Introduction
During November 1997, the Council held twenty-one informal consultations of the whole and eight formal meetings. The Council adopted six resolutions and four Presidential statements. During the period covered, the Council had considered five United Nations and regional peace-keeping operations and conducted its review of sanctions on Libya. The Council also discussed matters related to Iraq and made corresponding reactions. The President briefed the President of the General Assembly and Chairmen of the regional groups on the program of work of the Council. The Presidency also briefed Member States of the United Nations which are non-members of the Council on days on which informal consultations were held.
Iraq
During November, the Council held ten informal consultations of the whole on Iraq.
On November 3, the Secretary-General briefed Council members about the visit to Iraq to be made by the three-member team headed by Mr. Brahimi, Mr. Butler, Executive Chairman of the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM), also gave a briefing. During the discussion, Council members expressed their firm support to the Secretary-General for sending the three-member team to Iraq and hoped that Iraq should cooperate with the team, so that the current problem could be properly solved. They also reaffirmed that Iraq should comprehensively implement the relevant Council resolutions. The President made a press statement after the consultation.
On November 6, Council members were again briefed by Mr. Butler about the movement of some dual-capable equipment by Iraq. During the discussion, Council members reaffirmed the relevant Council resolutions and Presidential statements and expressed concern over the movement of the equipment. They also expressed their support of the diplomatic efforts of the three-member team and hoped that there would not be a situation that was detrimental to the solution of the issue. The President made a press statement afterwards.
On November 10, the Secretary-General briefed Council members about the visit of the three-member team to Iraq.
On November 11, Council members discussed a draft resolution on Iraq.
On November 12, after informal consultations of the whole, the Council adopted resolution 1137 (1997),in which it decided to place travel restrictions on the Iraqi personnel concerned.
On November 13, after informal consultations of the whole, the Council adopted a Presidential statement (S/PRST/1997/51) on the decision of the Government of Iraq to expel personnel of the UNSCOM of a specified nationality and demanded the immediate and unequivocal revocation of this action. The Council expressed its support for UNSCOM and the international Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and stressed the importance of their ensuring the implementation of all aspects of their mandates, including their vital work in monitoring and verification in Iraq, in accordance with the relevant Council resolutions.
On November 18, Mr. Butler, the experts of UNSCOM and Mr. Dillon, the leader of the IAEA Action Team, reported to the Council about their respective work. During the discussion, Council members stressed the importance for UNSCOM to resume its operation in Iraq as soon as possible and expressed support for UNSCOM in pursuit of the mandate of the Council resolutions. The President made a press statement after the consultations.
On November 20, Council members discussed the letter addressed to the President of the Council by the Foreign Minister f Iraq, in which the Minister of Iraq informed the President of the decision of the Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council to issue an invitation to the Special Commission, with its full complement of members, to return to Iraq to pursue its work there. In view of the letter addressed to the president by the Foreign Minister of Iraq and the Statement of the Five Permanent Members of the Security Council in Geneva, Council members agreed to the immediate resumption by UNSCOM and IAEA of their inspection activities in Iraq, so as to carry out the mandates by the Council's resolutions. They also expressed their readiness to consider any recommendations to be made by the Emergency session of UNSCOM scheduled on November 21. Council members also took note of the letter by the Executive Chairman of UNSCOM addressed to Iraq on October 27, proposing to hold the next round of consultations with Iraq. Council members hoped that the consultations could proceed as soon as possible. The President made a press statement after the consultations.
On November 22, Mr. Butler briefed Council members about the conclusions of the Emergency Session of UNSCOM. During the discussions, Council members appreciated the efforts of the members of UNSCOM. They discussed issues related the working method of UNSCOM and raised many questions. They also exchanged preliminary views on the report of the Emergency Session f UNSCOM. The President made a press statement after the consultations.
On November 24, Messrs. Butler and Dillon provided answers to questions raised by Council members on the issues of inspections. A draft Presidential statement and a draft reply letter to the Chairman on UNSCOM in response to the report of the Emergency Sessions of UNSCOM were proposed. Council members had discussions on these two proposals.
Angola
On November 19, Mr. Annabi, Assistant Secretary-General, briefed Council members on the development of the situation in Angola since the Council's adoption of resolution 1135(1997). Council members were disturbed by the lack of progress in the peace process in Angola. They called on the parties concerned, especially UNITA, to cooperate fully with the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA) and implement faithfully obligations contained in the Lusaka Protocol and relevant Council resolutions. Concerns were expressed over UNITA's attack at MONUA personnel, and UNITA was urged to ensure the safety and security of MONUA and its freedom of movement. The President briefed the press after the consultations.
The Central African Republic
On November 4, council members reviewed the sixth periodic report of the Inter-African Mission to Monitor the Implementation of the Bangui Agreement (MISAB), and Mr. Annabi, Assistant Secretary-General, gave a briefing about the recent situation in that country. The President also briefed the members on his visit to the Central African Republic from October 21 to 23. The Council subsequently adopted resolution 1136 (1997) on November 6, in which it approved the continued conduct by Member States participating in MISAB of the operation and extended for three months the authorization to Member States and those States providing logistical support to ensure security and freedom of movement of their personnel. It requested Member States participating in MISAB to report to the Council at least every month. The resolution also requested the Secretary General to undertake necessary steps to establish a Trust Fund for the Central African Republic.
