodies, the Declaration of the Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) relating to the April 1986 attack by the United States against Libya; and cooperation between the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Concerning the appointments, the Assembly had before it five reports from its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) recommending candidates to fill vacancies in the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), the Committee on Contributions, the Board of Auditors, the Investments Committee and the United Nations Administrative Tribunal.

The report on the ACACQ (document A/50/774) recommends for appointment to three-year terms of office in the ACABQ starting 1 January 1996: Jose Antonio Marcondes de Carvalho (Brazil); Vijay Gokhale (India); Yuji Kumamaru (Japan); Wolfgang Stockl (Germany); Tang Guangting (China); and Giovanni Luigi Valenza (Italy).

The 16-member ACABQ examines and reports on the Organization's regular and peace-keeping budgets as well as the administrative budgets of the specialized agencies. It also advises the Assembly on other administrative and financial matters referred to it.

The report on appointment to the Committee on Contributions (document A/50/775) recommends for appointment to three-year terms of office starting 1 January 1996: Pieter Johannes Bierma (Netherlands); Sergio Chapparro Ruiz (Chile); Neil Hewitt Francis (Mauritania); Atilio Norberto Molteni (Argentina); Mohamed Mahmoud Ould El Ghaouth (Mauritania); and Omar Sirry (Egypt).

The 18-member Committee on Contributions advises the Assembly on all questions relating to the apportionment of the Organization's expenses among Member States, the assessments of new Members, appeals by Members for a change of assessment and on the application of Article 19, which addresses on limits on voting rights in cases of arrears in the payment of financial contributions.

The report on the Board of Auditors (document A/50/776) recommends the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India for reappointment to the Board for three years from 1 July 1996.

The three-member Board of Auditors has joint responsibility for the external audit of the entire United Nations system.

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The report on the Investments Committee (document A/50/777), recommends a confirmation of the Secretary-General's reappointment of Yves Oltramare (Switzerland), Emmanuel Noi Omaboe (Ghana) and Jurgen Reimnitz (Germany) for three-year terms beginning 1 January 1996, and of Takeshi Ohta (Japan) to fill out the remainder of a term expiring 31 December 1996.

The Investments Committee advises the Secretary-General on the investment of the United Nations pension funds and other trust and special funds under the United Nations control.

The report on the United Nations Administrative Tribunal (document A/50/778) recommends the appointment of Deborah Taylor Ashford (United States) and the reappointment of Francis R. Spain (Ireland) for three-year terms beginning 1 January 1996.

The Administrative Tribunal hears and passes judgement on applications alleging non-observance of contracts of Secretariat staff members or of their terms of appointment.

Concerning cooperation between the United Nations and the OSCE, the Assembly had before a report of the Secretary-General, a draft resolution and a draft decision regarding Switzerland's participation in the General Assembly. The report (document A/50/564) states: "1995 has seen the further consolidation of links between the United Nations and OSCE". After reviewing ways the two organizations have worked together and coordinated their independent activities recently, it concludes that the avoidance of duplicative or overlapping mandates would facilitate such cooperation and contribute to effective coordination.

Concerning peace-keeping work in Tajikistan, Abkhazia and South Ossetia (Georgia), Nagorny Karabakh, Azerbaijan and the Republic of Moldova, the report states that specific efforts have been made to improve contacts and cooperation in the field, at the negotiating table, and between the respective headquarters. In the case of the conflict in and around the Nagorny Karabakh region, during the past year the Secretary-General has been represented at meetings of the OSCE Minsk Group, and in September 1995 he dispatched a goodwill mission to the region in support of OSCE efforts. In addition, the two organizations have been in close contact concerning the technical aspects of a possible OSCE peace-keeping mission in the region.

Initiated in 1994, the informal process of tripartite consultations between the Geneva-based United Nations Offices and Programmes, the OSCE and the Council of Europe have proven to be extremely useful for the sharing of information, the coordination of action, and as a means to avoid duplication, the report continues. A February 1995 meeting in Budapest between these organizations gave an important impetus to the dialogue between the OSCE and humanitarian organizations.

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By the terms of the related draft resolution (document A/50/L.62), the Assembly would support the activities of the OSCE aimed at contributing to stability and the maintenance of peace and security within its region, and it would stress the importance of the work done by the OSCE's field missions. It would encourage the States members of the OSCE to make every effort to achieve peaceful settlement of disputes in the region, through conflict prevention and crisis management by the Organization, including peace-keeping.

