S/PV.3027 Security Council

The PRESIDENT: I should like to inform the Security Council that I have received a letter from the representative of Yugoslavia in which he requests to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the Council's agenda. In accordance with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite the representative of Yugoslavia to participate in the discussion without the right to vote, in conformity with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure. There being vo objection, it is so decided. n residen M D4 h Place reserved for him at the Council table.

The PRESIDENT: The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Following consultations anong members of the Security Council, i have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: "The members of the Security Council discussed on 7 January the tragic incident that occurred in Yugoslavia earlier in the day, in which helicopters of the Euronsa were shot down by a Yugoslav aircraft, killing four Italian members and one French member of the Monitoring Mission. "The members of the Council condemed this callous attack on unarmed civilian personnel. They extended their most sincere condolences to the families of those who had lost their lives. They noted that the Yugoslav authorities had accepted responsibility for this flagrant breach of the cease-fire, had said that they would take the necessary disciplinary action against those responsible, and had reiterated their commitment to observe the cease-fire fully. The members of the Council called on the Yugoslav authorities to take all steps necessary to ensure that this act does not go unpunished and that such incidents do not occur again. "The members of the Council reiterated their urgent call on all parties to the conflict in Yugoslavia to respect their cease-fire commitments. They underlined the continuing importance of the role played by the EC Monitoring Mission, as emphasized in the Secretary-General's report of 5 January (S/23363). They expressed their deep appreciation for the work done by members of the Mission and they called on the Yugoslav parties to ensure that members of the Mission and UN personnel be allowed to fulfil their role with the full cooperation of all sides." The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.