YUGOSLAV SANCTIONS COMMITTEE SUBMITS FINAL REPORT TO SECURITY COUNCIL AND IS DISSOLVED
Press Release
SC/6290
YUGOSLAV SANCTIONS COMMITTEE SUBMITS FINAL REPORT TO SECURITY COUNCIL AND IS DISSOLVED
19961115 The following statement was issued today by Ambassador Juan Somavía (Chile), Chairman of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 724 (1991) concerning Yugoslavia, on behalf of the members:On 15 November 1996, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 724 (1991) concerning Yugoslavia adopted its final report, which was transmitted to the President of the Security Council on the same day.
The final report of the Committee presents a concise account of its work since 1993 and until the termination of sanctions, in discharging the mandate entrusted to it by the Security Council. This mandate included assistance to States and international organizations in applying the comprehensive sanctions on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Bosnian Serb party, and the general and complete embargo on all deliveries of weapons and military equipment to the countries of the former Yugoslavia. The mandate also encompassed monitoring of the implementation of these measures in all its aspects.
The report describes the main activities of the Committee and its interaction with the Security Council. Practical questions arising from the implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions included frozen funds, impounded property, financial transactions, use of maritime ports, Danube and land transshipments and travel by Bosnian Serb officials.
The Committee assigned high priority to the consideration of applications for humanitarian exemptions and related issues arising from the implementation of the mandatory measures and hostilities in the region. To that end, it cooperated closely with international humanitarian agencies and sought to facilitate their relief programmes and activities.
The Committee recognized the crucial role played by the countries neighbouring the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Most of these countries had submitted applications under Article 50 of the United Nations Charter with respect to the special economic problems encountered by them as a result of
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their carrying out the mandatory measures. The Committee made positive recommendations to the Security Council regarding the need for assistance to the affected countries.
Without prejudice to the effectiveness of the mandatory measures, the Committee reaffirmed the importance it attached to free and unhindered navigation on the Danube. To that end, the Committee oversaw the establishment of a reliable system of monitoring and control on the river and approved 95 per cent of all applications to transship goods and commodities via the Danube. Furthermore, the Committee introduced a system of blanket authorizations for Danube transshipments, as suggested by the riparian States and the Danube Commission.
Overall the level of compliance by States with the comprehensive mandatory measures was good. However, in the case of the arms embargo, the Committee feels that consideration may have to be given to ways and means of promoting the effectiveness of arms embargoes.
The European Union, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Western European Union and other regional organizations have contributed notably to the implementation of the sanctions regime. These organizations provided the assistance and specialized expertise needed for sanctions monitoring and enforcement, including those provided by the EU/OSCE Sanctions Coordinator, the Sanctions Assistance Missions (SAMs) and their Communications Centre (SAMCOMM) in Brussels. Such concerted efforts at the national and international levels made it possible for national authorities responsible for the enforcement of the mandatory measures to count on practical assistance by the Committee and its secretariat.
The report contains a number of recommendations that might be of help to the Council in refining the instrument of sanctions with a view to increasing its effectiveness as a peaceful means of conflict management and preventive action and minimizing its collateral humanitarian effects.
The members wish to express deep appreciation to the former Chairmen of the Committee, Ambassador Emilio J. Cardenas (Argentina), Ambassador Ronaldo Mota Sardenberg (Brazil) and Ambassador José Ayala-Lasso (Ecuador), for their contribution to the work of the Committee.
The Committee, having finalized its report on 15 November 1996, is dissolved in accordance with paragraph 6 of resolution 1074 (1996).
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