S/PV.3666 Security Council

I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of Croatia 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 Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in the course of its prior consultations. Members of the Council have before them the letter dated 20 May 1996 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council, document S/1996/363. I should like to draw the attention of the members of the Council to document S/1996/357, which contains the text of a letter dated 20 May 1996 from the Permanent Representative of Croatia to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council. 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 calls upon the parties to comply strictly with their obligations under the Basic Agreement of 12 November 1995 on the Region of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (S/1995/951, annex) and to cooperate fully with UNTAES. It stresses that they must refrain from any unilateral action which could hinder the implementation of the Basic Agreement including the process of demilitarization. “The Security Council reminds the parties that the successful implementation of the Basic Agreement requires the respect by them of the highest level of internationally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms. It calls upon the parties to continue to cooperate with UNTAES in adopting confidence-building measures to promote an environment of mutual trust. “The Security Council calls upon the Government of the Republic of Croatia to grant amnesty to all persons who, either voluntarily or by coercion, served in the civil administration, military or police forces of the local Serb authorities in the former United Nations Protected Areas with the exception of those who committed war crimes as defined in international law. It notes that the law on amnesty recently passed in the Republic of Croatia is a step in this direction. The Council calls upon the Government of the Republic of Croatia to make this amnesty comprehensive as soon as possible and stresses the importance such a measure would have for maintaining public confidence and stability during the demilitarization and demobilization process. “The Security Council will remain seized of the matter and requests the Secretary-General to keep it regularly informed of developments in the situation.” 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.