The Assembly would welcome the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the annexes thereto, signed on 14 December 1995 by the Presidents of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, along with welcoming the important role the agreement assigns to the OSCE in regard to the peace process, including monitoring free and fair elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It would also welcome the Basic Agreement on the Region of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium, signed on 12 November 1995, and acknowledge the important role of the OSCE in the implementation of the agreement.

The Assembly would also welcome the intensified cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and the OSCE on the basis of the framework agreement between the two organizations (signed on 26 May 1993). It would request the United Nations Secretary-General to explore with the Chairman-in-Office and the Secretary-General of the OSCE possibilities for further improvement. And it would also welcome the support extended by the United Nations in sharing its experience with the OSCE in conflict-prevention and peace-building and peace-keeping activities.

The draft resolution was sponsored by Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakstan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States and Uzbekistan.

The related draft decision (document A/50/L.63) refers to the fact that from 1 January to 31 December 1996, Switzerland is slated to hold the chairmanship of the OSCE. By the terms of the draft decision, the Assembly would decide to authorize Switzerland, during this period, to submit communications, on an ad hoc basis, on behalf of the OSCE States members for circulation, as United Nations documents and also to participate in discussions in the General Assembly that are of direct concern to the OSCE. The draft decision was sponsored by Hungary.

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Fifth Committee Reports

Acting on the recommendation of its Fifth (Administrative and Budgetary) Committee, the Assembly appointed the following to serve three-year terms starting next year on the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Affairs: Jose A. Marcondes de Carvalho (Brazil); Vijay Gokhale (India); Yuji Kumamaru (Japan); Wolfgang Stockl (Germany); Tang Guangting (China); and Giovanni Luigi Valenza (Italy).

Further, it appointed the following persons to serve three-year terms, beginning next year, on the Committee on Contributions: Pieter Johannes Bierma (Netherlands); Sergio Chaparro Ruiz (Chile); Neil Hewitt Francis (Australia); Atilio Norberto Molteni (Argentina); Mohamed Mahmoud Ould El Ghaouth (Mauritania); and Omar Sirry (Egypt).

Also on the recommendation of the Fifth Committee, the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India was appointed to serve a three-year term, beginning next year, on the Board of Auditors.

The Assembly confirmed the three-year appointments starting next year on the Investments Committee of the following persons: Yves Oltramare, (Switzerland); Emmanuel Noi Omaboe (Ghana) and Jurgen Riemnitz (Germany). In addition, the Assembly confirmed the appointment of Takeshi Ohta (Japan) to fill the remainder of a three-year term of office expiring on 31 December 1996.

The following were appointed to serve three-year terms on the United Nations Administrative Tribunal, to commence next year: Francis Spain (Ireland) and Deborah Taylor Ashford (United States).

OAU Declaration

The Assembly then decided to defer to its next session consideration of the item on the Declaration of the Assembly of Heads of States and Government of the Organization of African Unity on the aerial and naval military attack against the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya by the present United States Administration in April 1986.

United Nations-OSCE Cooperation

Introducing draft texts on cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), ANDRE ERDOS (Hungary) said the two organizations had been strengthening their links in the political realm, and joint actions were being taken in the areas of humanitarian relief, human rights and monitoring respect for sanctions regimes. Last April, representatives of the United Nations had reviewed with OSCE representatives arrangements for peace-keeping operations, thus contributing to the potential of the latter to implement similar operations.

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A memorandum of agreement had been signed in October on coordinating the activities in Central Asia of both organizations, he continued. The OSCE was planning a peace-keeping operation in the Nagorny Karabakh region. It would also contribute to the arrangements being implemented in parts of the former Yugoslavia, particularly implementation of the civilian aspects of the Dayton Agreement. The OSCE could make a decisive contribution by, among others, organizing elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He then announced that the following had joined in sponsoring the draft resolution: Albania, Estonia, Kyrgyz Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, Russian Federation and Tajikistan.

DANILO TURK (Slovenia) said the OSCE had developed into a powerful instrument for real social and political transformation at the end of the 1980s. In the post-cold war period, however, it had to a large extent remained hostage to perceptions inherited from the former era. The new era brought a radically changed political and security landscape, as well as an enlarged membership.

He said the OSCE needed to enunciate a realistic operational vision for dealing with the security issues in Europe. He welcomed the decision adopted at the recent Budapest meeting of the Ministerial Council on a Common and Comprehensive Security Model for Europe. That model must be built on the principles of transparency of intentions, dialogue and multilateral cooperation. It should expand the area of stability and provide the means to integrate the crisis-ravaged areas into the European security space. The annex to the decision provided an exhaustive list of security issues to be addressed.

