SC/7268
16 January 2002

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS UNMOP MANDATE
UNTIL 15 JULY 2002

NEW YORK, 15 January (UN Headquarters) -- Commending the role played by the United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP), and noting that the presence of military observers continues to be important for reaching a negotiated settlement of the Prevlaka dispute between the Governments of the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the Security Council this afternoon authorized those observers to continue monitoring the demilitarization of the Prevlaka peninsula until 15 July 2002.

The Council took that action as it unanimously adopted resolution 1387 (2002), by whose terms it noted with satisfaction that the overall situation in UNMOP’s area of responsibility had remained calm and welcomed continuing progress in the normalization of relations between the two Governments.

Reiterating its call upon the parties to cease all violations of the demilitarized regime in the United Nations-designated zones, cooperate fully with the military observers, and ensure their safety and full freedom of movement, the Council urged the parties to accelerate efforts towards a negotiated settlement and encouraged them to consider all confidence-building measures. The parties were requested to continue to report at least bi-monthly on the status of their bilateral negotiations and on progress in the beginning of work by the recently established inter-State Border Commission.

At the outset of the open meeting –- the Security Council’s first this year -– Council President Jagdish Koonjul (Mauritius) extended to those present his wishes for a fruitful new year and welcomed the new members of the Council: Bulgaria, Cameroon, Guinea, Mexico and Syria. He also expressed his gratitude to the outgoing members: Bangladesh, Jamaica, Mali, Tunisia and Ukraine.

The meeting, which began at 12:50 p.m., was adjourned at 12:56 p.m.

Resolution

Following is the full text of resolution 1387 (2002):

"The Security Council,

"Recalling all its earlier relevant resolutions, including resolutions 779 (1992) of 6 October 1992, 981 (1995) of 31 March 1995, 1088 (1996) of 12 December 1996, 1147 (1998) of 13 January 1998, 1183 (1998) of 15 July 1998, 1222 (1999) of 15 January 1999, 1252 (1999) of 15 July 1999, 1285 (2000) of 13 January 2000, 1307 (2000) of 13 July 2000, 1335 (2001) of 12 January 2001, 1357 (2001) of 21 June 2001 and 1362 (2001) of 11 July 2001,

"Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 2 January 2002 (S/2002/1) on the United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP),

"Recalling also the letters to its President from the Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Yugoslavia of 28 December 2001 (S/2001/1301) and from the Permanent Representative of Croatia of 7 January 2002 (S/2002/29), concerning the disputed area of Prevlaka,

"Reaffirming once again its commitment to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Croatia within its internationally recognized borders,

"Noting once again the Joint Declaration signed at Geneva on 30 September 1992 by the Presidents of the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in particular articles 1 and 3 thereof the latter reaffirming their agreement concerning the demilitarization of the Prevlaka peninsula, and the Agreement on Normalization of Relations between the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia of 23 August 1996 (S/1996/706, annex),

"Noting with satisfaction that the overall situation in the UNMOP area of responsibility has remained stable and calm, and encouraged by the agreement of both sides to establish an interstate Border Commission,

"Commending the role played by UNMOP, and noting also that the presence of the United Nations military observers continues to be important in maintaining conditions that are conducive to a negotiated settlement of the disputed issue of Prevlaka,

"Recalling the relevant principles contained in the Convention on the Safety of the United Nations and Associated Personnel adopted on 9 December 1994 and the statement of its President of 10 February 2000 (S/PRST/2000/4),

"1. Authorizes the United Nations military observers to continue monitoring the demilitarization of the Prevlaka peninsula, in accordance with resolutions 779 (1992) and (981) 1995 and paragraphs 19 and 20 of the report of the Secretary-General of 13 December 1995 (S/1995/1028), until 15 July 2002, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to report to the Council where appropriate;

"2. Reiterates its calls upon the parties to cease all violations of the demilitarized regime in the United Nations designated zones, to cooperate fully with the United Nations military observers and to ensure their safety and full and unrestricted freedom of movement;

"3. Welcomes continuing progress in the normalization of relations between the Governments of the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the establishment of an interstate Border Commission, and urges the parties to accelerate efforts towards a negotiated settlement on the disputed issue of Prevlaka in accordance with article 4 of the Agreement on Normalization of Relations;

"4. Encourages the parties to consider all confidence-building measures, including the options provided to them pursuant to resolution 1252 (1999), that could help facilitate a solution to the disputed issue of Prevlaka;

"5. Requests the parties to continue to report at least bimonthly to the Secretary-General on the status of their bilateral negotiations and on progress in beginning the work of the interstate Border Commission;

"6. Requests the United Nations military observers and the multinational stabilization force authorized by the Council in resolution 1088 (1996) of 12 December 1996 and extended by resolution 1357 (2001) of 21 June 2001 to cooperate fully with each other;

"7. Decides to remain seized of the matter."

Background

The Security Council met this afternoon to extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP), which was to expire today.

The UNMOP was established in January 1996 to monitor the demilitarization of the Prevlaka peninsula, a strategic area disputed by Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. However, United Nations military observers have been deployed there since October 1992, firstly as part of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), and subsequently as part of the United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation (UNCRO).

The Council established UNMOP following the Secretary-General's recommendation that monitoring on the peninsula continue, when UNCRO's mandate was terminated on 15 January 1996. Extensions to its mandate have been dependent on his reporting that its presence will continue to help decrease tension. While it is an independent mission, it is treated as part of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) for administrative and budgetary purposes.

Before the Council was a report from the Secretary-General on UNMOP (document S/2002/1), covering developments since the Secretary-General’s last report of 3 July 2001.

The report states that UNMOP continued to monitor the demilitarization of the Prevlaka peninsula and the neighbouring areas in Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and that the situation in UNMOP’s mission area remained calm. The Secretary-General welcomes the steps taken by the parties to form an inter-State commission to address the issue of their common border, as well as the ongoing process of bilateral consultations. He states that the good offices of the United Nations continue to be available should the parties require that form of assistance, and that UNMOP stands ready to assist in the development of practical arrangements to give effect to any agreement the parties may reach.

Despite the generally positive situation, violations of the agreed security regime continued during the reporting period, the report states. In the United Nations-controlled zone, the remaining small number of Croatian police and Montenegrin border police should be removed and the entry of unauthorized civilians to the zone should be prevented. The illegal checkpoints at Cape Kobila should be removed to the boundaries of the zone or their continued operation regulated by an agreement. The Croatian authorities should lift their restrictions on the free movement of United Nations military observers in the demilitarized zone.

The Secretary-General welcomes the commencement of demining by the Republic of Croatia in the northern part of the demilitarized zone. It should be extended to other areas of that zone. The authorities on both sides should keep UNMOP fully informed of their activities in relation to minefields.

The Secretary-General recommends that, in order to ensure that the area remains calm and conditions conducive to reaching a negotiated settlement are maintained, the mandate of UNMOP be extended for a further six months, until 15 July.

* *** *