The Namibian Presidency
August 1999
Introduction
This assessment of the work of the Security Council for the month of August 1999 has been prepared under the responsibility of its President during that period, Ambassador Martin Andjaba, Permanent Representative of Namibia.
August was an active month, with a number of pressing issues occupying the Council. Issues relating to Africa formed a significant part of the month's agenda, although the situations in East Timor and Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, also demanded considerable attention. The Council's work was particularly interesting because it was also taking forward a number of peace initiatives that were already under way. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo the negotiations intensified, culminating in the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement by the rebel movements, the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo (MLC) and the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD). In Kosovo, the implementation of the provisions of resolution 1244 (1999) continued and, on East Timor, preparations were being made for the popular consultation on 30 August. Apart from these, there were several areas of conflict where tension increased during the month.
The Security Council on 25 August held an open meeting on children and armed conflict, presided over by Namibia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Theo-Ben Gurirab, after which resolution 1261 (1999) was adopted unanimously.
On 27 August the Council held an open meeting on the situation in Afghanistan. During the month, the Council adopted six resolutions and issued two presidential statements. It held seven formal meetings, and its members had informal consultations on 17 occasions. The President of the Council addressed the media after most sessions of informal consultations. On 14 occasions, he was authorized to make statements to the press on specific issues on behalf of Council members. After informal consultations, the President also gave briefings on the work of the Council to countries which are not members of the Council.
Children and armed conflict
The Security Council met on 25 August 1999 in an open meeting to consider the situation of children and armed conflict. The meeting was a follow-up to the meetings held on 29 June 1998, during which the Council had expressed its intention to include consideration of the child victims of armed conflict in future deliberations.
The Special Representative of the Secretary- General for Children and Armed Conflict, Olara Otunnu, was the main speaker and briefed the Council on the situation of children in armed conflict and ongoing efforts. All 15 members of the Council made statements, as did other Members of the United Nations and observers.
At the end of the meeting, the Council adopted resolution 1261 (1999) unanimously. The resolution is the first one in history to focus exclusively on children and armed conflict.
Africa
Angola
On 19 August, members of the Security Council took note of the Secretary-General's letter of 11 August 1999 to the President of the Council (S/1999/871), and welcomed the intention of the Secretary-General to initiate practical arrangements for the earliest establishment of the new United Nations office in Angola and the conclusion with the Government of Angola of a status-of-mission agreement. They also took note of the letter of 26 July 1999, from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Angola to the Secretary-General and the letter dated 2 August 1999 from the Secretary-General to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Angola, regarding the establishment of the new office. The Council worked on a draft resolution on this matter.
Council members were briefed on 23 August on the humanitarian situation in Angola by the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hédi Annabi; the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Sergio Vieira de Mello; the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, Catherine Bertini, and the Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund, Carol Bellamy.
The Council members were informed that there well over 2 million people in Angola living in precarious conditions and in need of aid. About 3 million people were in areas that were inaccessible. About 70 per cent of the country's population lived in besieged cities, which were overcrowded, resulting in the outbreak of diseases such as polio and meningitis. The members were informed that so far 113 people had died from polio. The members were also informed that, of the 2 million people known to be in need of assistance in Angola, only 600,000 were receiving humanitarian aid. However, humanitarian agencies were unable to do more because of insecurity, lack of access and the reluctance of donors to contribute financially or in kind to the United Nations inter- agency appeal for Angola. The appeal had been revised to $106 million but only 54 per cent thereof had been received. It was also reported that, despite all the difficulties faced by UNICEF, relating to insecurity, lack of access and funding, more than 634,000 children had been vaccinated against polio in April. However, 2.7 million children were still to be immunized. Council members expressed their concern at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Angola and underlined the urgent need for security of access and funding of the humanitarian agencies operating in Angola. They welcomed the readiness of the Government to cooperate with those agencies. At the end of the informal consultations, the President read a statement to the press. On 24 August the Council adopted a presidential statement (S/PRST/1999/26) in which it reiterated, inter alia, that the primary cause of the current crisis in Angola was the failure of the leadership of UNITA to comply with its obligations under the Lusaka Protocol.
Burundi
On 26 August, members of the Council were briefed by the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Ibrahima Fall, on the situation in Burundi. They were informed that substantial progress had been made in the peace process since the last briefing, of 17 February 1999, and that the Government of Burundi was determined to promote the national debate, ongoing at the grass-roots level (several debates were held in countries outside Burundi), which would lead to stability among internal parties.
