During the month of February 1998, African issues once again predominated on the Security Council's agenda. This demonstrates yet again the especially precarious nature of the situation in Africa, a continent which urgently needs security and stability to ensure its development.
However, this period was dominated by the Iraqi question, exacerbated by the tension engendered by the refusal to allow members of the Special Commission to visit sites regarded as sensitive.
The following is a review of the situation at the end of the month of February with regard to the issues which were considered:
Africa
Central African Republic
On 4 February, the Security Council considered the third periodic report of the Inter-African Mission to Monitor the Implementation of the Bangui Agreements (MISAB), pursuant to its resolution 1136 (1997). In that connection the Council, following the supplementary report by Mr. Hédi Annabi, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, took note of the progress made by the Government of the Central African Republic in implementing the Agreements, and urged it to continue its efforts unabated until they were fully successful. As the mandate of MISAB was almost coming to an end, and out of a concern to continue to ensure peace and security in the country, the Council undertook, in the light of further information, to give close consideration to the proposal requesting it to authorize the deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping operation in the Central African Republic. Pending the submission to it by the Secretary-General of his recommendations on the establishment of such an operation, in particular its structure, objectives and financial implications, the Council decided, by adopting resolution 1152 (1998), to authorize the extension of the mandate of MISAB until 16 March 1998.
Sierra Leone
On 13 February, following the rapid development of events and the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Sierra Leone, the members of the Council heard reports by Mr. Bernard Miyet, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, and Mr. Sergio de Mello, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs. At the request of the members of the Council, in a press briefing the President expressed the Council's concern about the unstable situation in Sierra Leone and the heavy losses of human lives among the civilian population. He also indicated that the Council had therefore launched an appeal for the restoration of peace and stability in Sierra Leone, and emphasized the importance of humanitarian assistance, access to needy populations, guarantees of the safety of humanitarian personnel and respect for human rights. One week later, on 20 February, Mr. Annabi and Mr. Martin Griffiths reported to the Council on recent developments in Sierra Leone, where calm had apparently returned to Freetown, although looting was still taking place in parts of the territory, and efforts were under way to deliver humanitarian aid in a number of regions. Following discussions among the members of the Council, the President made a statement to the press indicating that the Department of Peacekeeping Operations was to keep the Council informed of any new developments in Sierra Leone. At its meeting of 26 February 1998, the Security Council adopted a statement by the President on Sierra Leone in which it welcomed, inter alia, the return to calm in Freetown, commended the efforts of ECOMOG to stabilize the security situation in Sierra Leone and encouraged the earliest possible return to the country by President Kabbah in order to re-establish a functioning and autonomous Government.
Burundi
On 26 February, Mr. Youssef Mahmoud, Director of the Africa II Division of the Department of Political Affairs, reported to the members of the Council on the recent events which had occurred in Burundi, in particular the talks held from 18 to 21 February between the National Assembly, civil society and the Front pour la démocratie au Burundi (FRODEBU), on the one hand, and the sixth regional summit on the Burundi conflict, held at Kampala on 21 February, on the other.
According to the communiqué of the Summit (S/1998/152), the Heads of State of the region had decided to maintain the sanctions against Burundi until the conditions imposed by them on 4 September 1997 at the Dar es Salaam Summit had been met and the talks under the auspices of former President Nyerere had begun.
In addition, mediation efforts were also undertaken in Arusha from 21 to 23 January with the participation of the Government of Burundi and of the Conseil national pour la défense de la démocratie (CNDD). On that occasion, the representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Dinka, studied with former President Nyerere ways and means by which the United Nations could help resolve the conflict.
On the humanitarian level, assurances were obtained by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees that the Burundian refugees in the United Republic of Tanzania would be repatriated.
Following discussions among the members of the Council, the President was authorized to make a statement to the press indicating that the Council had taken note of the progress achieved in the national reconciliation process and had invited the parties to continue the dialogue, and that it had expressed its support for the peace efforts made by the countries of the region and encouraged the Secretary-General to provide assistance for a definitive resolution of the conflict.
Somalia
In a statement made by its President on 23 December 1997 (S/PRST/1997/57), the Security Council inter alia requested the Secretary-General to keep it regularly informed and to submit a report about his consultations on means for the United Nations to support peace and reconciliation efforts and about developments in the situation in Somalia.
It was to meet that concern that, on 26 February 1998, Mr. B. Gangapersaud Ramcharan, Director of the Africa I Division in the Department of Political Affairs, reported to the members of the Council on the recent situation in Somalia, which was characterized particularly by the slowness of the peace process and the precarious security situation.
Following that report, the members of the Council expressed concern about the slow progress of the peace process in Somalia. In that respect, they expressed the hope that the National Reconciliation Conference would be held at Baldoa in March, as had been proposed. They also expressed appreciation for the work of the humanitarian agencies in Somalia and reaffirmed the willingness of the United Nations to assist in resolving the problem, of course with the help of the parties to the conflict.
Those views were the subject of a press briefing by the President of the Council.
Western Sahara
On 24 February, Mr. Hédi Annabi introduced the report of the Secretary-General prepared pursuant to resolution 1133 (1997) and contained in his letter of 19 February 1998 addressed to the President of the Council (S/1998/142).
The President made a statement to the press in which he expressed the Council's appreciation for the role played by the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). He also called on the parties to the dispute to cooperate with MINURSO.
