The Malaysian Presidency
July 1999
Introduction
This assessment of the work of the Security Council for the month of July 1999 has been prepared under the responsibility of its President during that month, Hasmy Agam, Permanent Representative of Malaysia. The Council in July was heavily engaged in a number of difficult and sensitive issues, including Iraq, East Timor, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
In the month of July, the Council held nine formal meetings, adopted four resolutions, issued four presidential statements and met in informal consultations of the whole on 24 occasions. Three troop contributors' meetings were held and the mandates for the United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia were renewed. The President made statements to the press on specific issues on behalf of the Council members on 17 occasions. The Council, having referred the question to the Committee on the Admission of New Members and received its recommendation to admit the Kingdom of Tonga, adopted resolution 1253 (1999) recommending to the General Assembly the admission of Tonga to membership in the United Nations.
An open debate under the item entitled "Maintenance of peace and security and post-conflict peace-building" was held on 8 July. The debate provided the Organization with inputs to devise strategies for implementing principles and guidelines in future peacekeeping operations, and this initiative will have a major bearing on future United Nations peacekeeping operations.
On 26 July, the Council held a formal meeting under the item entitled "Promoting peace and security: humanitarian assistance to refugees in Africa" to hear a briefing by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata.
As part of efforts to further increase the transparency of the work of the Council, the President briefed the Chairmen of regional groups on the programme of work of the Council and also met with the President of the Economic and Social Council. In addition, the Malaysian presidency briefed non- members of the Council on the Council's deliberations following the adjournment of informal consultations. The briefings were substantive and detailed, and transcripts of the press statements made by the President on behalf of the Council were made available to Member States. In general, the Malaysian presidency attempted to follow up on a number of initiatives from past presidencies to make the Council more transparent and accountable.
Africa
On 27 July, the Secretary-General briefed the Council on the outcome of his visit to West Africa undertaken from 6 to 11 July, which also included his participation in the annual session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of OAU at Algiers. Members of the Council were informed that the primary purpose of the visit to West Africa was to express the Organization's continued interest in and encouragement of the commendable efforts of ECOWAS towards the consolidation of peace and the promotion of democratization and good governance. The Secretary-General considered the visit to be significant in terms of providing awareness that the United Nations had not lost sight of Africa's troubles and challenges.
In the opinion of the Secretary-General, the determination of the West African States to take primary responsibility for finding solutions to their own problems was admirable. However, their efforts were often thwarted by what he viewed as their lack of resources, an overflow of refugees, the proliferation of small arms and crippling external debt. The problems they faced were interlinked and ought to be tackled together on a subregional level. The return of peace in Sierra Leone and the democratization of Nigeria were heartily welcomed and should bring about a significant improvement in the situation and the prospects for the subregion as a whole.
With regard to the OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Government, the Secretary-General was impressed with the seriousness with which the African leaders dealt with sensitive and controversial issues, as well as their readiness to tackle the continent's peace and security issues. One important question discussed during the session was that of good governance and the practice of some military regimes taking power through coups, and the OAU Assembly called for such regimes to democratize within one year, failing which sanctions would be imposed against them. Meanwhile, the endorsement of the three peace agreements (Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of the Congo and modalities for the Ethiopia-Eritrea dispute) during the session underlined the commitment of OAU to assume responsibility for the management and resolution of conflicts in Africa. It was imperative, therefore, for the United Nations and the international community to provide both political and material support so that the fragile peace could be consolidated.
The Secretary-General concluded by saying that there was now a qualitative change in Africa with the endorsements of the three agreements, the decision of Liberia to destroy arms collected, the positive developments in Nigeria, the transition of South Africa and signs of reconciliation in Algeria, as well as the resolve of some African leaders not to support regimes which had taken power through coups d'état. Having just returned from the funeral of King Hassan of Morocco, the Secretary-General added that he hoped there would be a warming of relations between Morocco and Algeria, which could lead to the resolution of the issue of Western Sahara.
