United Nations Daily Highlights, 98-10-26

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From: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

Monday, 26 October, 1998

Latest Developments

HEADLINES

• Demanding compliance with its resolutions, Security Council says Belgrade must cooperate with NATO and OSCE missions in Kosovo; Russia and China abstain on vote.
• Security Council members welcome successful holding of elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• General Assembly calls for repeal of unilateral laws imposing sanctions on corporations and nationals of other States.
• Secretary-General urges parties to conflict in Congo- Kinshasa to reach compromise on immediate ceasefire.
• High Commissioner for Human Rights leaves Colombia with "sense of urgency" about what needs to be done.
• Deputy Secretary-General welcomes proposal for meeting of parliamentarians in conjunction with Millennium Assembly.

The Russian Federation and China abstained on the text, which was adopted with 13 votes in favour as resolution 1203 (1998).

By that resolution, the Security Council endorsed the agreements signed in Belgrade on 16 October by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and on the day before by that country and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The agreement between NATO and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia provides for NATO air surveillance to verify compliance by all parties with the provisions of Security Council resolution 1199 (1998), which demanded an end to hostilities and a ceasefire in Kosovo. The OSCE mission will consist of 2,000 unarmed personnel from OSCE member States deployed to verify compliance by all parties in Kosovo with that resolution and report instances of progress and/or non-compliance to the OSCE, the Security Council and to authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Stressing the urgent need for the Belgrade authorities and the Kosovo Albanian leadership to enter immediately into a meaningful dialogue without preconditions and with international involvement, the Council also demanded that the two, and others concerned, respect the freedom of movement of the OSCE Verification mission and other international personnel. The Council welcomed Belgrade's commitment to guarantee the safety and security of the Verification Mission and affirmed that "in the event of an emergency, action may be needed to ensure their safety and freedom of movement." It called upon all concerned to take appropriate steps to ensure that personnel involved in implementing the agreements "are not subject to the threat or use of force or interference of any kind."

All States were urged to make humanitarian personnel available to the OSCE Verification Mission.

The Council also insisted that the Kosovo Albanian leadership condemn all terrorist actions, demanded that such actions cease immediately, and emphasized that all elements of the Kosovo Albanian community should pursue their goals by peaceful means only.

The Council demanded immediate action from the Belgrade authorities and the Kosovo Albanian leadership to cooperate with international efforts to improve the humanitarian situation and to avert the impending humanitarian catastrophe. The Council also called for a "prompt and complete" investigation of all atrocities committed against civilians and full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, including compliance with its orders, requests for information and investigations.

The Council requested the OSCE and NATO, and their members, to "take appropriate steps" to ensure the full implementation of the agreements. Member States working in cooperation with the OSCE and NATO were requested to report regularly to the Council through the Secretary-General on the resolution's implementation.

Explaining his country's decision to abstain, Ambassador Sergey Lavrov of the Russian Federation said the text did not take fully into account the positive shifts that had occurred recently in the implementation by Belgrade of Security Council demands. The Russian Federation could not agree with the resolution's assertion that the situation in Kosovo constituted a threat to international peace and security. References to freedom of the press went beyond the framework of the powers of the Security Council, and therefore could not be the object of one of its resolutions, especially one adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter, he said.

Ambassador Qin Huasan of China expressed regret that a regional organization had decided to take military actions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and interfere in its internal affairs. Even more disturbing was the fact that that decision had been taken without the Council's prior authorization. Such an irresponsible act, which would not help solve the issue, violated the United Nations Charter and international law, he said. "It is a contempt and a challenge to the authority of the United Nations and the Security Council, and has created an extremely dangerous precedent in international relations."

(For of Security Council meeting, please click here.)

Following consultations on Monday, the President of the Security Council, Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock of the United Kingdom said that Council members stressed that all newly elected leaders were expected to act in accordance with constitutional principles and the Peace Agreement, and to work for a strengthened and united Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Ambassador Greenstock said that members of the Council underlined the need for an overall solution of problems related to refugee returns and reiterated the importance of full respect for the rights of refugees and displaced persons to return to their homes in safety. Here, Ambassador Greenstock added, Council members attached particular importance to the progress in restructuring the police throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, and, as part of that, to the reinforcement of a highly effective United Nations police presence in the country.

