SECURITY COUNCIL NOTES WITH APPRECIATION SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF MULTINATIONAL PROTECTION FORCE IN ALBANIA
Press Release
SC/6411
SECURITY COUNCIL NOTES WITH APPRECIATION SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF MULTINATIONAL PROTECTION FORCE IN ALBANIA
19970814 Presidential Statement Encourages Support For Albania's Economic, Social, Institutional RehabilitationThe Security Council this afternoon noted with appreciation that the mandate of the multinational protection force in Albania has been successfully fulfilled and encouraged the international community to assist and support the economic, social and institutional rehabilitation of the country. It recognized the role played by the force and participating countries under Italian leadership in fully discharging that mandate.
Through a statement read out by its President, Sir John Weston (United Kingdom), the Council said the force had helped facilitate the safe and prompt delivery of humanitarian assistance in Albania. It had also helped create a secure environment for the missions of international organizations, as part of efforts to find a peaceful solution to the crisis in the country and to assist international organizations in their role with respect to Albania's electoral process. The Council cited, in particular, the efforts of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and of the European Union.
While encouraging international assistance for Albania, the Council also stated that primary responsibility for the country's future and for restoring normal conditions rests with the Albanian people and their authorities. The necessary international assistance will be conditional upon Albania's own efforts to achieve reconciliation, security, rehabilitation and economic reform. It also welcomed the steps that have already been taken to support Albania's rehabilitation, including the preparatory meetings for a Ministerial Conference to be held in Rome this autumn.
On 28 March, the Council, through its resolution 1101 (1997), welcomed the offer by certain Member States to established the multinational protection force in Albania for a three-month period and authorized them, under Chapter VII of the Charter, to ensure the security and freedom of movement of its personnel. On 19 June, through its resolution 1114 (1997), it extended the force's mandate for 45 days, from 28 June.
Security Council - 2 - Press Release SC/6411 3812th Meeting (PM) 14 August 1997
The full text of the presidential statement, to be issued as document S/PRST/1997/44, reads as follows:
"The Security Council has considered the eleventh and last report of the operation of the multinational protection force in Albania of 7 August 1997 (S/1997/632), submitted pursuant to the requirement set out in paragraph 9 of resolution 1114 91997).
"The Security Council notes with appreciation that the mandate of the multinational protection force, as set out in its resolutions 1101 (1997) and 1114 (1997) has been successfully fulfilled. The presence of the multinational protection force has contributed to the facilitation of safe and prompt delivery of humanitarian assistance in Albania. Its presence has also helped to create a secure environment for the missions of international organizations in Albania, as part of the efforts of the international community, particularly the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the European Union, to find a peaceful solution to the crisis and to assist international organizations in their role in the electoral process in close cooperation with the Albanian authorities.
"The Security Council recognizes the role played by the multinational protection force and the Governments of the participating countries under Italian leadership in the full discharge of the mandate in assisting the Albanian authorities and the international organizations involved.
"The Security Council is of the view that the Albanian people and their authorities bear the primary responsibility for the future of Albania and for restoring normal conditions in the country. The necessary international assistance will be conditional upon Albania's own efforts at achieving reconciliation, security, rehabilitation and economic reform.
"In this respect, the Security Council encourages the international community to assist and support the economic, social and institutional rehabilitation of Albania, and welcomes the steps that have already been taken in this direction, including the preparatory meetings for the Ministerial Conference to be held in Rome in autumn 1997."
The meeting, which was called to order at 1:30 p.m., was adjourned at 1:33 p.m.
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