Angola
The Council held an open meeting on 29 July to hear a briefing by the Chairman of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 864 (1993) concerning the situation in Angola on his recent visits to Africa and Europe, during which he had held extensive discussions with the major players in the diamond industry. The Chairman informed the Council that the goal of the Committee, which was to oversee embargoes on the sale of diamonds, arms and petroleum, as well as travel restrictions later imposed on certain members of UNITA, was not to inflict collateral damage on the legitimate diamond trade. The goal was to reduce the diamond revenues of UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi, which amounted to an estimated $3 billion to $4 billion since the early 1990s. The sanctions were aimed at diminishing the capacity of UNITA to wage war by reducing those revenues and increasing the cost of arms procurement. Included in the Chairman's reports (S/1999/644 and S/1999/829) were 19 recommendations to tighten sanctions against UNITA. Two expert panels were created that would, among other tasks, address the sources of UNITA revenue, funding petroleum supplies and military support.
Following the formal meeting, the members of the Council reconvened in informal consultations to receive an update from the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hédi Annabi, on the situation in Angola. On the question of the future presence of the United Nations, the members of the Council were informed that the Secretary-General had been trying to secure the necessary arrangement with the Government of Angola for a continued multi- disciplinary presence of the United Nations under the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Angola. In a letter to the Secretary-General of 27 June, the Foreign Minister of Angola indicated that conditions were now created for the signing of the framework agreement, which would make possible the functioning of the United Nations antenna office in Angola. As regards military and security aspects, the situation continued to deteriorate. Both the Government of Angola and UNITA had intensified fighting, with the resulting dire consequences for the population. The door for dialogue between the two parties remained closed. MONUA maintained only a few operational personnel whose activities were currently limited to Luanda. On the humanitarian front, the situation had become extremely precarious and various Angolan communities were increasingly being affected as much as the internally displaced persons.
Central African Republic
On 20 July, the Council considered the seventh report of the Secretary-General on MINURCA (S/1999/788) following a briefing by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Central African Republic, Oluyemi Adeniji. In his report, the Secretary-General indicated that increased tensions were a serious concern as the country approached the presidential elections scheduled for 29 August. To address these new security considerations, the Secretary-General recommended that the number of United Nations personnel be increased by 148, which would bring to 1,498 the total of the military component of MINURCA. The Secretary-General also expressed concern at the lack of progress in achieving the concrete actions to which the President of the Central African Republic, Ange-Félix Patassé, had committed himself. The fact that the presidential guard was still not confined to its statutory duties and had continued to carry out police functions was a source of continuing insecurity among the civil population. The President made a statement to the press following the informal consultations (see below).
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Council members were briefed by the Under- Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Bernard Miyet, at an unscheduled meeting on 6 July on the peace talks being held at Lusaka. The Lusaka meeting, which had commenced on 26 June, was attended by defence and foreign affairs ministers from the 14 members of SADC, as well as from Rwanda, Uganda and the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. The meeting discussed a draft document on the ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The briefing was intended to alert the Council members to the need to consider possible follow-up actions in the event that a ceasefire agreement was reached. For its part, the Secretariat had devised a contingency plan that would allow the Organization to deploy military observers in the shortest time possible. Following the signing of a ceasefire agreement, the Secretary-General would submit a report to the Council requesting authorization to deploy a United Nations peacekeeping mission. A meeting of troop contributors was also held in the afternoon of 6 July to alert troop-contributing countries to the requirements of a possible United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was envisaged that the deployment of military observers and liaison officers would constitute the first phase of such a mission. On 10 July, Council members received a further update from the Under-Secretary-General on the adoption of a ceasefire agreement on 7 July at Lusaka by the defence and foreign affairs ministers and the rebel leaders. The ceasefire would take effect within 24 hours of its signature by the heads of State of Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe, as well as the rebel factions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The signing was scheduled for 10 July at 10 a.m. Lusaka time.
On 12 July, the Under-Secretary-General briefed the members of the Council on the details of the Ceasefire Agreement signed by the Presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe, and the Minister of Defence of Angola, but not by the rebel leaders. The President made a statement to the press following the informal consultations (see below).
