S/PV.3270 Security Council

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 before them photocopies of the further report of the Secretary~General pursuant to paragraph 7 of resolution 840 (1993). This report will be issued under the symbol §/26360. Members of the Council also have before them document $/26362, which contains the text of a draft resolution prepared in the course of the Council's prior consultations. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. Unless I hear any objection, I shall put the draft resolution, in document $/26362, to the vote now. There being no objection, it is so decided, A vote was taken by show of hands. In favour: Brazil, Cape Verde, China, Djibouti, France, Hungary, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Spain, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela

There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has therefore been adopted unanimously as resolution 860 (1993). I shall now call on those members of the Council who wish to make Statements following the voting. Mr. LI Zhaoxing (China)(interpretation from Chinese}: Since the elections held last May, the situation in Cambodia has been, on the whole, fairly stable. Under the leadership of Prince Sihanouk, the parties concerned in Cambodia have cooperated in forming an Interim Joint Administration, and the drafting of a new Constitution by the Constituent Assembly is also under way. We welcome all these developments. China, as a signatory to the Paris Agreements, has all along been devoting its efforts to the comprehensive political settlement of the Cambodian question, and has supported Prince Sihanouk in his endeavours for the realization of independence, peace and national reconciliation in Cambodia. In the present circumstances, the role of Prince Sihanouk should be further emphasized and brought into fuller play. The Chinese delegation is of the view that the ultimate solution to the Cambodian question lies with the Cambodian people themselves. Practice has proved that only by relying on the Cambodian people themselves in their efforts to seek genuine national reconciliation through dialogue and consultation will it be possible to resolve the Cambodian question. No outside forces should interfere in the internal affairs of Cambodia, and the endeavour of the international community should be conducive to achieving the objective of establishing a Cambodia that is independent, peaceful, unified and territorially integrated. Since the establishment of the United Nations Transition Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), the Secretary-General and UNTAC and its staff have done a great deal of work. Their positive efforts merit our appreciation. At present, UNTAC has basically accomplished its tasks, and its withdrawal has already begun. It is the hope of the Chinese delegation that UNTAC will promptly complete its withdrawal in accordance with the withdrawal plan endorsed by the Security Council and in line with the Paris Agreements as well (Mr. Li Zhaoxing, China) as the relevant Security Council resolutions. As for the post-UNTAC arrangement for the United Nations activities in Cambodia, we hold that the decision should be based on the provisions of the Paris Agreements and the opinions and requests of Prince Sihanouk and the new Cambodian Government. Mr. HATANO (Japan): Japan expresses its deep satisfaction that the United Nations Transition Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) has so far been an extraordinary success in discharging its responsibilities, and I believe that it will set a good example for future United Nations peace-keeping operations. Although the situation in Cambodia is generally peaceful, we are disturbed by the report of fighting in Banteay Meanchey Province between the National Army of Democratic Kampuchea and the Cambodian Armed Forces. Japan stresses once again the need to ensure the security and safety of UNTAC personnel, and hopes the Interim Joint Administration and the new Cambodian Government will make every possible effort to facilitate their safe and orderly withdrawal in accordance with the plan laid down by the Secretary-General. It is now time for the international community to consider how it might best support the efforts of the Cambodian people to build a stable and peaceful future once UNTAC's mandate comes to an end. Attention should now be paid to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the war-torn country. Japan will chair a meeting of the International Committee on the Reconstruction of Cambodia - ICORC - on 8 and 9 September in Paris, and it hopes to see the meeting succeed, with the active participation and support of interested countries. In fact, this meeting will set an example of a post-conflict peace-building measure as emphasized by the Secretary-General in his “Agenda for Peace". Mr. MERIMEE (France)(interpretation from French): Developments in the situation in Cambodia are a source of satisfaction to my country and a real reason to feel proud of our Organization. It is now virtually an established fact that the United Nations Transition Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) has been a complete success and only a few short stages still separate us from the time when Cambodia, following the transitional period provided for under the Paris Agreements, will regain its complete sovereignty. Thus, now is the time for the international community and the United Nations to draw all the necessary conclusions from this. Cambodia, it is clear, will still need assistance, Indeed, that is the objective of the first meeting of the International Committee on the Reconstruction of Cambodia, to be held in the coming days in Paris. The United Nations will also have a role to play in this field, But this can be done only at the request of the new Cambodian Government, to be established in September. Our Council will then have to consider how this expectation can be met. That should be the thrust of a future resolution, which at the same time would take stock of what the United Nations had done in Cambodia over the past 18 months. As for the purely technical resolution we have just adopted, in my delegation's view it adds a useful explanation of the conditions for completing the political role of the United Nations and of the maintenance, for practical reasons, of a residual military presence in Cambodia until 15 November. Mr. RICHARDSON (United Kingdom): The resolution we have just adopted is essentially technical in nature: to confirm the continuation of the mandate of the United Nations Transition Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) until the formation of a new Government in accordance with the Paris Agreements and to approve formally the arrangements set out in the Secretary-General's report of 15 July for the withdrawal of UNTAC. But with the adoption of this resolution we are nearing the completion of one of the most important peace-keeping endeavours undertaken by the United Nations, and I join the Ambassador of France and others in congratulating UNTAC warmly on the excellent work it has done. (Mr. Richardson, United Kingdom) We look forward to the final fulfilment in the course of the coming month of a mandate upon the formation