Members of the Security Council urged "all authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in both its Entities" to make further progress in fulfilling their obligations under the Peace Agreement, including full cooperation with the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, Ambassador Greenstock said.

He said that members of the Security Council would continue to follow closely the developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the context of the forthcoming ministerial meeting of the Peace Implementation Council to be held in Madrid on December 15-16.

In a resolution adopted today by eighty votes in favour, two against and sixty-seven abstentions, the Assembly once again urged all States not to recognize or apply extraterritorial coercive economic measures or legislative enactments unilaterally imposed by any State.

The resolution, which was submitted by Libya, expressed concern at the negative impact of such measures on trade, financial and economic cooperation and the serious obstacles created by such measures to the free flow of trade and capital at the regional and international levels.

The Assembly reaffirmed the inalienable right of every State to seek economic and social development and to choose the political, economic and social system that it deems most appropriate for the welfare of its people, in accordance with its national plans and policies.

The General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to submit to its fifty- fifth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. It also decided to include in the provisional agenda of that session the item entitled "Elimination of coercive economic measures as a means of political and economic compulsion."

In a statement issued by his spokesman, the Secretary-General said that he attached the greatest importance to the meeting of Foreign Ministers which opened today in Lusaka, Zambia, to discuss the ceasefire and withdrawal of foreign troops from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Secretary-General "is heartened" by the continuation of efforts by African leaders and regional organizations to bring about a peaceful settlement of the conflict in the Congo-Kinshasa, the statement said. Mr. Annan reiterated his full support for the crucial role played by the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity in the discussions leading to the Lusaka meeting.

Mr. Annan once again called on those in a position of authority in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to put an end to incitements to ethnic violence and hate propaganda and to publicly condemn such incitements.

He recalled the statement of the President of the Security Council last week which reaffirmed that ending the cycle of human rights violations and the culture of impunity is a necessary element for any lasting settlement of the crisis in the region.

While in Colombia, the High Commissioner secured agreement with the Government to strengthen her office there. "I will work to make that a reality as quickly as possible," she said.

"Over the four days I spent in the country I was able to get a better sense of just how serious the human rights situation is and of all the work that needs to be done," said Ms. Robinson. She cited the bombing of the pipeline in Segovia, Antioquia, the murder of trade union leader Jorge Ortega, and other incidents as just the latest examples of the painful drama Colombia is living. "I am more convinced than ever of the importance of linking peace, human rights and development," she said.

The High Commissioner said that during her visit, from 19 to 23 October, she also saw reason for hope. "I saw the commitment of Colombian human rights defenders to speak for the voiceless; the expressed will of the Government to address some of the most serious problems; and the strong support from all quarters for the work the colleagues in my office in Bogota are doing."

In talks with President Andres Pastrana, the High Commissioner raised some of the major issues affecting the human rights situation, including the need to balance peace efforts with a clear commitment for human rights. They also discussed the concrete steps that were required to deal with impunity and other problems related to the administration of justice in Colombia. Among those were the need to clearly define the crime of enforced disappearances and the need to protect human rights defenders.

"The President assured me of his Government's commitment to move forward on these points, including the conclusion of a plan of human rights implementation in the near future," she said.

"Let me say today that I welcome this initiative -- indeed that I view it as a tribute to all that the United Nations seeks to achieve for your citizens -- in peace, in development, in democracy-building, in the environment, and in human rights," Ms. Fr‚chette told a meeting of parliamentarians attending the current session of the General Assembly.

"I will look forward to that Conference as a historic opportunity for us to cement our ties for a new century, and to find new and even better ways to improve the lives of our common constituents -- the peoples of the United Nations," she said.

Ms. Fr‚chette also commended parliamentarians for their contribution to building peace and security, particularly their support of the Ottawa convention banning landmines and the International Criminal Court.

"What is common to both these achievements is that they were peoples' achievements -- the fruit not only of the complex and often slow deliberations of governments, but of the impatience of people everywhere to see reality reflect their highest hopes and aspirations," she said. "For me, these historic achievements hold important lessons -- about our need always to listen to the voices of the people, and to make sure that it is their wishes and their ideals that we serve."

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