During a call on the President of the Council on 15 July, the Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo suggested that the members of the Council exert pressure on countries that supported the rebel movements in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and encourage them to use whatever influence they had to make the rebel movements sign the Ceasefire Agreement without further delay. He also suggested that the Council must be prepared to consider the active involvement of the United Nations, in coordination with OAU, to assist in the implementation of an effective ceasefire agreement and in an agreed process for the political settlement of the conflict.
On 19 July, the Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo again called on the President of the Council to express support for the Secretary-General's recommendations (see S/1999/790) on the preliminary deployment of United Nations military personnel. He appealed to the international community and the United Nations to assist the Congolese Government and people, as well as other Governments involved, in achieving a peaceful settlement.
On 20 July, the members of the Council were briefed by the Under-Secretary-General on the status of the Ceasefire Agreement. The Council also considered the report of the Secretary-General, in which he strongly recommended that the Council approve sending 90 military personnel, as well as civilian, political and humanitarian staff, to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in preparation for the future deployment of a larger United Nations peacekeeping operation. At a second stage, the Secretary-General would be prepared to recommend a further deployment of up to 500 military observers within the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring States. The members of the Council reiterated their dismay that the leaders of the rebel movements had still not signed the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement. They underlined their belief that the signing of the Agreement was the only effective way of bringing about national reconciliation and lasting peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Members of the Council also called on the Governments of Rwanda and Uganda to use their influence on the two Congolese rebel movements, the Congolese Rally for Democracy and the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo, and to convince them to respect the Lusaka accord. They also expressed their readiness to consider expeditiously the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General. The President made a statement to the press following the informal consultations (see below).
On 23 July, members of the Council received an update on the status of the draft resolution that had been tabled following the Council's consideration of the Secretary-General's report (S/1999/790). Speaking to the press following the informal meeting, the President indicated, inter alia, that Council members had finalized their consultations and had agreed to take action to authorize the deployment of up to 90 military liaison personnel to the subregion (see below).
Guinea-Bissau
On 6 July, the members of the Council were briefed by the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Alvaro de Soto, following the issuance of the Secretary-General's report on developments in Guinea- Bissau (S/1999/741). The report had focused on the changing situation on the ground since the ouster of President Vieira on 7 May 1999 by the self-proclaimed military junta as well as on the question of the United Nations continued presence in the country to facilitate the peace-building process. Following the consultations, the President made a statement to the media, as authorized by the members of the Council, inter alia, expressing support for the decision of the Secretary-General to establish the United Nations Peace-building Support Office in Guinea-Bissau with a modified mandate (see below).
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
The Security Council considered the item relating to the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya on 7 July, following the submission of the report of the Secretary-General (S/1999/726). The Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs gave a brief introduction to the report and stated that, with the issuance of the report, the Secretary-General had fulfilled his obligation to report on progress made since the events of 5 April 1999. The Secretary-General had been requested to report to the Council, within 90 days of the suspension of the sanctions, on compliance by the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya with the remaining provisions of resolutions 731 (1992) and 748 (1992). The sanctions imposed on the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya had been suspended as from 5 April 1999 at 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time upon the surrender of the two Libyan nationals in the Netherlands. The Assistant Secretary- General emphasized that the Council would have to make its own decision on how to proceed on the question of the lifting of the sanctions. During the discussion that followed, it was clear that there was no consensus on the question of the lifting of the sanctions. One permanent member was of the view that not all of the conditions had been met by the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya; it was quite prepared to exercise its use of the veto should a resolution be tabled proposing that the sanctions be lifted at this stage. Another permanent member did not object to the lifting of the sanctions provided that this was a consensus decision of the Council. While noting that the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya had been cooperating, some members of the Council shared the view that not all the conditions had been met to allow for such a decision. Others made a strong call for the lifting of the sanctions and were prepared to introduce a draft resolution for action by the Council. They underlined the need for members of the Council not to politicize the matter, as the Scottish court was already handling it.