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
With regard to the request by the President of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda that a third Trial Chamber of the Tribunal be established (S/1997/812), Mr. Hans Dahlgren, Permanent Representative of Sweden, who is responsible for coordinating this matter, said he was continuing to hold consultations with a view to producing a draft resolution to that effect.
Asia
Iraq
In a statement made by its President on 3 December 1997 (S/PRST/1997/54), the Security Council reiterated its demand, pursuant to the relevant Security Council resolutions, that Iraq cooperate fully with the United Nations Special Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in implementing their respective mandates.
However, on 5 February 1998, noting a lack of cooperation on the part of Iraq, Mr. Richard Butler, Executive Chairman of the Special Commission, gave a report to the Council on the approach adopted by the Special Commission with regard to the control and verification of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.
After receiving the requested clarifications, the members of the Council expressed their views and asked the Special Commission to pursue its task with determination.
On 12 February 1998, pursuant to the recommendations of the Secretary-General contained in his report (S/1998/90) of 1 February 1998 on the "oil-for-food" programme, the members of the Council considered the rudiments of a draft resolution aimed at, inter alia, increasing the resources allocated to the programme.
Since further consultations on the draft were needed, the resolution was not adopted until 20 February, unanimously (resolution 1153 (1998)).
At the same time, given that cooperation between Iraq and the Special Commission had deteriorated further as a result of Iraq's denial to the Special Commission of access to the "presidential" sites, and with a view to a peaceful settlement of that crisis, the Secretary-General also informed the Security Council on 18 February that he intended to pay a personal visit to Baghdad, an initiative that was encouraged by Council members.
On 23 February, the Council heard briefings from Mr. Butler and from two UNSCOM team leaders, Mr. Nikita Smidovich and Mr. Horst Reeps, on the results of the inspections undertaken in Baghdad during the first week of February 1998 by the technical evaluation teams.
Those results had already been the subject of a report submitted to the President of the Council by Mr. Butler in a letter dated 18 February 1998.
The members of the Council took note of the content of those briefings.
On 24 February the Secretary-General, on returning from his mission to Baghdad, reported to the Council on the results of his contacts with the Iraqi authorities, which had culminated in the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations and Iraq.
In reply to questions from Council members about the implications of the document, the Legal Counsel, Mr. Hans Corell, assured the members that the document was legally valid.
For the first time, an agreement had been negotiated with the President of Iraq in person whereby the Government of Iraq confirmed that it accepted all the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, including resolutions 687 (1991) and 715 (1991), and again undertook to cooperate fully with the Special Commission and IAEA.
In that regard, although the legal validity of the Memorandum was not in question, the members of the Council insisted on confirming the document by adopting a resolution.
With regard to the question of the "presidential sites", the Secretary-General said that he had sent a team of experts to Iraq to prepare a list of those sites and that a report from those experts was expected.
Following the meeting, in the presence of the Secretary-General, the President made a statement on behalf of the Council to the press, during which he expressed the Council's appreciation to the Secretary-General for having resolved the crisis and made it possible to avoid the recourse to force, with its incalculable consequences.
He also asked the Secretary-General to continue to use his authority to ensure respect for, and implementation of, the Memorandum of Understanding signed with Iraq.
On 25 February, Mr. Staffan de Mistura, Coordinator of the United Nations technical mission sent to Iraq by the Secretary-General, reported to the Council on the results of the work done by the mapping team in Baghdad. The team's mandate was to determine the exact location of the presidential sites as identified by the Government of Iraq, and also their names and structures.
Tajikistan
On 17 February, the members of the Council heard a presentation by Mr. Hédi Annabi on the situation in Tajikistan pursuant to the report of the Secretary-General (S/1998/113). A draft statement by the President of the Council had been prepared at the request of the Russian Federation.
Europe
Bosnia and Herzegovina
In accordance with resolution 1144 (1997), on 5 February the Council heard a presentation by Mr. Annabi on the implementation of the recommendations of the Bonn Conference relating to the restructuring of the International Police Task Force, in particular, on creating specialized units responsible for training the Bosnian police force to deal more effectively with the principal security problems.
On 9 February, Mr. Carlos Westendorp, High Representative for the implementation of the Peace Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina, reported to the members of the Council about the most recent developments relating to the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement.
Some significant progress had been made even though much still remained to be done.
On the proposal of the Swedish delegation, the President made a statement to the press.
Croatia
On 11 February, the Council considered the report of the Secretary-General on Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium, presented by Mr. Annabi. On 12 February, Sweden, on behalf of the Contact Group in New York, introduced a draft statement on Croatia by the President (S/PRST/1998/3).
Georgia
On 24 February, recalling the situation of the hostages in Georgia, Mr. Annabi informed the Council that a Uruguayan military observer had been released on 22 February after protracted negotiations between the hostage-takers on the one hand, and UNOMIG and the government authorities on the other.
International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
On 12 February, the Council heard a presentation by Judge Gabrielle Kirk McDonald requesting that they consider the creation of a third Trial Chamber for the Tribunal as well as an increase in the number of judges.
The Council took note of Judge McDonald's request and expressed the hope that the Chamber would be given the resources it required to organize trials as soon as possible.
Conclusion
In summary, the following recommendation is made in the light of some of the problems encountered in the course of the work in February:
The rules of procedure should be updated and expanded in order to improve the Council's procedures and make them even more homogeneous, coherent and effective.