He said the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina represented the most complex task addressed by OSCE, where it was responsible for preparation of democratic, free and fair elections. The work of the OSCE depended on the activities of the United Nations. Major war criminals there must be prosecuted and punished and the United Nations should do its utmost to make The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia effective. Likewise, the work of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in repatriating refugees should be supported.

ANATOLI M. ZLENKO (Ukraine) said the range of problems facing the European community was best solved through enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and the OSCE, and he supported the drafts before the Assembly, as they would contribute to that goal. The United Nations should work with the OSCE to prevent any attempt to rouse separatism, chauvinism, intolerance and aggressive nationalism. Wars, conflicts and scandalous violations of human rights in Europe had resulted in millions of refugees and displaced persons and a permanent hotbed of tension, which could not be dealt with by

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any one State alone. United Nations support, as well as that of the international financial institutions and donor countries, could make a significant contribution to the search for solutions.

The United Nations could not perform all aspects of peace-keeping operations alone, he said. The mutual diplomatic support of the United Nations and the OSCE was an important prerequisite to the settlement of problems of the region. The two organizations should expand their cooperation with a view to exploring ways to resolve conflicts in Europe. It was necessary to give thorough consideration to the creation of a mechanism for conducting joint operations of the United Nations and the OSCE in the area of humanitarian relief. The OSCE had a special role to play in the peace- building process in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially regarding the civil component of the Dayton Agreement. The Agreement envisaged a decisive role for the OSCE in the organization of free elections in Bosnia and in the promotion of a just solution to the problem of refugees. His country was committed to actively participating in such activities.

YURIY V. FEDOTOV (Russian Federation) welcomed the decision of the Budapest Conference of the OSCE and supported the conclusions of the Secretary-General's report on cooperation between the OSCE and the United Nations. Areas of cooperation between them included preventive diplomacy, peace-keeping, post-conflict peace-building and the implementation of humanitarian assistance. In such areas, both organizations had accumulated capacities and expertise, which, if rationally combined, could enhance the search for effective responses to international conflicts. It was thus necessary to fully harmonize the work of the OSCE with the United Nations.

He noted the daily cooperation that had been achieved between the two organizations in Abkhazia, the Republic of Georgia and Tajikistan. Implementing the peace agreement in the former Yugoslavia was an important area for such cooperation. A common model should be developed for cooperation, especially in the area of humanitarian assistance. The OSCE could participate in the post-conflict development in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it clearly made sense to define the comparative capacities of the two organizations. He was open to any constructive ideas regarding implementation in that regard.

JUAN A. YANEZ-BARNUEVO (Spain), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Norway, Poland and Romania also aligned themselves with his statement. He supported enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and the OSCE and said the OSCE confidence-building measures, fact-finding missions and crisis management and electoral assistance, in the area that stretches from Vancouver to Vladivostok, complemented the activities of the United Nations. In Tajikistan and the Caucusus, cooperation between the two organizations had been more structured.

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He said the OSCE was active in the field of early warning, conflict prevention and crisis management. Its comprehensive approach to the human, economic and military dimensions of security had allowed the OSCE to tackle problems in a durable and effective manner. In the former Yugoslavia, the European Union warmly welcomed the signing of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and would fully support an OSCE Mission there. It also supported the establishment of a long-term mission in Croatia.

He said that United Nations support for the OSCE Minsk process in Nagorny Karabakh illustrated the cooperation between the two organizations. The European Union supported the search for a political solution in Chechnya and was concerned that the negotiating process was stalled and that talks to implement the military agreement were still suspended. It supported the ongoing debate on a common global security model for Europe in the twenty- first century as a major objective for the Lisbon OSCE Conference in 1996. He highlighted the importance of dialogue with non-participating organizations, especially with the Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation.

OSKARAS JUSYS (Lithuania) said the complementary actions of the United Nations and the OSCE in preventive diplomacy, crisis management, arms control and disarmament and post-crisis stabilization and rehabilitation measures would enhance international peace and security. The Secretary-General should continue discussions on the division of labour between the two organizations. The OSCE provided an important link between European and global security. The OSCE security concept was a cooperative one, based on genuine partnership and on full respect for the right of every participating State to be free to choose or change its security arrangements.