There had been progress in the Arusha negotiations. Confidence between the mediator, President Julius Nyerere, and the protagonists had increased and there was improvement in the working climate of the negotiations. President Nyerere was scheduled to meet the President of Burundi, Major Pierre Buyoya, and the Speaker of the National Assembly, as well as the six leaders of the opposition groups on 28 and 30 August, respectively. Owing to his ill-health, however, those meetings had to be cancelled. His ill-health cast doubt over the future of the negotiations. There were reports of violent incidents in Bujumbura where civilians had lost their lives. The violence had affected regions which were usually more stable.
Central African Republic
On 31 August, members of the Council were briefed by the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations on the preparations for presidential elections in the Central African Republic. The elections had been postponed, because of defective electoral lists, from 29 August to 12 September and the second round to 12 October 1999. A decree confirming these dates was issued on 12 August, the electoral campaign began at midnight on 29 August and the 10 registered presidential candidates began their campaigning without incident.
Members were informed that there had not been much progress in the restructuring of the armed forces owing to the announcement by the constitutional court that the four laws passed by the National Assembly were not in conformity with the Constitution and needed to be redrafted.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
On 6 August, the Council adopted resolution 1258 (1999), by which it authorized the deployment of up to 90 military liaison personnel to the headquarters of the signatories of the Ceasefire Agreement on the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other places which the Secretary-General might deem appropriate. On 16 August, the Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo called on the President, in the light of the fighting between Ugandan and Rwandan troops in Kisangani, to express the indignation of his Government about the use of the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a fighting ground by two invading foreign armies at the expense of the Congolese people. The Permanent Representative requested the Council to convene an urgent meeting to condemn the outbreak in fighting and to impose sanctions against the two countries. On 17 August, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Kieran Prendergast, briefed members of the Council on developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with regard to the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement. The States involved had signed the Agreement on 10 July 1999. However, the rebel movements did not sign the Agreement until 1 August, when Jean Pierre Bemba, leader of MLC, signed the Agreement conditionally.
Council members were also informed that Zambia and the United Republic of Tanzania were involved in diplomatic efforts to convince the rebels to sign the Agreement and that South Africa later joined the diplomatic efforts of the President of Zambia, Frederich Chiluba.
The United Nations learned of disagreements that arose between Uganda and Rwanda, which resulted in fighting in Kisangani between the forces of the two countries. This was a violation of a truce declared for 8 to 20 April for the immunization of some 10 million children against polio. Women and children were trapped in centres where children were being immunized. About 300 people, including civilians, died in the fighting.
At the same meeting, the Under-Secretary- General proposed that the Council urge the parties to respect and honour their commitments and to settle their differences peacefully, and urge the rebel factions to sign the Ceasefire Agreement immediately. Members of the Council expressed concern at the fighting in Kisangani and affirmed that the fighting had to stop. They stressed the importance of getting the Ceasefire Agreement signed by RCD and putting the Lusaka process on track as both were at risk. The Council issued a statement to the press. On 17 August, the President met with the Permanent Representatives of Uganda and Rwanda, as mandated by the members of the Council, and conveyed the Council's concern about the fighting in Kisangani between Ugandan and Rwandan troops and its consequences for the civilian population. On 20 August the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations briefed the members of the Council on developments since the adoption of resolution 1258 (1999). The Department of Peacekeeping Operations had approached prospective troop contributors to provide officers for deployment as military liaison personnel. A number of countries, including members of the Council, had pledged to provide officers for the operation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Council members were informed that the Joint Military Commission, under the OAU-designated chairmanship, was scheduled to meet shortly to decide, inter alia, on its headquarters. The Department of Peacekeeping Operations was preparing preliminary budget estimates to finance the military liaison mission, with a view to obtaining commitment authority from the General Assembly. Forty-one personnel would be deployed initially, and the deployment would commence progressively as soon as commitment authority had been granted. Up to 13 locations had been identified for future deployment. No military officers would be deployed to parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo apart from Kinshasa initially, until RCD signed the Ceasefire Agreement. The members of the Council expressed their appreciation to the Department of Peacekeeping Operations for the timely action undertaken in preparing for the deployment of military liaison officers as authorized by resolution 1258 (1999). They emphasized the importance of preserving and implementing the Ceasefire Agreement and called upon the leaders of RCD to sign the Agreement. Some members undertook to continue efforts to exert the necessary influence to get RCD to sign the Agreement. Members also emphasized the need to have total commitment by all parties. They welcomed the prospect of resuming the vaccination campaign and stressed the importance of access by humanitarian agencies to the population in need and of ensuring the safety and security of United Nations personnel.