of a new Government representative of the will of the Cambodian people. We look to the Constituent Assembly, formed as a result of the elections held in May, to complete as soon as possible the drafting of the country's new constitution along the lines set out in the Paris Agreements so as to permit this. The people of Cambodia still face enormous challenges. It is a matter of satisfaction to my Government that British personnel have participated in the work of UNTAC and that we have been able to assist so far in the rebuilding of Cambodia. But the point is rapidly approaching when the people of Cambodia will themselves take responsibility for the government of their country, for its reconstruction and for peace and security. Under the terms of this resolution, UNTAC will be withdrawn by 15 November, in accordance with the proposals of the Secretary-General and in line with the provisions of the Paris Agreements. The Secretary-General and the Special Representative are to he congratulated on the way in which this massive operation is being wound up on schedule, having completed its task. In this, UNTAC is a model for other United Nations peace-keeping operations, both present and future. The withdrawal of UNTAC does not mean that the United Nations and the international community can afford to turn their backs on Cambodia, but the relationship will in future be of a different kind, and must depend on the wishes of a new Government of Cambodia in the first instance, and only thereafter on the decisions of the United Nations. The first thoughts on this subject, set out in the Secretary-General's reports, are welcome to my Government. (Mr. Richardson, United Kingdom) The focus for the international community in future must be the reconstruction of Cambodia, and we look forward, as the Ambassador of Japan has already mentioned, to participating in the meeting of the International Committee on Reconstruction of Cambodia in Paris on 8 and 9 September, which will provide a forum in which to review progress already made and to consider the way ahead. Mr, van BOHEMEN (New Zealand): New Zealand's vote in favour of this resolution confirms our support for the Cambodian peace process, which, we all hope, is shortly to reach a successful final conclusion. The adoption of this resolution, while essentially technical, marks an important milestone in the United Nations efforts to assist Cambodia in re-establishing a peaceful and stable Government. We acknowledge in the resolution that the mandate of the United Nations Transition Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) has virtually been discharged and that it will have effectively been discharged when the new Government takes office next month on the basis of the new constitution drafted by the Constituent Assembly. The resolution also notes that the military component of UNTAC will continue to have a presence in the country until its final withdrawal in November. We understand that the Secretariat will be holding discussions with the new Cambodian Government to ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place for these and any other elements of UNTAC which remain after the new Government takes office. New Zealand thanks all of the personnel of UNTAC for their commitment and Gedication in carrying out the many tasks entrusted them under the UNTAC mandate. We particularly congratulate the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Mr. Akashi, and the UNTAC Force Commander, General Sanderson, (Mr. van Bohemen, New Zealand) on their role in the successful discharge of UNTAC's responsibilities. While a new Government for Cambodia is almost at hand, many aspects of Cambodia's legacy of fighting and repression remain. As noted by the Secretary~General in his most recent report (S/26360), despite the major infrastructural improvements over the past 18 months, "massive reconstruction" is still required throughout the country. Mine-clearing remains an urgent priority. Much must still be done for the reintegration of refugees and displaced persons. The legal system must be re-established and measures put in place to ensure respect for human rights. In other words, while the future of Cambodia essentially lies in the hands of the Cambodian people, the end of UNTAC does not mean the end of the Cambodian problem or the end of the United Nations involvement in Cambodia, in accordance with the wishes of the new Cambodian Government. This is also an issue which must soon be addressed by the Security Council, in consultation with countries of the region. In that regard, New Zealand welcomes an initiative to convene a working group, which will include countries of the region, to begin work on a more comprehensive statement on the post-UNTAC United Nations presence.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as representative of the United States. The United States is heartened at the progress that has been made towards peace and national reconciliation in Cambodia under the leadership of His Royal Highness Prince Sihanouk. We look forward to the promulgation in the near future by the Constituent Assembly of a Constitution consistent with the principles of a pluralistic, liberal, democratic system as outlined in the Paris Agreements. (The President) The courageous individuals who participated in the United Nations Transition Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), some of whom gave their lives in the international effort to restore Cambodia to the community of nations, as well as the countries which contributed so generously to this effort, deserve our thanks and commendation. UNTAC and the international community can take great pride in what has been achieved in Cambodia. UNTAC has been a shining example of how a United Nations peace-keeping operation can help restore peace and hope to a shattered nation, In July I visited Cambodia, and the story of peace-keeping is that an American Ambassador, having been briefed by an Australian Commander, got on a Russian helicopter to review Japanese troops on the border of Cambodia and Viet Nam. I think the commitment that the international community made to Cambodia in the UNTAC operation needs to be made also in the post-UNTAC era. Although UNTAC is on the verge of completing its mission, the responsibility of the international community to assist Cambodia is far from ever. One way in which this responsibility will be addressed is at the upcoming meeting of the International Committee on Reconstruction of Cambodia, to be held in Paris, where concerned countries will have the opportunity to address Cambodia's many urgent needs for rehabilitation and reconstruction. We hope that participants will come to that meeting prepared to address these needs in a concrete and generous manner. The international community also has a responsibility to be prepared to assist the new Cambodian Government in such areas as de-mining; protecting and promoting human rights; and encouraging peace and stability. The United States believes the Security Council continues to have an important role to play in this regard, and we intend to do everything possible to ensure that it does so. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda. The meeting rose at 3.55 p.m. (The President)