On 8 July, one member of the Council introduced a draft resolution, on behalf of the non-aligned countries, calling for the termination of the sanctions imposed upon the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. However, as it became apparent that the draft resolution could not command the support of all Council members, and in a bid to have the Council make a formal pronouncement in response to the Secretary-General's 90-day report, members of the Council reached an understanding to begin work on a draft presidential text instead. On 9 July, following intensive consultations, the Council adopted a presidential statement (S/PRST/1999/22) in which, inter alia, it welcomed the positive developments described in the Secretary- General's report and acknowledged that the Libyan Arab Jamahirya had indeed made significant progress in compliance with the relevant Council resolutions.
Sierra Leone
In a brief announcement to the Council on 7 July, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations informed members of the Council of the imminent signing at Lomé of a peace agreement between the Government of Sierra Leone and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). He informed the Council, however, that the Secretariat was not in a position to report precise details of the agreement and would revert to the Council accordingly. He added that the Secretariat would provide additional information on the question of new mandates and a revised concept of operations for UNOMSIL in due course.
On 8 July, members of the Council received a more comprehensive briefing by the Under Secretary- General, who reported that the agreement, inter alia, had called for the total and permanent cessation of hostilities between the parties. The deal would also grant rebels a "reprieve" from war crimes prosecutions. Foday Sankoh, the leader of RUF, had been granted a pardon but sanctions against RUF were still in place. He reported that the signing had followed intense negotiations undertaken over a period of six weeks, brokered by the President of Togo, Gnassingbé Eyadéma of Togo. Members were also informed that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sierra Leone, Francis Okelo, who was also a signatory to the Agreement, had added a disclaimer to the amnesty provision stating that the amnesty and pardon should not apply to international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and other serious violations of international humanitarian law. It was also reported to members that the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) would be expected to remain in the country for the immediate future. However, it was still unclear what the size and assigned role of ECOMOG would be in relation to the United Nations own proposed expanded presence in the country. It was hoped that that would become clearer once consultations with the Secretariat commenced. It was also quite likely that there would be a phased withdrawal of the regional peacekeeping force. As an urgent measure, the Under-Secretary-General said that the Council should be prepared to deploy a first battalion by air to establish a strong, early presence in the country. He underlined the need to act swiftly and avoid the creation of a security vacuum in the country. Following the meeting, the President addressed the media, as authorized by the members of the Council, welcoming the signing of the Lomé Peace Agreement and commending the role played by ECOWAS and President Eyadéma in bringing the talks to a successful conclusion. Members stressed that the signing of the Agreement was a significant achievement for all concerned and a historic turning point for Sierra Leone and its people. Members urged both the Government of Sierra Leone and RUF to ensure that the provisions of the Agreement were implemented. Members of the Council also paid a tribute to the key role played by ECOMOG in the country. Members recognized that the Organization would have a key role to play in the implementation of the Agreement, in close coordination with all those involved on the ground, including ECOWAS and ECOMOG, in particular on the major question of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex- combatants.
Eritrea and Ethiopia
On 21 July, the members of the Council were briefed by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General in Africa, Mohammed Sahnoun, on recent developments regarding a negotiated settlement of the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The members of the Council were informed that the recently concluded OAU summit in Algiers had unanimously endorsed the Modalities for the Implementation of the Framework Agreement on the Settlement of the Dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The Special Envoy remarked that the current situation was the "best opportunity ever" for there to be a negotiated settlement to the dispute. He recalled that the OAU Framework Agreement proposed in November 1998 had not been implemented because of differences in its interpretation by the two sides. He was, however, hopeful that the modalities would make it possible to narrow the gap between them. The members of the Council were informed of the importance of an early signing of the agreement given that both Ethiopia and Eritrea had already indicated their acceptance of the document during the summit. The Special Envoy appealed for support from the international community for the modalities and, more importantly, for the Security Council to strongly appeal to the two sides to sign the document without further delay.
The modalities called for a ceasefire and the withdrawal of troops from the disputed territory to positions held prior to 6 May 1998. The redeployment of troops was to commence immediately after the cessation of hostilities. The agreement made clear, nevertheless, that the redeployment did not prejudice the final status of the territories concerned. Both sides would also accept the deployment of military observers in cooperation with the United Nations. The modalities for the re-establishment of the civilian administration and population in the concerned territories were to be worked out after the cessation of hostilities. The Special Envoy made clear that the actual withdrawal would take place only after the OAU/United Nations military observers were on the ground. He added that the Secretariat was also stepping up its contingency planning to ensure a rapid response from the Organization to assist OAU.