The Republic of the Congo
Mr. Shanoun, the Joint UN/OAU Special Representative, briefed Council members on November 5 on the development of the situation in the Republic of the Congo. Council members agreed to continue to follow the situation in the Congo. During the discussion, concerns were made over the presence of foreign troops still in the Congo and views were expressed that opinions from the countries of the Great Lakes Region should be understood and respected when issues concerning that area were discussed.
The Libya Arab Jamahiriya
Council members conducted the 17th review of sanctions on the Libya Arab Jamahiriya on November 7. Documents relating to the review and before Council members included letters addressed to the President of the Council from the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Permanent Representatives of the Libya Arab Jamahiriya, United Kingdom, France and the OAU Committee of Five. During the discussion, different opinions were expressed, and no consensus was reached on the modifications on the sanctions measures. The President made a brief press statement after the review.
Sierra Leone
Council members were briefed by the delegations from the ECOWAS Committee of Five, under the "Arria Formula" on November 11, on the Peace Plan signed in Conakry, the Republic of Guinea on October 23, 1997. A Presidential statement (S/PRST/1997/52) was subsequently adopted by the Council on November 14, which expressed the full appreciation for and support of the peace efforts made by the Committee of Five, welcomed the signing of the Peace Plan and called for the faithful implementation of all the provisions of the Peace Plan.
Western Sahara
Council members had discussions on November 19 on the Secretary-General's report on the situation in Western Sahara. Mr. Annabi, Assistant Secretary-General, gave updates on the same item. Council members appreciated the efforts made by the Secretary-General for the implementation of the Settlement Plan and agreed with the concrete steps and timetable recommended by him. They also agreed to follow the issue.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
On November 11, Council members considered the High Representative's report, which was transmitted to the Council on October 16 by the Secretary-General, on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mr. Carlos Westerdorp, the High Representative, gave updates to the members. Council members shared his general assessment on the current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and reiterated their support for his co-ordinating efforts in the implementation of the Peace Agreement. Council members noted some progress made but were concerned at the remaining problems. They urged the parties to strengthen their co-operation with the High Representative and the International Tribunal, so as to achieve full and prompt implementation of the Peace Agreement. The President made a brief press statement afterwards.
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
The Secretary-General submitted a report on November 20 to the Council in which he recommended a six-month extension of the mandate of the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) till May 31, 1998.
The Council, after informal consultations of the whole, adopted a technical roll-over resolution (S/RES/1140), in which the mandate of UNPREDEP was extended till December 4, 1997. Meanwhile, Council members continued their consultations with a view to solving the remaining aspects of the mandate of UNPREDEP.
Georgia
The Council held informal consultations of the whole on November 5 on the situation of Georgia, based on the report submitted by the Secretary-General on October 28. Mr. Annabi, Assistant Secretary-General, briefed Council members on the latest developments in Abkhazia, Georgia.
During the discussion, Council members expressed regrets at the lack of visible progress on the two key issues, namely, the future political status of Abkhazia and the permanent return of refugees and displaced persons. They called upon the two parties to ensure the full implementation of the cease-fire agreement. Members commended the efforts of the Secretary-General, his Special Representative and the Russian Federation for their mediation efforts to achieve a comprehensive settlement on the basis of full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, and welcomed the intention of the Special Representative to hold a high-level meeting on November 17 in Geneva. They also supported the additional measures envisaged by the Secretary-General in the report to improve the safety of personnel of the United Nations Observer Missin in Tajikistan (UNOMIG). A Presidential statement (S/PRST/1997/50) was adopted on November 6.
Tajikistan
The Secretary-General submitted a report to the Council on November 5, recommending a six-month's extension of the mandate of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) and expand the mandate and size of UNMOT, in order to assist the implementation of the General Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and National Accord in Tajikistan. The Council adopted resolution 1138 (1997) on November 14, in which it decided to authorize the Secretary-General to expand the mandate and size of UNMOT, which would be extended until May 15, 1998.
Haiti
On November 24, Council members discussed the Secretary-General's report on the United Nations Transition Mission in Haiti (UNTMIH). They generally agreed with the assessment and recommendations contained in the report and were of the view that the main tasks before the Haitian Government and people were economic rehabilitation and reconstruction. They also commended the role played by UNTMIH in helping stabilize the situation in Haiti. The Council adopted resolution 1141 (1997) on November 28, which, inter alia, decided to establish until November 30, 1998, a United Nations Civilian Police Mission in Haiti (MIPONUH), composed of up to 300 civilian police with the mandate limited to a single year period to support and assist the professionalization of the Haitian National Police.
Other Matters
During the informal consultations of the whole on November 21, Council members exchanged preliminary views, under the item "other matters", on issues related to sanctions. They found such exchange useful and would be willing to continue such discussions. Some members also believed that an open debate on such issues would be desirable.