Eritrea and Ethiopia
The Council members were briefed by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General in Africa, Mohammed Sahnoun, on 11 August on progress towards a negotiated settlement of the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
The Council was informed that the OAU summit held at Algiers in July 1999 had adopted modalities, which both Ethiopia and Eritrea had accepted, for the implementation of the OAU Framework Agreement. In this regard, the technical team composed of OAU, United Nations and United States officials drafted a peace package consisting of three elements, namely, the Framework Agreement, the modalities and the technical agreements. This text was presented to the Ethiopian and Eritrean authorities by the Personal Envoy of the President of Algeria and former Prime Minister, Ahmed Ouyahia. Eritrea accepted the OAU peace plan while Ethiopia requested clarification on the technical arrangements.
The Council members were also informed about the possible role of the United Nations in the implementation of the OAU peace plan. United Nations assistance would be required, inter alia, in the areas of demining; technical and logistical assistance; the establishment of a peacekeeping force; and assistance from the Cartographic Section for the delimitation and demarcation of the border. Council members commended the work of OAU, the United Nations, Algeria and other concerned Member States for their efforts to secure the agreement for the peaceful resolution of the conflict. The Council authorized its President to make a statement to the press covering these points.
The President of the Council reported on his meeting with the Special Envoy of the Secretary- General on the progress achieved by OAU, the United Nations and United States officials concerning the OAU peace plan for the settlement of the Ethiopia- Eritrea conflict.
Liberia
On 23 August, the President of the Council met the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Liberia, Monie R. Captan, who called on the Council to condemn the attack by dissidents of Lofa County. The President, in a press statement authorized by the Council members, expressed condemnation of the attack and called on the dissidents to relinquish territory they had seized and free their hostages, and further asked countries in the subregion not to support the dissidents.
Sierra Leone
On 5 August, members of the Council were briefed about an incident which occurred on 4 August, in which 16 UNOMSIL personnel were abducted by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council rebels at Makeni, about 70 km from Freetown. UNOMSIL personnel were called to the village to participate in the release of about 150 women and children. UNOMSIL undertook efforts to secure the release of the United Nations personnel by contacting Foday Sankoh, the Government of Sierra Leone and all other Governments in the region, and ECOWAS and ECOMOG.
On 5 August, the President of the Council chaired a meeting of UNOMSIL troop contributors after the Council members were briefed about the hostage- taking situation. The Council adopted resolution 1260 (1999), calling on the Revolutionary United Front to disband, give up its arms in accordance with the Lomé Agreement of 7 July.
Somalia
On 16 August, members of the Council considered the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Somalia (S/1999/882). They decided to take formal action on the report at a later stage.
Western Sahara
The members of the Council discussed the second 45-day report of the Secretary-General (S/1999/875 of 12 August 1999) on the developments regarding the United Nations implementation of the settlement plan for Western Sahara. The Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, who introduced the report, said that the resumption of the identification process and the publication of the first part of the provisional list of eligible persons had been achieved. However, the process was suspended for a week because of the death of King Hassan II on 23 July 1999.
The Council members expressed satisfaction at the resumption of the identification and appeals process and the publication of the first part of the list of persons eligible to vote. However, they expressed concern at the lack of adequate staff and financial resources available to MINURSO. Concern was also expressed about the lack of progress on the consultations between Morocco and the United Nations regarding the draft text on the implementation of paragraph 42 of the status-of-forces agreement relating to the carriage of weapons.
The members of the Council authorized the President to make a statement to the press in which members took note of the progress achieved in the implementation of the settlement plan for Western Sahara and further reaffirmed their support for the process.
The President of the Council reported on his meeting with the representative of the Frente POLISARIO at the United Nations, who expressed his organization's dismay at the Secretary-General's report, which it considered unbalanced, referring to the following three points: first, paragraph 3 on the statement of King Mohammed VI on Morocco's commitment to a "confirmative" referendum which according to them is interpreted as a commitment to a referendum which will only confirm Morocco's claim of Western Sahara; the representative said that the Secretary-General was not supposed to include such a statement in his report; secondly, that the Frente POLISARIO was concerned at the postponement of the identification process as indicated in paragraph 10 of the report and requested the Council to put pressure on Morocco to cooperate and submit the names of the required second pair of sheikhs and their advisers without conditions; and, thirdly, that the Secretary- General did not reflect in his report the decisions on Western Sahara of the OAU summit.
Haiti
On 31 August, the members of the Council met and discussed the report of the Secretary-General on Haiti and were informed by the Assistant Secretary- General for Peacekeeping Operations, inter alia, that the legislative and local elections would be held at the end of 1999, with a view to having a new legislature in office by 10 January 2000.
The Council members welcomed the resolution concerning Haiti adopted by the Economic and Social Council on 27 July 1999 in line with Security Council resolution 1212 (1998). The President of the Council responded favourably to the letter of 20 August 1999 from the President of the Economic and Social Council to the Council members concerning the adoption of the Economic and Social Council resolution.
Asia
Afghanistan
The Security Council devoted considerable attention to the situation in Afghanistan during the month of August 1999. On 5 August, the members of the Council were briefed by the Assistant Secretary- General for Political Affairs, Alvaro de Soto, on the military and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. He referred to the massive military offensive started by the Taliban against the opposition United Front on 28 July and the subsequent counter-offensives. The members were informed that the military action had resulted in deterioration in the humanitarian situation of the Afghan population. The members on the same day reacted to the situation in an oral statement to the press in which, inter alia, the Council condemned the acts of violence against the civilian population and called for safe and unhindered access for humanitarian assistance.
On 27 August the Council was briefed in an open meeting by the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs on the situation in Afghanistan. Apart from reporting about the continuing fighting and the deteriorating humanitarian situation, he informed the Council that Pakistan had offered to mediate between the warring parties in Afghanistan. He also stated that, despite the adoption of a declaration by the six-plus- two group in Tashkent, not much progress had been made towards peace. The Council did not adopt any formal decision in response to the briefing and the discussion.
East Timor
The Security Council by resolution 1236 (1999) requested the Secretary-General to keep it closely informed on the situation in East Timor. In this regard, the Council members heard a briefing on 11 August by the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Alvaro de Soto. The Council also had for its consideration a report of the Secretary-General (S/1999/862). which contained proposals for restructuring UNAMET to enable it to respond to the requirements of an increased United Nations presence in East Timor after the ballot on 30 August 1999, regardless of the outcome of the ballot. The Assistant Secretary-General informed the members of the Council about the closure of the voter registration process, which had been highly successful; and about the start of the campaigning process on 14 August, which was to be followed by a cooling-off period. He also noted that all parties concerned had signed a campaign code of conduct on 9 August. Members of the Council praised UNAMET for its efficient organization of the voter registration. They also expressed support for the Secretary-General's proposals to restructure UNAMET.
On 24 August, the members of the Council had a further briefing on the latest developments by the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, in which they were informed about some positive developments, such as meetings between pro-independence and pro- integration leaders. However, this was overshadowed by the news that the security situation in East Timor had deteriorated drastically. It was reported that violence and intimidation by pro-integration militias against pro-independence groups had increased dramatically. There had also been an increase in threats against United Nations personnel. Despite this situation, the Council members were assured that the United Nations remained fully prepared to continue with the ballot on 30 August 1999. After the consultations, the President made an oral statement to the press in which he, inter alia, expressed strong concern about the continuing campaign of intimidation and violence in East Timor and recalled Indonesia's responsibility for security under the agreements of 5 May.
On 26 August, the members of the Council were briefed by the Secretariat on the upsurge in violence in East Timor, which had resulted in a number of deaths. They resolved to follow the situation closely in view of the imminent date of the consultation. They also issued an oral statement to the press in which they, inter alia, called upon the local authorities to take concrete steps to prevent further violence.
On 27 August, the Council, after informal consultations, convened its 4038th meeting to adopt a resolution mandating an increase in and the extension of the United Nations presence in East Timor after the ballot on 30 August. A number of non-members also used the opportunity to state their positions vis-í -vis the progress of the peace process. The Council unanimously adopted resolution 1262 (1999). The President of the Council read a statement on behalf of all Council members, stating, inter alia, that the popular consultation of the East Timorese people on 30 August represented a historic opportunity to resolve the question of East Timor peacefully.
The Council members had their last briefing on East Timor for the month on 30 August. The Under- Secretary-General for Political Affairs informed them that the popular consultation had been held without too many incidents. Sadly, however, a local UNAMET staff member had been stabbed to death on his way home. It was reported that a high number of voters, more than 98 per cent, had cast their votes and that the results were expected within a week. The Council members welcomed the successful completion of the ballot. The good work by UNAMET and cooperation by the Indonesian authorities were also praised.
India and Pakistan
The members of the Council met on 11 August and discussed in informal consultations the shooting down of a Pakistani naval aircraft by India, under other matters. At the request of the members, the President of the Council met the Ambassadors of Pakistan and India on 12 and 13 August, respectively, and appealed to both countries to exercise maximum restraint and settle the Kashmir issue peacefully.
Tajikistan
On 19 August, the members of the Council considered an interim report of the Secretary-General (S/1999/872), and had a briefing by the Secretariat on the situation in Tajikistan. In his report, the Secretary-General highlighted the significant progress being made in the implementation of the peace agreement, including the unbanning of political parties belonging to the opposition and agreement on the dates for the constitutional referendum and the presidential and parliamentary elections. The Secretary-General also thanked his Special Representative, Jan Kubiš, for his hard work and dedication, following his appointment as Secretary-General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The Council adopted a presidential statement (S/PRST/1999/25) in response to the Secretary- General's report.
Europe
Bosnia and Herzegovina
On 3 August, the members of the Council considered the Secretary-General's report concerning the duties and functions of the International Police Task Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the overall responsibility of UNMIBH. The Task Force continued to train and restructure the police forces in both entities in an exemplary fashion. The members of the Council were also informed that the tense security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a result of the war against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was slowly returning to normal. The Council also adopted resolution 1256 (1999), reaffirming the role of the High Representative and thereby welcomed and agreed to the designation of Wolfgang Petritsch (Austria) as High Representative in succession to Carlos Westendorp.
Elizabeth Rehn (Finland) had completed her tenure as the Special Representative of the Secretary- General and was to be succeeded by Jacques Paul Klein (United States of America). Louise Arbour (Canada) was to be succeeded by Carla Del Ponte (Switzerland) as the Prosecutor of the International Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda as from 15 September 1999. At a formal meeting, the Council adopted resolution 1259 (1999), authorizing Ms. Del Ponte's appointment.
Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations briefed the members of the Council on 12 August on the victimization of Serbs and other minorities by ethnic Albanians, and the demilitarization of the KLA. Over 800,000 refugees who had fled to neighbouring countries had returned and life was coming back to normal. KFOR and UNMIK were busy implementing resolution 1244 (1999).
The Kosovo-based roving Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia met the President of the Council on 12 August and expressed his country's observation that KFOR and UNMIK were implementing resolution 1244 (1999) selectively. On 17 August, the Chargé d'affaires of the Permanent Mission of Yugoslavia met the President of the Council and expressed his country's dismay at the suspension of the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in Kosovo as well as the introduction of a new Kosovo currency. The Assistant Secretary- General informed the Council members on 18 August that the Kovoso Transitional Council had been established and was to meet on 25 August with representatives of all the ethnic groups. The President convened informal consultations on 30 August and the Assistant Secretary-General briefed members of the Council on the first successful meeting of the Kosovo Transitional Council and informed them that civilian police had taken over policing responsibilities from KFOR. Council members condemned violence perpetrated against the civilian population. The President of the Council spoke to the press, stressing the members' full support for UNMIK and KFOR and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Bernard Kouchner, in the implementation of resolution 1244 (1999).
Middle East
Iraq
The members of the Council, on 26 August, reviewed the Iraq oil-for-food programme on the basis of a report of the Secretary-General (S/1999/896 and Corr.1) pursuant to paragraph 6 of resolution 1242 (1999). They also had for consideration a report, pursuant to paragraph 10 of resolution 1242 (1999), by the Chairman of the Security Council Committee established by resolution 661 (1990) (S/1999/907). The report of the Secretary-General was introduced by the Executive Director of the Office of the Iraq Programme, Benon Sevan. Council members commented on the positive aspects as well as the shortcomings of the programme. They also exchanged views on how the programme could be made more effective.
In connection with the Baghdad Monitoring and Verification Centre, the President of the Council, with the authorization of the Council, on 16 August forwarded a letter to the Secretary-General, to which a request for additional information from the United Nations Special Commission was attached.
Question of Palestine
Following a query from the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations regarding its participation in meetings of the Council, the President, on behalf of the Council members, forwarded a letter to the Permanent Observer Mission on 5 August, conveying their views on the matter.
Other matters
On 30 August, the President convened the informal working group of the Security Council concerning the Council's documentation and other procedural questions. At that meeting, the working group considered the draft note by the President of the Council submitted by the delegation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The working group submitted a report on this matter to the Council for consideration.
During its presidency, the Namibian delegation continued efforts to make the work of the Security Council more transparent to States Members of the United Nations not members of the Council. In this regard, regular briefings were provided to interested States and regional groups. In addition, copies of press statements and other relevant documents were made available.