Following the meeting, the President addressed the media, as authorized by the members of the Council, inter alia, welcoming the initial positive responses by both Ethiopia and Eritrea to the modalities put forward by OAU (see below). The members of the Council further agreed that the President of the Council would meet with the Permanent Representatives of Ethiopia and Eritrea to convey to them the urgency of the matter and to appeal to both to formally sign the agreement without delay. Both sides should also be reminded of the need to cease their propaganda war.
Somalia
On 30 July, the members of the Council were briefed by the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs on the situation in Somalia. The continuing military confrontation between leaders of the main Somali factions was blocking all political efforts to settle the conflict in Somalia and was aggravating the already difficult humanitarian situation, particularly in areas caught up in hostilities. Another serious concern was the spillover effect of the Ethiopia-Eritrea war into Somalia, amid allegations that both had poured soldiers and weapons into Somalia in support of rival militia factions there.
Asia and the Middle East
Iraq
The members of the Council continued their discussion of a draft resolution on 12 and 14 July. Members continued to differ on the measures needed to ensure the resumption of the inspection regime in Iraq. The Council deliberated the issue of the reference standards for the chemical warfare agent VX and the mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on 21, 22, 23 and 27 July to resolve the impasse regarding the major concern over the mandate of the Mission. Throughout the consultations, the Council was briefed by the Under-Secretary- General and Chef de Cabinet, Iqbal Riza, and the Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, Jayantha Dhanapala. It was decided that the United Nations Special Commission would provide a detailed accounting of the use of the VX standards in response to the list of questions raised by China. With the concurrence of members, the President was authorized to formally write to the Secretary-General informing him the results of the deliberations but, in spite of continuous efforts, no consensus was reached on the contents of the letter. The matter was, therefore, brought to the attention of the Namibian delegation, which was assuming the Presidency for the month of August.
The Executive Director of the Office of the Iraq Programme, Benon Sevan, briefed the Council on 22 July following the issuance of the report of the Secretary-General (S/1999/746). The report was prepared by Saybolt Nederland BV, the oil experts engaged by the United Nations to manage the oil export side of the oil-for-food programme. The Executive Director also briefed the Council on the outcome of his visit to Iraq from 16 June to 6 July 1999.
Afghanistan
On 27 July, the members of the Council were briefed by the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs on the situation in Afghanistan, the main focus being the recently concluded six-plus-two meeting held at Tashkent on 19 July, at which all the members of the group, except Turkmenistan, had adopted the Tashkent Declaration. Turkmenistan did not sign the Declaration but did not block the agreement reached. The meeting also facilitated discussions between the Taliban, the United Front, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan.
The Assistant Secretary-General informed the members of the Council that, during the inter-Afghan talks, the United Front had announced its readiness for unconditional peace talks but that the Taliban did not have a mandate to proceed. The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, had visited Kabul from 21 to 25 July and held talks with the top leadership of the Taliban. According to the Assistant Secretary-General, it was obvious that the Taliban were making preparations for war — hospital beds were being vacated and volunteers were signing up all over the country. The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General had appealed to the Taliban not to launch a new offensive; he had also raised the issue of the presence of Osama bin Laden in the country. The Assistant Secretary-General also informed the members of the Council about a rocket attack on Kabul airport on 20 July just prior to the arrival of a United Nations aircraft. The scheduled flight was subsequently cancelled. According to unconfirmed media reports, the long-awaited summer offensive had already begun. The Secretariat would be following developments on the ground closely, especially in terms of the safety and security of United Nations personnel and other international workers. In this regard, the United Nations would wish to establish the reasons behind the attack on Kabul airport when there was already an understanding with both warring parties regarding the safety of United Nations personnel. The Assistant Secretary-General concluded by saying that the Afghan conflict was nowhere near to being resolved. The reports of fighting coming so soon after the conclusion of the Tashkent meeting raised serious doubts about the efficacy of international peace efforts.
