S/PV.3177 Security Council

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 accordance 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 conformity with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided. At the invitation of the President, Mr. Sacirbev (Bosnia and Werzesovina) took a place at the Council table.

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on the agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. 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, having received a report from the Secretary-General, recalls all its relevant resolutions and its statements Of 25 January 1993 (S/25162) and 17 February 1993 (S/25302) concerning the provision of humanitarian relief in the Republic of f3OSnia and Herzegovina. It is deeply concerned that, in spite of its repeated demands, relief efforts continue to be impeded by Serb paramilitary units, especially in the eastern part of the country, namely in the enclaves of Srebrenica, Cerska, Gorazde and Zepa. "The Security Council deplores the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina at a time when discussions are to resume with a view to reaching a just and durable agreement to end the conflict. It regards the blockade of relief efforts as a serious impediment to a negotiated settlement in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and to the efforts of the Co-Chairmen of the Steering Committee of the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia. It notes with concern that the measures taken by Serb paramilitary units to interdict humanitarian convoys, in flagrant violation of relevant Security Council resolutions, expose the personnel of UNPROFOR and UNHCR as well as other humanitarian organizations to physical harm. "The deliberate impeding of the delivery of food and humanitarian relief essential for the survival of the civilian population in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina constitutes a violation of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, and the Security Council is committed to ensuring that individuals responsible for such acts are brought to justice. "The Security Council strongly condemns once again the blocking of humanitarian convoys that has impeded the delivery of humanitarian supplies. It reiterates its demand that the Bosnian parties grant immediate and unimpeded access for humanitarian convoys and fully comply with the Security Council's decisions in this regard. The Security Council expresses its strong support for the use, in full coordination with the United Nations and in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions, of humanitarian air drops in isolated areas.of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina that are in critical need of humanitarian supplies and cannot be reached by ground convoys. It reaffirms its firm commitment to the full implementation of the humanitarian relief programme in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. "The Security Council remains actively seized of the matter and continues its consideration of further steps, in accordance with its relevant resolutions." The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda, The Security Council will remain seized of the matter. The meetins rose at 4.20 p.m.