3723rd Meeting of Security Council: Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Part 1

Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter, the Security Council this evening authorized Member States, acting through or in cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), to establish for 18 months a multinational Stabilization Force (SFOR) to succeed the NATO Implementation Force (IFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina under unified command and control.

As it unanimously adopted resolution 1088 (1996), the Council also extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH), which includes the United Nations civilian police force known as the International Police Task Force (IPTF), until 21 December 1997. During that period, the IPTF would continue to be entrusted with the tasks set out in Annex II of the Peace Agreement. That Annex pertains to the inter-entity boundary line and related issues.

Determining that the situation in the region continued to constitute a threat to international peace and security, the Council authorized the Member States concerned with the establishment of SFOR to effect the implementation of, and to ensure compliance with, Annex 1-A of the Peace Agreement which spells out the military aspects of the peace settlement. The Council stressed that the parties should continue to be held equally responsible for compliance with the Annex, and be subject to enforcement by SFOR to ensure implementation as well as the protection of SFOR. The Council took note that the parties to the Agreement had consented to such measures on the part of SFOR.

The Council also authorized those Member States involved to take all necessary measures, at the request of SFOR, either in defence of the force or to assist it in carrying out its mission; and to ensure compliance with the rules and procedures established by SFOR, governing command and control of airspace over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In that regard, the Council requested the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to cooperate with SFOR to ensure the effective management of the airports, and demanded that the parties respect the security and freedom of movement of SFOR and other international personnel.

The Council also requested the Member States involved to report to the Council at least on monthly intervals.

The Council underlined that the primary responsibility for the success of the peace process lay with the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which in the next two years should assume increasing responsibility for the functions now undertaken by the international community. Without compliance by the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the international community could not be expected to continue shouldering the political, military and economic burden of implementation and reconstruction efforts.

The Council also underlined the importance of cooperation with the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. That included the surrender for trial of all persons indicted by the Tribunal and provision of information to assist Tribunal investigations.

In extending the mandate of UNMIBH, the Council requested the Secretary- General to keep it regularly informed of the work of the IPTF and to report every three months on the implementation of the Mission's mandate as a whole.

In that context, the Council also requested the Secretary-General to report by 16 June 1997 on the IPTF, in particular on its work in assisting the restructuring of law enforcement agencies, coordinating assistance in training and providing equipment, advising law enforcement agencies on guidelines on democratic policing principles with full support for human rights, and investigating or assisting investigations into human rights abuses by law enforcement personnel.

The Secretary-General was also asked to report on the progress by the authorities in regard to such issues, in particular their compliance with IPTF-prescribed guidelines including their taking prompt and effective action in respect of any officer notified to them by the IPTF Commissioner as failing to cooperate with the IPTF or to adhere to democratic policing principles.

The Council also requested the Secretary-General to submit reports from the High Representative on the implementation of the Peace Agreement and in particular on compliance by the parties with their commitments under that Agreement.

By another part of the text, the Council called on the parties to the Peace Agreement to cooperate fully with the work of the Human Rights Ombudsman and the Human Rights Chamber. It called on the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to cooperate fully with international humanitarian organizations to monitor closely the human rights situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Addressing the Council this evening were the representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ireland (on behalf of the European Union and associated States), Canada, Norway, Turkey, Ukraine, Malaysia, China, United States, Egypt, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Republic of Korea, Poland, Russian Federation, Indonesia, Botswana, Chile, Honduras, Guinea-Bissau and Italy.

The meeting, which was called to order at 6:40 p.m., was adjourned at 9:33 p.m.

For further details please see source:
MEETINGS COVERAGE

For further details please see official record:
S/PV.3723