East Timor
On 6 July, the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs briefed the members of the Council on the disturbing security situation in East Timor as evidenced by an increase in the number of violent incidents and intimidation by the militias. He stated that the Secretary-General would carry out an assessment of the security situation on 13 July and would make a determination whether the necessary security conditions were in place to permit the holding of the scheduled popular consultation. While the United Nations did not wish to question the commitment of the Government of Indonesia, the overall security conditions remained inadequate. There was widespread intimidation by armed militia groups. One serious consequence of this situation was the continuing inability of tens of thousands of internally displaced persons to return to their homes in safety. Following the meeting, the President issued a press statement, on behalf of members of the Council, demanding an immediate halt to the practice of violence and intimidation carried out by the militias. The Council members urged Indonesia to investigate the Liquica attack, as well as an incident involving the throwing of rocks at the UNAMET office in Maliana. They reminded the Government of Indonesia that under the agreements of 5 May, Indonesia had the responsibility to maintain peace and security in East Timor.
On 7 July, the President briefed Council members about his meeting with the Permanent Representative of Indonesia, during which he had conveyed their concern about the deteriorating security situation in East Timor.
On 13 July, members of the Council received a briefing from the Assistant Secretary-General, and discussed a letter from the Secretary-General (S/1999/773) setting a new target date of 16 July for the registration phase of the popular consultation in East Timor. Members were told that UNAMET had completed all the necessary preparations but that the security situation as a whole remained a cause for great concern. The Secretary-General had brought to the attention of the Indonesian authorities a list of requirements to be carried out by the Government of Indonesia so that he might determine whether to proceed with the operational phase of the consultation process. Members of the Council were also informed that in Dili, on 12 July, the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General, Jamsheed Marker, had met with a high-level delegation from Indonesia comprising the Foreign Minister and General Wiranto and had been assured of the full commitment of the Government of Indonesia to fulfil its responsibility to ensure security in East Timor. The President made a statement to the press following the meeting (see below).
Briefing the Council on 16 July, the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General informed the members of the Council that the registration of voters in East Timor and external stations around the world had begun. However, the increasing number of internally displaced persons posed a problem since they were required to cast votes at the place where they registered. The President made a statement to the press following the adjournment of the meeting (see below).
On 30 July, the Assistant Secretary-General informed the members of the Council that the Secretary-General had decided, for technical reasons, to postpone the date of the popular consultation until 30 August 1999. The postponement was also a result of the delay in the start of the registration process, a delay caused by the need to await an improvement in the security situation. The postponement to 30 August was due to the need for more time for UNAMET to collate the list of voters, publicize it adequately and allow for proper appeals procedure. Following the consultations, the members of the Council supported the Secretary- General's decision to postpone the date of the popular consultation until 30 August. They also agreed to consider extending the mandate of UNAMET for another month, until 30 September 1999.
Lebanon
A meeting with UNIFIL troop contributors was held on 27 July. As the Secretary-General observed in his report (S/1999/807), the situation remained volatile and continued to give cause for serious concern. In view of the contribution of UNIFIL to stability and its protection of the population, the Secretary-General recommended that the Council accede to the request of the Government of Lebanon and extend the mandate of the Force until 31 January 2000. The draft resolution and presidential statement which were subsequently circulated reproduced previously adopted language. By its unanimous adoption of resolution 1254 (1999) on 30 July, the Council extended the mandate of UNIFIL for six months, until 31 January 2000. The adoption of the resolution was followed by the adoption of a presidential statement (S/PRST/1999/24).
Europe
Bosnia and Herzegovina
On 8 July, the Secretary-General informed the Security Council, in his letter to the President (S/1999/774), of his intention to appoint Jacques Paul Klein (United States of America) to succeed Elisabeth Rehn (Finland) as his Special Representative and Coordinator of United Nations Operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina with effect from 2 August 1999. The members of the Council agreed with the Secretary- General's intention and informed him accordingly (S/1999/775).
