S/PV.3192 Security Council

As this is the first meeting of the Security Council for the month of April 1993, I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute, on behalf of the Council, to His Excellency Ambassador Terence Christopher O'Brien, Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations, for his service as President of the Security Council for the month of March 1993. I am sure I speak for all members of the Security Council in expressing deep appreciation to Ambassador O'Brien for the great diplomatic skill and unfailing courtesy with which he conducted the Council's business last month. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA The aqenda was adopted. THE SITUATION IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA LETTER DATED 2 APRIL 1993 FROM THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ADDRESSED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL (S/25519)

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. Sacirbey (Bosnia and Herzegovina) 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, Members of the Council have received photocopies of a letter dated 2 April 1993 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council, which will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/25519. Following consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorised to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: "The Security Council is shocked by and extremely alarmed at the dire and worsening humanitarian situation which has developed in Srebrenica in the eastern part of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina following the unacceptable decision of the Bosnian Serb party not to (The President) permit any further humanitarian aid to be delivered to that town, and to allow only evacuation of its civilian population. The relevant facts are contained in a letter dated 2 April 1993, addressed to the Secretary-General by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (S/25519, Annex). "The Security Council recalls and reaffirms all its relevant resolutions and statements and condemns the continuing disregard and willful flouting of the relevant Security Council resolutions and statements by the Bosnian Serb party, which once again, in pursuit of its unlawful, unacceptable and abhorrent policy of 'ethnic cleansing' aimed at territorial aggrandizement, has blocked the United Nations humanitarian relief efforts. "Recognizing the imperative need to alleviate, with the utmost urgency, the sufferings of the population in and around Srebrenica who are in desperate need of food, medicine, clothes and shelter, the Security Council demands that the Bosnian Serb party cease and desist forthwith from all violations of international humanitarian law, including in particular the deliberate interference with humanitarian convoys, and allow ali such convoys unhindered access to the town Of Srebrenica and other parts in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Security Council demands that the Bosnian Serb party strictly ComPlY with all relevant resolutions of the Security Council. It further demands that the Bosnian Serb party honour forthwith its most recent commitment 'to guarantee the free movement of humanitarian convoys and the protection of endangered civilians'. The Security Council also reaffirms that those guilty of crimes against international humanitarian law will be held individually responsible by the world community. "The Security Council commends and strongly supports the efforts of the brave people who have undertaken to deliver urgently needed humanitarian assistance, under extremely trying conditions, to the civilian population in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in particular the efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR). "The Security Council recalls the request it made in its statement of 3 March 1993 (S/25361) to the Secretary-General to take immediate steps to increase UNPROFOR's presence in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina; welcomes the action taken already in that respect; and urges the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to use all the resources at their disposal within the scope of the relevant resolutions of the Council to reinforce the existing humanitarian operations in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. "The Security Council. will remain actively seized of the matter." This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/25520. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its Consideration of the item on the agenda. The Security Council will remain seized of the matter. The meetina rose at 1.25 P.m.