During the month of April 1998, the Security Council held 9 formal meetings and 15 informal consultations of the members. It adopted five resolutions and issued two presidential statements. The President briefed the press after each consultation, and separate briefings were held in the afternoon for non-members of the Council.
Among the issues that were discussed during the month, the highlight was the open debate on the report of the Secretary-General on Africa, entitled "The causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa" (S/1998/318). A total of 52 Member States, organizations and observers participated in the open debate, expressing their views on the various issues concerning Africa.
Africa
Sierra Leone
On 6 April, pursuant to paragraph 17 of resolution 1132 (1997), Council members reviewed the mandatory sanctions imposed by paragraphs 5 and 6 of that resolution against Sierra Leone. The discussion was based on the latest report of the Secretary-General dated 18 March (S/1998/249), as well as on the briefing on recent developments in the field given by Mr. Hédi Annabi, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, and took into consideration the letter dated 3 April 1998 from the Chargé d'affaires of the Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone conveying his Government's position that sanctions should remain in force. Following a thorough discussion, the President made a statement to the press to the effect that the Council had decided to continue the prohibitions and to conduct the next review in 180 days, or sooner, according to developments and further discussion with the Government of Sierra Leone.
On 17 April, following an intensive discussion at the expert level, the United Kingdom introduced a draft resolution on Sierra Leone, which was subsequently adopted unanimously at the 3872nd meeting as resolution 1162 (1998). The resolution authorized, in accordance with paragraph 44 of the report of the Secretary-General of 18 March, the dispatch of up to 10 United Nations military liaison and security advisory personnel to Sierra Leone for a period of up to 90 days.
Angola
In view of the fact that the mandate of MONUA had been scheduled to expire on 30 April, the members of the Council were briefed on 6 April by Assistant Secretary-General Annabi on the recent developments in the peace process in Angola. The President of the Council, based on the discussion at those informal consultations, informed the press that Council members welcomed recent progress by the Government of Angola and UNITA in completing the remaining tasks of the Lusaka Protocol; reiterated the importance of full implementation by the Government and, in particular, UNITA, of all relevant Council resolutions; called upon UNITA to cooperate fully with the Government to complete without further delay the remaining task of normalizing State administration; strongly condemned recent alleged attacks by UNITA against MONUA and a bus carrying civilians; and expressed the expectation that the next report of the Secretary-General, which was due on 17 April, would state that all of the remaining tasks of the Lusaka Protocol had been completed.
On 22 April, Mr. Mahugu of Kenya, Chairman of the sanctions committee on Angola, briefed Council members on his recent visit to Angola and other neighbouring countries; the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Beye, then offered a briefing on the current situation in Angola based on the report by the Secretary-General of 16 April (S/1998/333) on MONUA. On 28 April, the representative of the United States, on behalf of the three observer States in the Angolan peace process (Portugal, the Russian Federation, and the United States), introduced a draft resolution on the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola until 30 June 1998. Following the discussion in the informal consultations on the report of the Secretary-General of 16 April, the draft resolution was adopted unanimously at the 3876th meeting as resolution 1164 (1998). The resolution sent a clear signal to UNITA that the international community was not prepared to accept any actions that would lead to the stagnation or a reversal in the peace process, and requested the Secretary-General to submit a report by 17 June 1998 on the status of the peace process and size and organizational structure of MONUA or a follow-on United Nations presence after 30 June.
Rwanda
Following the discussion at the expert level, on 8 April, the representative of the United States introduced a draft resolution to reactivate the International Commission of Inquiry established by resolution 1013 (1995). At the 3870th meeting, on 9 April, the draft resolution was adopted unanimously as resolution 1161 (1998).
On 23 April, the representative of Sweden introduced a draft resolution on the establishment of the third Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, as well as a draft letter from the President of the Security Council to the President of the Tribunal stressing the need for the organs of the Tribunal to continue their efforts to increase further the efficiency of their work. On 30 April, the resolution was adopted at the 3877th meeting of the Council as resolution 1165 (1998). The letter was signed on the same day and sent to the Tribunal.
Report of the Secretary-General on Africa
In accordance with the presidential statement of 25 September 1997, the Secretary-General submitted a report entitled "The causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa" (S/1998/318) to the Council on 13 April 1998, and presented it in person at the 3871st meeting of the Council, on 16 April.
On 24 April, at its 3875th meeting, the Council held an open debate on the report, in which 52 representatives of Member States, United Nations organizations and others, including the Observer State Holy See, which spoke in the Council for the first time, delivered their statements.
