Security Council

4301^st Meeting (Night)

SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS EXTREMIST VIOLENCE, TERRORIST ACTIVITIES

IN FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA, SOUTHERN SERBIA

Adopts Resolution 1345 (2001) Unanimously;

Also Calls on Kosovo Albanian Political Leaders to Condemn Violence

The Security Council this evening strongly condemned extremist violence, including terrorist activities, in certain parts of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and certain municipalities in southern Serbia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, noting that such violence had support from ethnic Albanian extremists outside those areas and constituted a threat to the security and stability of the wider region.

Unanimously adopting resolution 1345 (2001), the Council demanded that all those currently engaged in armed action against the authorities of those States immediately cease all such actions, lay down their weapons and return to their homes.

The Council also called on Kosovo Albanian political leaders, and leaders of the ethnic Albanian communities in the former Yugoslav Republic, southern Serbia and elsewhere, to publicly condemn violence and ethnic intolerance and to use their influence to secure peace.  It also called on those who had contact with the extremist armed groups to make clear that they had no support from any quarter in the international community. 

Further, the Council supported the governments of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in their efforts to end the violence in a manner consistent with the rule of law, and reaffirmed the sovereignty and territorial integrity of those two countries and other States in the region.

The meeting began at 7 p.m. and adjourned at 7:04 p.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1345 (2001) reads as follows:

"The Security Council,

"Recalling its resolutions 1160 (1998) of 31 March 1998, 1199 (1998) of 23 September 1998, 1203 (1998) of 24 October 1998, 1239 (1999) of 14 May 1999 and 1244 (1999) of 10 June 1999 and the statements of its President of 19 December 2000 (S/PRST/2000/40), 7 March 2001 (S/PRST/2001/7) and 16 March 2001 (S/PRST/2001/8),

"Welcoming the steps taken by the Government of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to consolidate a multiethnic society within its borders, and expressing its full support for the further development of this process,

"Also welcoming the plan put forward by the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to resolve peacefully the crisis in certain municipalities in southern Serbia, and expressing encouragement for the implementation of political and economic reforms designed to reintegrate the ethnic Albanian population as full members of civil society,

"Welcoming international efforts, including of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, the International security presence in Kosovo (KFOR), the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in cooperation with the Governments of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and other States, to prevent the escalation of ethnic tensions in the area,

"Further welcoming the contribution of the European Union to a peaceful solution to the problems in certain municipalities in southern Serbia, its decision substantially to increase the presence of the European Union Monitoring Mission there on the basis of its existing mandate, and its wider contribution to the region,

"Welcoming the cooperation between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the authorities of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in addressing the security problems in parts of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and certain municipalities in southern Serbia,

"1.   Strongly condemns extremist violence, including terrorist activities, in certain parts of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and certain municipalities in southern Serbia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and notes that such violence has support from ethnic Albanian extremists outside these areas and constitutes a threat to the security and stability of the wider region;

"2.   Reaffirms its commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the other States of the region, as set out in the Helsinki Final Act;

"3.   Reiterates its strong support for the full implementation of resolution 1244 (1999);

"4.   Demands that all those who are currently engaged in armed action against the authorities of those States immediately cease all such actions, lay down their weapons and return to their homes;

"5.   Supports the Government of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in their efforts to end the violence in a manner consistent with the rule of law;

"6.   Underlines the need for all differences to be resolved by dialogue among all legitimate parties;

"7    Further underlines the requirement for all parties to act with restraint and full respect for international humanitarian law and human rights;

"8.   Welcomes the efforts of the Government of Albania to promote peace in the region and isolate extremists working against peace, and encourages it, and all States to take all possible concrete steps to prevent support for extremists, taking also into account resolution 1160 (1998);

"9.   Calls on Kosovo Albanian political leaders, and leaders of the ethnic Albanian communities in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, southern Serbia and elsewhere, publicly to condemn violence and ethnic intolerance and to use their influence to secure peace, and calls on all those who have contact with the extremist armed groups to make clear that they have no support from any quarter in the international community;

"10.  Welcomes the efforts of KFOR to implement resolution 1244 (1999) in cooperation with the authorities of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and calls on KFOR to continue further to strengthen its efforts to prevent unauthorized movement and illegal arms shipments across borders and boundaries in the region, to confiscate weapons within Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and to continue to keep the Council informed in accordance with resolution 1160 (1998);

"11.  Calls on States and appropriate international organizations to consider how they can best give practical help to efforts in the region further to strengthen democratic, multiethnic societies in the interests of all and to assist the return of displaced persons in the areas in questions;

"12.  Calls on all States in the region to respect each other's territorial integrity and to cooperate on measures that foster stability and promote regional political and economic cooperation in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, the basic principles of the OSCE and the Stability Pact for South East Europe;

"13.  Decides to monitor developments on the ground carefully and remain actively seized of the matter."

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