SECURITY COUNCIL DECIDES ON IMMEDIATE TERMINATION OF ALL SANCTIONS AGAINST FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

Press Release
SC/6274

SECURITY COUNCIL DECIDES ON IMMEDIATE TERMINATION OF ALL SANCTIONS AGAINST FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

Members Adopt Resolution 1074 (1996) Unanimously, Satisfied With Elections Held in Bosnia and Herzegovina in Line with Peace Agreement

The Security Council this afternoon, noting with satisfaction the 14 September elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, decided to immediately terminate all sanctions on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Those measures -- put in place by a series of seven resolutions adopted between 1992 and 1995 -- had imposed a weapons embargo, trade embargo, flight ban and a prohibition on sports and cultural events.

By unanimously adopting its resolution 1074 (1996), the Council, acting under Chapter VII of the Charter, enacted provisions of its resolution 1022 (1995), which provides for the termination of sanctions on the tenth day following the occurrence of the first free and fair elections provided for in the Dayton Peace Agreement.

By the resolution, the Council called upon all parties to comply strictly with their commitments under the Peace Agreement. It decided to keep the situation under close review and to consider the imposition of additional measures if any party failed significantly to meet their obligations under the Agreement.

The Council further decided to dissolve the Sanctions Committee established by its resolution 724 (1991), once its report has been finalized.

The Security Council also welcomed the process of mutual recognition under way among the successor States to the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and underlined the need to fully cooperate with the International Tribunal on the Former Yugoslavia.

The President of the Council, J. Delmer Urbizo, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Honduras, drew the Council's attention to a letter dated 1 October to the President of the Council from the Secretary-General, transmitting the report of the High Representative for the Implementation of the Peace Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina, which would be issued as document S/1996/814.

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The full text of today's resolution reads as follows:

"The Security Council,

"Recalling all its previous relevant resolutions concerning the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and reaffirming, in particular, its resolution 1022 (1995) of 22 November 1995,

"Reaffirming its commitment to the political settlement of the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States there within their internationally recognized borders,

"Expressing its appreciation to the High Representative, the Commander and personnel of the multinational implementation force, personnel of the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, as well as other international personnel in Bosnia and Herzegovina for their contributions to the implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the annexes thereto (collectively the Peace Agreement, S/1995/999, annex),

"Welcoming the progress in the implementation of the Peace Agreement,

"Welcoming also the process of mutual recognition and stressing the importance of full normalization of relations, including the establishment of diplomatic relations, among all successor States to the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia,

"Noting with satisfaction that the elections called for in Annex 3 to the Peace Agreement have taken place in Bosnia and Herzegovina,

"Underlining the need for full cooperation by States and entities with the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, which constitutes an essential aspect of implementing the Peace Agreement,

"Reminding the parties of the relationship between the fulfilment by them of their commitments in the Peace Agreement and the readiness of the international community to commit financial resources for reconstruction and development,

"Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

"1. Notes with satisfaction that the elections called for in Annex 3 to the Peace Agreement that took place on 14 September 1996 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and notes that their holding constituted an essential step towards achieving the objectives of the Peace Agreement;

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"2. Decides, in accordance with paragraph 4 of its resolution 1022 (1995), to terminate, with immediate effect, the measures referred to in paragraph 1 of that resolution;

"3. Calls upon all parties to comply strictly with all their commitments under the Peace Agreement;

"4. Decides to keep the situation under close review taking into account the reports submitted pursuant to paragraphs 25 and 32 of its resolution 1031 (1995) of 15 December 1995 and any recommendations those reports might include;

"5. Further decides to consider the imposition of measures if any party fails significantly to meet specific obligations under the Peace Agreement;

"6. Further decides to dissolve the Committee established by its resolution 724 (1991) of 15 December 1991 once its report has been finalized and expresses its gratitude for the work of the Committee;

"7. Decides to remain seized of the matter."

The Council was called to order at 6:25 p.m. and adjourned at 6:33 p.m.

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