The refugee situation in the Great Lakes region
On 21 April, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees briefed Council members on the current refugee situation in the Great Lakes region, based on her trip to the area in February.
Central African Republic
On 21 April, Council members were briefed by Assistant Secretary-General Annabi on recent developments in the Central African Republic, including progress in the deployment of MINURCA, which was scheduled to be completed by 15 April.
Somalia
On 29 April, Mr. Ramcharan, Director of the Africa I Division of the Department of Political Affairs, briefed Council members at the informal consultations that day on the current situation in Somalia. The President of the Council, based on that discussion, informed the press that Council members had reiterated the Council's keen interest in the peace process in Somalia and that it stay on track; expressed the expectation that the all-inclusive National Reconciliation Conference would take place, as then planned, in the middle of May 1988; commended the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), regional countries and others for their continued efforts in the peace process; and condemned the recent kidnapping and harassment of aid workers.
The Middle East
The trip by the Secretary-General to the Middle East
Council members were briefed by the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Mr. Kieran Prendergast, on 2 April on the visit by the Secretary-General to the Middle East.
The situation between Iraq and Kuwait
On 3 April, Council members discussed in informal consultations the report of the Secretary-General of 25 March (S/1998/269) on UNIKOM. Following the discussion, the President of the Council sent a letter to the Secretary-General to the effect that members of the Council concurred with the recommendation of the Secretary-General that UNIKOM be maintained, and decided to review the question once again on 9 October 1998.
Western Sahara
On 15 April, Council members discussed in informal consultations the report of the Secretary-General of 13 April (S/1998/316) on the situation concerning Western Sahara. The President of the Council, based on that discussion, informed the press that Council members had expressed their concern at the lack of progress in resolving issues linked to the identification of applications from the three contested tribal groups, and reiterated the Council's will to continue to consider this matter in the light of the expiration of the mandate of MINURSO on 20 April.
Also on 15 April, the representative of the United States, on behalf of the Friends of Western Sahara, introduced a draft resolution on Western Sahara. On 17 April, at its 3873rd meeting, the Council adopted unanimously resolution 1163 (1998), by which it authorized the extension of the mandate of MINURSO for three months.
Iraq
On 17 April, Council members considered in informal consultations a letter from the Secretary-General addressed to the Security Council dated 15 April (S/1998/330) about the report of the group of experts established pursuant to paragraph 12 of resolution 1153 (1998). The President of the Council, based on that discussion, informed the press that Council members would continue to consider the recommendations of the Secretary-General with a view to taking urgent action in order to alleviate the humanitarian situation of the Iraqi people.
On 27 April, Council members were briefed by Mr. Butler, Mr. Dhanapala and Mr. Dillon, and held extensive discussions on the report of the Special Commission (S/1998/332), the IAEA report (S/1998/312) and the report of the Special Group on visits to presidential sites (S/1998/326). The President of the Council, based on that discussion, informed the press that there was no consensus among Council members to modify the sanctions regime; that Council members would continue to consult on the possibility of further Council action regarding the IAEA report; that the Executive Chairman of the Special Commission was expected to provide, in a separate meeting, additional technical information; that Council members would consider his report as requested in resolution 1137 (1997); and that the members of the Council were concerned about the question of the repatriation of all Kuwaiti nationals and the return of all Kuwaiti property seized by Iraq, including national archives.
Asia and the Pacific
Afghanistan
On 30 March, the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Mr. Alvaro de Soto briefed Council members on the situation in Afghanistan on the basis of the report of the Secretary-General dated 17 March 1998 (S/1998/222). In the light of the subsequent discussion, on 6 April, at the 3869th meeting, a presidential statement (S/PRST/1998/9) was issued, which expressed the Council's grave concern at the continued Afghan war; reiterated the central role of the United Nations in international efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the Afghan conflict; and urged all Afghan parties to stop the fighting, to agree immediately on a ceasefire and to engage without preconditions in a political dialogue.
On 28 April, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, and the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello, briefed Council members on developments in Afghanistan. The President of the Council, based on the discussion at those informal consultations, informed the press that the Council members had expressed the hope that substantial negotiations would be held on key issues for the settlement of the conflict in the process of dialogue, that the parties to the conflict would not take further offensive actions at this stage and that the Afghan authorities would cooperate with United Nations humanitarian assistance activities and respect humanitarian laws and human rights.
