S/PV.3190 Security Council

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 among members of the Security Council, 1 have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: "The Security Council has continued its examination of the Secretary-General's report entitled 'An Agenda for Peace' (S/24111), including the problem identified in paragraphs 66-68 - the safety of United Nations forces and personnel deployed in conditions of strife. The Council has considered this question with regard to persons deployed in connection with a Security Council mandate. "The Security Council commends the Secretary-General for drawing attention to this problem, including the unconscionable increase in the number of fatalities and incidents of violence involving United Nations forces and personnel. The Council shares fully the Secretary-General's concerns. "The Security Council recognizes that increasingly it has found it necessary, in discharging its responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, to deploy United Nations forces and personnel in situations of real danger. The Council greatly appreciates the courage and commitment of these dedicated people who accept considerable personal risk in order to imp1,ement the mandates of this Organization. "The Security Council recalls that it has been necessary on a number of occasions to condemn incidents directed against United Nations forces and personnel. It deplores the f a c t that, despite its repeated calls, incidents of violence continue. "The Council considers that attacks and other acts of violence, whether actual or threatened, including obstruction or detention of persons, against United Nations forces and personnel are wholly unacceptable and may require the Council to take further measures to ensure the safety and security of such forces and personnel. "The Security Council reiterates its demand that States and other parties to various conflicts take all possible steps to ensure the safety and security of United Nations forces and personnel. It further demands that States act promptly and effectively to deter, prosecute and punish all those responsible for attacks and other acts of violence against such forces and personnel. "The Security Council notes the particular difficulties and dangers that can arise where United Nations forces and personnel are deployed in situations where the State or States concerned are unable to exercise jurisdiction in order to ensure the safety and security oE such forces and personnel, or where a State is unwilling to discharge its (The President) responsibilites in this regard, In such an eventuality, the Council may consider measures appropriate to the particular circumstances to ensure that persons responsible for attacks and other acts of violence against United Nations forces and personnel are held to account for their actions, "The Security Council requests the Secretary-General to report as soon as possible on the existing arrangements for the protection of United Nations forces and personnel, and the adequacy thereof, taking into account, inter alia, relevant multilateral instruments and status-of-forces agreements concluded between the United Nations and host countries, as well as comments he may receive from Member States, and to make such recommendations as he considers appropriate for enhancing the safety and security of United Nations forces and personnel. "The Security Council will consider the matter further in the light of the Secretary-General's report and of work done in the General Assembly and its subsidiary bodies, including, in particular, the Special Committee on Peace-keeping Operations established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 2006 (XIX). In that regard, the Council recognizes the need for all relevant bodies of the Organization to take concerted action to enhance the safety and security of United Nations forces and per sonne 1. "The Security Council intends to continue its consideration of the Secretary-General ' s report entitled 'An Agenda for Peace I , as indicated in the President's statement of 29 October 1992 ( S / 2 4 7 2 8 ) . " e issued as a documen of the Security Council under This statement will the symbol Sl25493. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda. T $ t 4 40 .m.