At the informal consultations of the whole on 22 July, the members of the Council were briefed by the outgoing Special Representative, who provided a reflection on the achievements and shortcomings of UNMIBH, including the International Police Task Force, during her 18-month tenure. The Special Representative highlighted the progress made by UNMIBH and the Task Force in police monitoring, training and restructuring, as well as the Mission's activities in monitoring and reform of the judicial systems in both the Federation and Republika Srpska. She said that the main remaining obstacles to further progress, especially in the recruitment of minority police, included political obstructionism, due to and characterized by deep distrust among the different ethnic communities. A similar phenomenon also hampered progress in the reform of the judiciary. During the discussion, the members of the Council, inter alia, agreed with the Special Representative's assessment that the peace implementation process in Bosnia and Herzegovina was moving forward, albeit at a relatively slow pace. They welcomed the achievements made so far by UNMIBH and the Task Force in the implementation of annex 11 of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in particular with regard to the establishment of a professional and democratic police force and a viable and legitimate judiciary in both entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. They stressed, however, that much more remained to be done before self-sustaining peace and stability could be achieved, and stressed the need for continued political and material support for UNMIBH from the international community. The members of the Council expressed their deep appreciation to Ms. Rehn for the excellent manner in which she had carried out her responsibilities as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Coordinator of United Nations Operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They also welcomed the appointment of Mr. Klein as Ms. Rehn's successor.
On 27 July, the members of the Council were briefed in informal consultations by the outgoing High Representative for the implementation of the Peace Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Carlos Westendorp. The briefing was based on the report of the High Representative for the period from April to June 1999 (S/1999/798). The High Representative highlighted the need for the international community's continued political and economic support to assist the parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the implementation of the Dayton accords. The peace process had made slow but significant progress. There was room for optimism that further progress would be made if the Bosnian parties had the political will to proceed with the implementation of the Peace Agreement. The High Representative cited numerous challenges that had to be overcome before Bosnia and Herzegovina could become a fully functional democratic State that could stand on its own. The return of refugees, in particular of minorities, was still below expectations. Following the briefing, the President made a statement to the press on behalf of members of the Council (see below).
Prevlaka, Croatia
The President of the Council convened a meeting with countries contributing military observers to UNMOP on 12 July 1999. Informal consultations were held the following day during which the members of the Council considered the report of the Secretary- General on UNMOP (S/1999/764). The discussion was preceded by a briefing by the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations who introduced the report and highlighted some important elements contained therein.
During the discussion, the members of the Council expressed their appreciation to UNMOP for its role in defusing tension in the area and for creating a conducive environment for the parties to pursue a political process towards a final settlement of the dispute. In this regard, members of the Council supported the Secretary-General's recommendation on the extension of the Mission's mandate. The members of the Council were concerned at the persistent violations of the United Nations security regimes in the UNMOP area of responsibility, the presence of heavy weapons, and the restrictions that had been imposed on the movement of UNMOP personnel. They continued to support the bilateral negotiations between the parties and urged them to resume those negotiations without delay. Disappointed by the lack of progress in those negotiations, members of the Council felt that the two sides should consider positively the proposal by the Secretary-General that they should resort to the relevant mechanisms to assist them in resolving their dispute. The members of the Council welcomed the opening of border crossing points at Debeli Brijeg in the Yellow Zone and at Cape Kobila in the Blue Zone as a confidence-building measure. In view of the fact that the opening of those crossing points contravened the existing security regime, members urged the parties to work together to modify that regime as recommended by the Secretary-General.
At its 4023rd meeting on 15 July, the Council unanimously adopted resolution 1252 (1999) by which, inter alia, it decided to extend the mandate of UNMOP for an additional six-month period, until 15 January 2000.
Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
On 2 July, the Secretary-General informed the Security Council, in a letter to the President (S/1999/748), of his intention to appoint Bernard Kouchner (France) as his Special Representative to head UNMIK. The members of the Council took note of the Secretary-General's intention and informed him accordingly (S/1999/749).
At the informal consultations of the whole on 2 July, the members of the Council were briefed by the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. The briefing focused on several important issues relating to the implementation of resolution 1244 (1999), such as the deployment of UNMIK, the security and humanitarian situation, and the coordination between UNMIK and the international security presence (KFOR) and other international organizations involved in humanitarian relief efforts and rehabilitation and reconstruction in the territory. Following the discussion, the members of the Council authorized the President to make a statement to the press expressing their appreciation and support to the interim Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Sergio Vieira de Mello, for the efforts he had made on the ground in Kosovo.
