S/PV.3556 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 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 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided.

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in response to the request contained in a letter dated 17 July 1995 from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina addressed to the President of the Security Council, transmitted by a letter of the same date from the Chargé d’affaires ad interim of the Permanent Mission of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council, document S/1995/582. I should like to draw the attention of the members of the Council to the following documents: S/1995/576, letter dated 14 July 1995 from the Chargé d’affaires ad interim of the Permanent Mission of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General; S/1995/577, letter dated 14 July 1995 from the Chargé d’affaires ad interim of the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General; S/1995/579, letter dated 14 July 1995 from the Chargé d’affaires ad interim of the Permanent Mission of Bosnia 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, recalling its previous resolutions, is deeply concerned by the situation in and around the safe area of Zepa. It condemns in the strongest possible terms the offensive by the Bosnian Serb forces against that safe area. The Security Council is also concerned in particular at the plight of the civilian population there. “The Security Council attaches the utmost importance to the safety and well-being of the civilian population in Zepa. It demands that the Bosnian Serb forces refrain from any further action that threatens the safety of that population, and that they respect fully the rights of the civilian population and other persons protected under international humanitarian law. The Council reaffirms its condemnation of all violations of international humanitarian law, and reiterates to all concerned that those who have committed or ordered the commission of such acts will be held individually responsible in respect of such acts. It reminds the military and political leaders of the “The Security Council underlines the importance it attaches to the fullest cooperation with UNHCR and other international humanitarian organizations, and demands that they be given unhindered freedom of movement and access to that area. It further demands that the Bosnian Serb authorities cooperate with all efforts, including those of UNPROFOR, to ensure the safety of the civilian population, and in particular its most vulnerable members, including evacuation as requested by the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in his letter of 17 July 1995 (S/1995/582, annex). This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/1995/33. 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.