Cambodia
On 8 April, Assistant Secretary-General de Soto briefed Council members on developments in Cambodia since December 1997. The President of the Council, based on the discussion at those informal consultations, informed the press that the Council members had expressed appreciation and full support for the Secretary-General in his efforts to coordinate electoral assistance to Cambodia in accordance with the request of the Government; appreciation for the efforts made by ASEAN, the European Union, Japan and other members of the group of Friends of Cambodia; and the hope that the Cambodian parties would continue their efforts for the election and cooperate with the United Nations in its efforts concerning election monitoring in accordance with agreed modalities.
Papua New Guinea
On 8 April, the President briefed Council members on his meeting of the previous day with the representatives of Papua New Guinea and the Governments contributing to the Truce Monitoring Group for the conflict in Bougainville, namely, Australia, New Zealand and Vanuatu, regarding the request made by Papua New Guinea to the Council in the letter dated 31 March 1998 from the Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Papua New Guinea to the President of the Security Council (S/1998/287).
On 15 April, the President briefed Council members on his meeting of the previous day with the Special Envoy of Papua New Guinea, Sir John Kaputin, at the request of Papua New Guinea. In the light of subsequent discussion, a presidential statement was issued on 22 April (S/PRST/10), which, among other things, strongly supported the Lincoln Agreement; and welcomed the extension of the period of truce and a permanent and irrevocable ceasefire, which would take effect on 30 April 1998 as stipulated in the Lincoln Agreement.
Europe
Resolution 1160 (1998)
On 3 April, as the result of the agreement reached in informal consultations, the first meeting of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1160 (1998) was convened under the chairmanship of the President of the Council. At that meeting, Mr. Celso L. N. Amorim, Permanent Representative of Brazil, was elected in his personal capacity as Chairman of the Committee for 1998. The delegations of Kenya and Portugal were elected Vice-Chairmen of the Committee for the same year.
On 30 April, the representative of the United States, as the coordinator of the coordinating and consultative process, briefed Council members on the Contact Group meeting that had been held on 29 April in Rome, and reported that a communiqué on Kosovo had been issued, which would later be distributed as a United Nations document (S/1998/355).
Tajikistan
On 9 April, members of the Council discussed the statement by the Spokesman of the Secretary-General, in which the Secretary-General reiterated his full support for the performance of his Special Representative in Tajikistan, Mr. Gerd Merrem, in directing a complex mission and overcoming obstacles in the peace process. The President of the Council, based on the discussions at those informal consultations, informed the press that Council members stood firmly behind the Secretary-General's support for his Special Representative.
On 23 April, Mr. Merrem briefed Council members on the recent development of the situation, on activities of UNMOT and on the future perspective. The President of the Council, based on the discussion at those informal consultations, informed the press that the Council members had pointed out the need for redoubled efforts by the parties to promote the peace process and that they had paid a high tribute to the contribution of Mr. Merrem, who would soon be concluding his career with the United Nations.
The former Yugoslavia
On 21 April, Mrs. Sadako Ogata, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, briefed Council members on recent developments in the countries of the former Yugoslavia.
Also on 30 April, the representative of the United States introduced a draft resolution on expansion of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. It was agreed that the draft would soon be discussed at the expert level.
Working group on documentation and procedure
The informal working group of the Security Council concerning documentation and other procedural questions met on 22 April. The item under discussion was a draft note by the President of the Council.
Following an extensive drafting exercise, the working group agreed to recommend to the Security Council that a note by the President of the Council be issued along the following lines:
"1. Further to the note by the President of the Security Council dated 27 July 1993 (S/26176) concerning the Council's documentation and related matters, which provides for the distribution of the tentative forecast of the programme of work of the Security Council for each month to all Member States for information, the members of the Council have agreed that the following reminder should be placed in the Journal each month:
'The monthly tentative forecast has been made available to Member States in accordance with the notes by the President of the Security Council dated 27 July 1993 (S/26176) and 30 April 1998 (S/1998/354). In accordance with the aforementioned decisions, copies of the tentative forecast have been placed in the delegations' boxes and may be collected at the delegations' pick-up area.'
"2. The members of the Council have recommended that the President make available to all Member States the calendar setting out the provisional schedule of work, after the completion of the consultations of the whole on the programme of work, in an appropriate form and under his responsibility. The following footnote should be included in the calendar:
'The schedule is provisional; the actual schedule will be determined by developments. The description of agenda items contained in the provisional schedule may differ from the official formulation.'
"3. The members of the Council will continue their consideration of other suggestions concerning the Council's documentation and related matters."
The note by the President of the Council was approved by the Council on 29 April 1998 and issued as document S/1998/354 on 30 April 1998.
