S/PV.3751 Security Council

I should like to inform the Council that I have received letters from the representatives of Albania and Italy, in which they request 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 those representatives 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 its prior consultations, having before it the request contained in the letter dated 13 March 1997 from the Permanent Representative of Albania to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council, document S/1997/215, and also the request contained in the letter dated 12 March 1997 from the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council, document S/1997/214. Following consultations among the 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 involved to continue the political dialogue and to live up to the commitments undertaken on 9 March 1997 in Tirana. It urges all political forces to work together to lower tension and facilitate the stabilization of the country. “The Security Council calls upon the parties not to impede the provision of humanitarian assistance to the civilian population and, in this context, recalls the importance of keeping open all means of communication in the country. It encourages Member States and international organizations to help with the provision of humanitarian assistance. “The Security Council stresses the importance of regional stability and fully supports the diplomatic efforts of the international community, in particular those of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the European Union, to find a peaceful solution to the crisis. “The Security Council requests the Secretary-General to keep the Council informed of developments in the situation in Albania. “The Security Council will remain seized of the matter.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/1997/14. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda.