INTRODUCTION

This assessment of the work of the Security Council for the month of November 1998 is issued in his national capacity by the Council's President during that month, A. Peter Burleigh, Charge d'Affaires a.i. of the United States of America.

November was one of the busiest months in 1998 for the Council, which dealt with a broad array of sensitive and contentious issues. During November, the Council adopted eight resolutions, issued five Presidential statements, and held twelve formal meetings. Council members met in informal consultations of the whole on twenty-two occasions. Four troop contributor meetings were held. The mandates for UNMOT, UNDOF, MIPONUH, and Oil-for-Food were renewed.

In an innovation under the U.S. Presidency, a public meeting of the Council was held at which United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Ogata briefed. interventions were limited to Council members in the interest of efficiency and out of respect for Mrs. Ogatals time constraints.

AFRICA

Africa Working Group

Council members continued informal consultations in November on the work of the ad hoc Working Group on Africa, established pursuant to resolution 1170 (1998). On November 19, the Council adopted resolutions 1208 (1998) and 1209 (1998) on the security and humanitarian and civilian character of refugee camps and settlements, and on illicit arms flows to and in Africa, respectively. On November 30, the Council issued a Presidential statement (S/PRST/1998/35) on monitoring activities authorized by the Council but carried out by Member States or coalitions of States.

Angola

Council members were briefed on November 25 by A/SYG Annabi on the Secretary-General's report on Angola (S/1998/1110), which recommended a three-month extension of the mandate of the UN Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA), which was to expire on December 3. U/SYG de Melo then briefed on the difficult humanitarian situation in Angola. Troika members expressed their intention to prepare a draft resolution on the basis of the Secretary-General's report and recommendations. Following the informal consultations, the Council President briefed the press that Council members had expressed concern about the situation of MONUA personnel in Andulo and Bailundo, expressed concern that this situation be resolved without delay, noted with great concern the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Angola, called for safe access for humanitarian organizations, called for respect for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilian populations, appealed for an immediate end to the use of landmines, and expressed their intention to keep the situation under close review and to adopt a resolution to extend the mandate of MONUA. (On December 3, the Council adopted resolution 1213 (1998) extending MONUA's mandate until 26 February 1999.)

Burundi

UN Department of Political Affairs Africa II Division Director Mahmoud briefed Council members on November 6 on the most recent round of peace process negotiations held in Tanzania (Arusha III). The Council President briefed the press that Council members congratulated the Burundian parties and facilitator for progress during Arusha III, urged the parties to maintain the same commitment for the next rounds, urged respect for human rights, called on regional leaders who imposed sanctions to review them with a view to lifting them or at least suspending them, and urged the donor community to provide adequate and timely financial assistance for upcoming Arusha rounds. On November 17, A/SYG Fall briefed on reports of an alleged massacre of civilians by members of the Burundian Army on November 2 in Mutambu Commune, 15 kilometers south of Bujumbura. The Council President briefed the press that Council members' endorsed the Secretary-General's statement of November 13, condemning the escalating cycle of violence.

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC)

On November 5, A/SYG Fall briefed members of the Council on the October 26-7 regional mediation talks in Lusaka, which he attended. The Council President, in his national capacity, also briefed on the visit by Susan Rice, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, to the region, during which she emphasized U.S. readiness to lend diplomatic support to regional initiatives, the importance of a diplomatic solution-to the conflict in the DROC, the need for negotiations to address the underlying causes of the conflict, U.S. support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DROC, and the U.S. commitment to human rights and minority rights in the region. Fo owing the 3nformal consultations, the Council President briefed the press that Council members called for a peaceful solution to the conflict in the DROC that respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DROC and other. States in the region, welcomed regional mediation efforts, and reiterated their concern regarding the need for respect for human rights, humanitarian law and access for humanitarian agencies in the DROC.

Ethiopia/Eritrea

Council members followed closely the potential for conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. UN Department of Political Affairs Africa Division I Director Ramcharan briefed on November 6, and Special Envoy Sahnoun on November 13 informed Council members of the outcome of the the OAU Head of State meeting held in Ougadougou November 7-8 on the border dispute. The President of the Council subsequently met several times with the Permanent Representatives of Ethiopia and Eritrea, as well as with the Permrep of Djibouti, and reported on these discussions during informal consultations of the whole. On November 13, the Council President briefed the press that Council members fully supported the OAU's effort to promote a peaceful settlement, supported the proposals of the OAU Heads of State, encouraged the parties to be flexible, called on the parties to refrain from use of force as they explore peaceful resolution of the conflict, asked that the parties guarantee the safety and freedom of operations of NGos, invited the SYG to consider how the UN might respond to the OAU's request for UN support should the proposals be accepted by both parties, and commended Sahnoun's efforts.

Guinea-Bissau

A/SYG Fall on November 5 briefed Council members on the Guinea-Bissau peace agreement signed in Abuja. The Council issued a Presidential Statement on November 6 (S/PRST/1998/31) warmly welcoming the agreement.

Rwanda Arms Flow Commission

The Chairman of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Arms Flows to Rwanda briefed members of the Council on November 24 on the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report on its six-month investigation (S/1998/1096). He concluded that former Rwandan Armed Forces members (ex-FAR) are a significant component of the international coalition against the rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and that, despite the existing UN arms embargo, the ex-FAR continue to receive arms from a wide variety of sources. The President briefed the press that Council members expressed deep concern at the Commission's finding that illicit arms and ammunition continue to flow to former members of the ex-FAR in violation of UN arms sanctions, reiterated their concern over the destabilizing effect of illicit arms flows to and within the Great Lakes region, reaffirmed the embargo, urged all states to adopt legislation to enforce and strengthen controls on the movement of illicit arms, recalled the obligation of all states to respect and adhere to Council decisions on arms embargoes, and stated their determination to follow up on the Commission's recommendations and to take them into account in future deliberations on the Great Lakes region.

Sudan/Somalia

U/SYG Prendergast on November 30 briefed Council members on his trip to Sudan and Somalia, and on UN efforts to make the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD) framework for both Sudan and Somalia more effective. On Sudan, Prendergast reported that present levels of humanitarian assistance cannot be sustained indefinitely, and a political solution is needed. The focus should be on the IGAD peace process and UN support for it. On Somalia, Prendergast said the IGAD fact-finding mission will play an important role in determining the international approach. Following informal consultations, the Council President briefed the press that Council members supported the IGAD peace process for Sudan and Somalia, called upon both countries to continue participating in IGAD, and supported continued UN involvement with IGAD and humanitarian assistance for Sudan and Somalia.

EUROPE

Bosnia

On November 10, Special Representative Rehn briefed Council members on the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Police Task Force (IPTF). She focused on the IPTF's accomplishments to date, as well as on the IPTF's new role in court monitoring as the initial phase of-promoting judicial reform.

Croatia - Police Support Group

A/SYG Annabi on November 5 briefed Council members on the Secretary-General's report on the United Nations police support group in Eastern Slavonia, Croatia (S/1998/1004), whose mission ended on October 15. The Council issued a Presidential Statement on November 6 (S/PRST/1998/32) praising its accomplishments.

Georgia

Following informal consultations of the whole on November 25, during which Council members considered the report of the Secretary-General concerning the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia, of October 29 (S/1998/1012 and Add.1), the Council issued a Presidential Statement on Georgia (S/PRST/1998/34) expressing concern about the threat of resumption of hostilities, calling for peaceful resolution of the situation, supporting the UN-led peace process, and condemning violence against personnel of the United Nations observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) and of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) Following up on ICTY President Judge McDonald's letters to the Council and meeting with Council members in October, Sweden during informal consultations of the whole on November 16 introduced a draft resolution on FRY non-compliance with the ICTY, particularly FRY failure to transfer the indicted Vukovar-3 to the ICTY. Following further informal consultations on November 17, the Council adopted resolution 1207 (1998), with one permanent member abstaining.

Kosovo, FRY

Council members on November 19 discussed the Secretary-General's report (S/1998/1068) prepared pursuant to resolutions 1160, 1199 and 1203 of the Security Council. The Council President briefed the press that Council members welcomed the Secretary-General's report, welcomed the fact that the recent accord and agreements are contributing to defusing the immediate crisis and creating more favorable conditions for a political settlement which respects 'the full rights of all the people of Kosovo, reaffirmed their commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, expressed concern about persisting tensions, stressed the importance of early deployment of the CSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (KVM), and called upon all parties to comply fully with UNSC resolutions, cooperate with the KVM, honor their commitments and provide for the security of KVM personnel.

Tajikistan

On November 4, A/SYG Annabi briefed Council members on an incident where forces loyal to renegade ex-Colonel Khudoiberdiev attacked and captured several sites in the northern regional capital of Khojand, including the airport and military/security forces headquarters. Special Representative Kubis briefed Council members on November 10 on Tajikistan. He discussed the Secretary-General's report (S/1998/1029) recommending the extension of @ OT for six months while reducing temporarily the number of military observers to 30. Kubis also discussed investigations into the murder of four UNMOT personnel. The Council on November 12 adopted as a Presidential text resolution 1206 (1998) to renew UNMOT's mandate.

MIDDLE EAST

Afghanistan

On November 4, Special Envoy Brahimi briefed Council members on his mission to the region, during which he reduced tensions along the Afghanistan-Iran border and reached agreement with the Taliban on the security of UN workers, but was unable to implement UNSC resolution 1193 or the 6+2 Group's September 21 Points of Common Understanding. Mr. Griffiths of the Office of Humanitarian Affairs then reported on the status of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, indicating that the UN-Taliban accord

was only the first very necessary step. The Council President informed the press that Council members were briefed by Brahimi, noted his proposal to place international civilian monitors in Afghanistan, supported the 6+2 process, and expressed concern at human rights violations, harboring of terrorists, drug trafficking, and lack of security for humanitarian workers in Afghanistan.

Golan Heights

A/SYG for Peacekeeping Operations Annabi on November 24 provided Council members with a brief update on the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights Annabi reported that the ceasefire in the Israel-Syria sector had been maintained without serious incident over the past six months and that the area of operations had remained calm. He noted that the Secretary-General had recommended extension of UNDOF's mandate for another six months (S/1998/1073). The Council on November 25 adopted resolution 1211 (1998) extending UNDOF's mandate six months as recommended, and issued a Presidential Statement (S/PRST/1998/33).

Iraq

At the beginning of November, the Council President circulated to Council members letters from the Chairmen of the Special Commission and the IAEA concerning the impact on their operations of the Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council's October 31 decision to cease cooperation with the Special Commission-. On November 3, UN Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Knutsson, briefed the Council on Special Envoy Ambassador Shah's meetings in Baghdad, which had not resolved the situation. On November 4, the Council adopted resolution 1205 (1998)-on the need for Iraq to come into immediate and unconditional compliance.

On November 11, U.N. Security Coordinator Benon Sevan briefed Council members on planning of the UN, UNSCOM, and IAEA officials over the previous 24-hour period to drawing down UN personnel inside Iraq. The President also briefed on discussions he had held with the UN and individual Council members concerning the drawdown. Letters were circulated from UN Security, UNSCOM and IAEA outlining their decisions to reduce staff in Iraq.

Council members engaged in intensive discussions through the weekend of November 13:15 on the need for Iraq to come into immediate and unconditional compliance. Council members ultimately took note of the letter to the Secretary-General from Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Aziz, and the subsequent clarifications provided the President of the Security Council from Iraqi Permanent Representative Hamdoon, regarding the Iraqi commitment to cooperate fully and unconditionally with UNSCOM and the IAEA. The Council President spoke to the press on November 15, and the text of his full remarks is attached to this 'report as an annex.

On November 23, Council members were briefed by the Executive Director of the Office of the Iraq Program, Mr. Sevan, on the Oil-for-Food program in conjunction with resolution 1153. The Council on November 24 extended the oil-for-Food mandate for six months by adopting resolution 1210 (1998).

LATIN AMERICA

Haiti

U/SYG for Peacekeeping operations Miyet briefed Council.members on November 23 on the United Nations Civilian Police Mission in Haiti (MIPONUH). He emphasized that the Secretary-General's report recommended extending MIPONUH's mandate for another year, to help Haiti move through this transitional period and ensure stability and security. He noted that termination of the mandate would jeopardize the real achievements of the Haitian National Police and have a negative impact on Haiti's efforts to develop its judicial institutions. The Council on November 25 adopted resolution 1212 (1998) extending MIPONUH's mandate for a year. Two permanent members abstained in that vote.

OTHER ISSUES

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Ogata at a public meeting of the Council on November 10 briefed on refugee issues concerning the Former Republic of Yugoslavia and Africa.

On November 30, the President of the Council represented the Security Council at the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People's annual meeting on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. He addressed the meeting in his capacity as Council President.