S/PV.3103 Security Council

The PRESIDENT (interpretation from Chinese): As this is the first meeting of the Security Council for the month of August, I should like to take this opportunity to pay a tribute, on behalf of the Council, to His Excellency Mr. Jose Luis Jesus, Permanent Representative of Cape Verde to the United Nations, for his outstanding service as President of the Security Council for the month of July 1992. I am sure I speak for all members of the Security Council in expressing deep appreciation to Ambassador Jesus for the great diplomatic skill and unfailing courtesy with which he conducted the Council's business last month. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA The agenda was adopted. LETTER DATED 4 AUGUST 1992 FROM THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES A.I. OF THE UNITED STATES MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS ADDRESSED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL (S/24376) LETTER DATED 4 AUGUST 1992 FROM THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF VENEZUELA TO THE UNITED NATIONS ADDRESSED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL (S/24377)

The PRESIDENT (interpretation from Chinese): I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from-the representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in which he requests to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the Council's agenda. in conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite that representative to participate in the discussion without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 327 of the Council's provisional ruies of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided. At the invitation of the President, Mr, Sacirbey (Bosnia and Herzegovina) took a place at the Council table.

The PRESIDENT (interpretation from Chinese): The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in response to the requests contained in letters dated 4 August 1992 from the Charge d'affaires a.i. of the United States Mission to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council, and from the Permanent Representative of Venezuela to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council. documents 8/24376 and §/24377, respectively. I should like to draw the attention of members of the Council to document $/24365, which contains a letter dated 29 July 1992 from the Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council. Following consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: "The Security Council is deeply concerned at the continuing reports of widespread violations of international humanitarian law and in particular reports of the imprisonment and abuse of civilians in camps, prisons and detention centres within the territory of the former Yugoslavia and especially in Bosnia and Herzegoviaa. The Council condemns any such violations and abuses and demands that relevant international organizations, and in particular the ICRC, be granted immediate, unimpeded and continued access to all such places and calls upon all parties to do all in their power to facilitate such access. The Council] further calls upon all parties, States, international organizations and non-governmental organizations to make immediately available to the Council any further information they might possess regarding these camps and access to them, "The Council reaffirms that all parties are bound to comply with the obligations under international humanitarian law and in particular the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and that persons who commit or order the commission of grave breaches of the Conventions are individually responsible in respact of such breaches. "Phe Council will remain actively seized of this issue." The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda. The meeting rose st 7.20 p.m.