The Council, at its informal consultations on 15 July, considered the reports of the Secretary-General on UNMIK and KFOR (S/1999/779 and S/1999/767). The discussion was preceded by a briefing given by the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. After the briefing, the President made a statement to the media (see below).
At informal consultations on 26 July, the Council authorized the President to make a press statement concerning the killing of 14 Serbian farmers at Staro Gradsko, Kosovo, on 23 July (see below). The brief statement to the press was a result of a compromise among the members of the Council following a discussion on a draft presidential statement proposed by one permanent member.
Abkhazia, Georgia
The President of the Council convened a meeting with countries contributing military observers to UNOMIG on 27 July 1999. Informal consultations were held the following day, during which the members of the Council considered the report of the Secretary- General (S/1999/805). The discussion was preceded by a briefing by the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, who introduced the report and highlighted the important elements contained therein.
During the discussion, the members of the Council supported the Secretary-General's recommendation concerning the extension of the mandate of UNOMIG. They noted with concern that, despite the calm situation, insecurity still reigned in the region. In this regard, they urged the parties to continue to exercise maximum restraint. Although the members were satisfied with the expanded contacts, which could contribute to increasing confidence between the two parties, they contended that much more needed to be done before a final settlement of the dispute could be achieved. The members of the Council therefore urged the parties to demonstrate the necessary political will to resolve the conflict through negotiations. The members of the Council also paid a tribute to Liviu Bota for his important role and contribution as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Georgia and head of UNOMIG.
At its 4029th meeting, on 30 July, the Council adopted unanimously resolution 1255 (1999), by which, inter alia, it decided to extend the mandate of UNOMIG for a new period terminating on 31 January 2000.
Maintenance of peace and security and post-conflict peace-building
On 8 July, the Council held a formal meeting (open debate) under the item entitled "Maintenance of peace and security and post-conflict peace-building: disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex- combatants in a peacekeeping environment". The Council recognized that disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants was a comparatively new area of endeavour for the United Nations and its related bodies. As such, the inputs and cooperation of interested States were especially important for the Organization to devise a strategy for implementing principles and guidelines for future peacekeeping operations.
The day-long debate began with an introduction by the Deputy Secretary-General. All the members of the Council and 12 non-members participated in the debate. The morning meeting was presided over by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, Syed Hamid Albar.
A presidential statement (S/PRST/1999/21) was subsequently adopted by the Council at its 4021st meeting, which was convened immediately following the open debate.
Informal working group on documentation and other procedural questions
On 15 July, the informal working group of the Council on documentation and other procedural questions held a meeting to discuss a further revised draft note of 28 April 1999. The revised draft note had been put forward by the delegation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for consideration on 15 March 1999. Following further consultations, the Chairman of the informal working group transmitted, for the consideration of its members, a further revised draft note by the President of the Security Council on 20 July 1999. Members of the informal working group agreed that they would continue to discuss the draft note.
Application of the Kingdom of Tonga for admission to membership in the United Nations
On 22 July, the Council at its 4024th meeting had before it the application of the Kingdom of Tonga (S/1999/793) for admission to membership in the United Nations. In accordance with rule 59 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure and in the absence of a proposal to the contrary, the President of the Council referred the application to the Committee on the Admission of New Members for examination and report.
On 27 July, the Committee at its 101st meeting considered the application of the Kingdom of Tonga and unanimously decided to recommend to the Council that the Kingdom of Tonga be admitted to membership in the United Nations.
On 28 July, the Council, at its 4026th meeting, adopted without a vote resolution 1253 (1999) as contained in paragraph 4 of the report of the Committee on the Admission of New Members (S/1999/823). The President, on behalf of the members of the Council, in his statement following the adoption of the resolution, extended the Council's congratulations to the Kingdom of Tonga on this historic occasion (see S/PRST/1999/23).
