SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS ATTACKS ON UNITED NATIONS PERSONNEL, URGES STATES TO PREVENT THEM, STRESSES NEED TO PROSECUTE PERPETRATORS

12 March 1997

Press Release
SC/6338

SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS ATTACKS ON UNITED NATIONS PERSONNEL, URGES STATES TO PREVENT THEM, STRESSES NEED TO PROSECUTE PERPETRATORS

19970312 Presidential Statement Emphasizes Unacceptability Of Such Acts; Reaffirms Inviolability of United Nations Premises

Expressing grave concern at recent attacks on United Nations and associated personnel, including murder, threats, hostage-taking, shooting at vehicles and aircraft, mine-laying, looting and other hostile acts, the Security Council this afternoon reiterated its condemnation of such acts and urged Member States and others to prevent them, stressing that perpetrators should be prosecuted.

In a statement read out by its President, Zbigniew Maria Wlosowicz (Poland), the Council, emphasizing the unacceptability of such acts, expressed concern that those attacks had sometimes been carried out with the deliberate goal of disrupting negotiations, international peace-keeping activities and hampering humanitarian access.

Reaffirming the inviolability of United Nations premises and the importance of ensuring the safety of United Nations and associated personnel, the Council emphasized, in that context, that the host country and others concerned must take all appropriate steps to ensure the safety and security of the United Nations personnel and premises.

The statement recalled resolution 868 (1993), by which the Council deemed such attacks to be interference with the exercise of its responsibilities and stated that it would consider appropriate measures in response.

In today's statement the Council expressed support for all efforts aimed at promoting and protecting the safety of United Nations and associated personnel, recalling, in that context, the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, adopted by the General Assembly on 9 December 1994.

The meeting was called to order at 12:45 p.m. and adjourned at 12:50 p.m.

Security Council - 2 - Press Release SC/6338 3750th Meeting (PM) 12 March 1997

Text of Presidential Statement

The full text of the statement, to be issued as document S/PRST/1997/13, reads as follows:

"The Security Council recalls its resolution 868 (1993) and expresses its grave concern at the recent increase in attacks and the use of force against United Nations and other personnel associated with United Nations operations, as well as personnel of international humanitarian organizations, including murder, physical and psychological threats, hostage taking, shooting at vehicles and aircraft, mine-laying, looting of assets and other hostile acts. The Council is also gravely concerned at attacks on and violations of United Nations premises. The Council is concerned that these attacks and the use of force have in some instances been carried out by certain groups with the deliberate goal of disrupting negotiating processes, international peace- keeping activities and hampering humanitarian access.

"The Security Council reiterates its condemnation of such acts. It emphasizes the unacceptability of any acts endangering the safety and security of United Nations and associated personnel as well as personnel of international humanitarian organizations. The Council urges all Member States and others concerned to prevent and bring to an end all such acts. It stresses that the perpetrators of such acts bear responsibility for their actions and should be prosecuted.

"The Security Council reaffirms the importance of ensuring the safety and security of United Nations and associated personnel as well as the inviolability of United Nations premises which are essential to the continuation and successful implementation of United Nations operations. In this context it emphasizes that the host country and others concerned must take all appropriate steps to ensure the safety and security of United Nations personnel and premises. It reiterates that the cooperation of all Member States and others concerned is indispensable for the mandates of United Nations operations to be carried out and demands that they respect fully the status of United Nations and associated personnel.

"The Security Council supports all efforts effectively to promote and protect the safety and security of United Nations and associated personnel. In this context the Council recalls the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel adopted by the General Assembly on 9 December 1994.

"The Security Council pays tribute to all military, police and civilian staff of United Nations and other personnel associated with United Nations operations, as well as personnel of international humanitarian organizations, for their courageous efforts to achieve peace and to alleviate the suffering of the people living in conflict areas."

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