Continuing dialogue with neighbouring countries was needed concerning the NATO enlargement and expansion of the European Union, he said. The OSCE's role in peace-keeping should be built upon. Cooperation between the United Nations and the OSCE could enhance the dramatic and demonstrable progress being made in the area of arms control and disarmament. More work needed to be done on the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty, an issue of particular concern to Lithuania in light of the high concentration of conventional arms and military personnel at its borders. Far-reaching United Nations and OSCE programmes for economic, social and humanitarian progress, particularly those that strengthened democracies, should be consolidated. The OSCE also had a potential role to play in mediating between warring parties.

CHIRSTO HALACHEV (Bulgaria) said the OSCE had gained useful experience in expanding its preventive and peacemaking activities in close cooperation with the United Nations. An area that was gaining special importance was coordinating the work of the two organizations in addressing the key task of post-conflict peace-building in the OSCE region. A number of problems resulting from the conflict in the former Yugoslavia would best be solved if they became a matter of concern and common action by the United Nations, the OSCE and other international institutions.

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The OSCE would play an important role in implementing the Dayton Agreement, particularly in the area of arms control in parts of the former Yugoslavia, he continued. "It is of utmost importance to preclude a new arms race in the region following the lifting of the arms embargo." The establishment of limitations on armed forces and armaments for the three States was a first step towards a broader agreement on regional stability in and around former Yugoslavia.

He went on to underline the significance of the consolidation of democracy in the former Yugoslavia. Bulgaria stood ready to provide experts to the long-term OSCE mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, he said. Post- conflict reconstruction on the territory of the former Yugoslavia was of keen interest to Bulgaria, as it was of vital importance to the overall economic development of the region.

GHEORGHE CHIRILA (Romania) endorsed the statement of the speaker for the European Union. For Romania and other countries of the eastern region, hopes of stabilization were tied to hopes of integration with the Euro-Atlantic system. Such institutions as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Union and OSCE were of vital importance. Progress had been made, particularly in preventive diplomacy, but more could be achieved. He was not optimistic about the results of OSCE missions in Chechnya, Nagorny Karabakh and the Republic of Moldova. He was concerned about the dwindling interest of a number of European States regarding commitments to humanitarian assistance.

He said a better system of managing responsibilities could be achieved among the European countries. The stability pact in Europe had been a particularly good exercise. It was now necessary to extend the good neighbour policy to former Yugoslavia. It was time to assess the status of OSCE projects for cooperation that were included in the stability pact. The Dayton Peace agreement signed in Paris provided real prospects for achieving peace in the region. There was an unprecedented challenge to establishing permanent peace and stability. Romania stood ready to contribute to the establishment of a support fund for OSCE efforts in the former Yugoslavia. It was necessary for all States to participate in decision-making in OSCE, which would imply extending membership to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). His country therefore supported reintegration of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia into international, regional and subregional institutions. It would also be timely to expand economic reconstruction to cover all of south-eastern Europe, in which efforts Romania would be a partner.

ELDAR G. KOULIEV (Azerbaijan) welcomed the signing in Paris of the peace agreement in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He highly valued the growing cooperation between the United Nations and the OSCE in such areas as preventive diplomacy, peace-keeping and humanitarian activities. He noted the concrete efforts to foster United Nations and OSCE cooperation in the settlement of the conflict in the Nagorny Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. The two organizations had also

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worked closely with regard to a possible OSCE peace-keeping mission in that conflict area. He supported OSCE's activities for a peaceful solution to the conflict and for alleviating the remaining tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

HUSEYIN E. CELEM (Turkey) said certain developments led to a pessimistic assessment of the general political climate in the OSCE region. Security and stability were still threatened by conflicts. Aggression and territorial acquisition by force continued with impunity. The conflict in Tajikistan was threatening peace in the region. "In the Balkans, time will tell if hope becomes a reality." Despite the recent positive developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, problems remained to be addressed in Kosovo, Sandjak and Vojvodina. Satisfaction could be derived from the OSCE activities in the Nagorny Karabakh region. The recent decision to establish an OSCE peace- keeping force to be deployed to the Nagorny Karabakh region was welcome. Such an operation would be a test for participating States to reaffirm their common aim of pursuing peace and legitimacy in the OSCE region.

He went on to express regret that calls by the international community as set out in Security Council resolution 855 (1993) for the return of OSCE missions to the Kosovo, Sandjak and Vojvodina regions of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) remained unanswered by the Serbian authorities. He welcomed the reference in the draft resolution to the significant contributions made by the OSCE in the maintenance of stability in those areas. The reference made in the draft resolution to Security Council resolution 855 (1995) was a renewed testimony of United Nations Member States to their support for the continuation of the OSCE missions in the former Yugoslavia.

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