S/PV.3854 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 its prior consultations. Members of the Council have before them the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium, document S/1998/59. 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 welcomes the successful completion of the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (UNTAES), as described in the report of the Secretary-General of 22 January 1998 (S/1998/59). The experience of this multifunctional operation may be useful for similar situations in the future. “The Security Council notes that, despite the positive conclusion of UNTAES and the efforts of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, including its request for the establishment of the civilian police support group, much remains to be done. The Government of the Republic of Croatia remains responsible for the rights and safety of members of all ethnic groups within the Republic of Croatia and bound by its obligations and commitments under the Basic Agreement on the Region of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (S/1995/951) and other international agreements. In this regard, the Council calls upon the Government of the Republic of Croatia to intensify its efforts to promote full reintegration of the region, in particular to resolve property issues and other problems which are hindering the return of refugees and displaced persons, to protect human rights, including by taking action against harassment, to address in full uncertainties about the implementation of the Amnesty Law and to take measures to improve public confidence in the Croatian police. “In this context, the Security Council emphasizes the key role of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) throughout the Republic of Croatia, including in the Danubian region. The Council strongly supports the closest possible cooperation between the United Nations and the OSCE, in particular between the OSCE mission and the support group and other United Nations offices and agencies in the Republic of Croatia as envisaged by the Secretary-General, and, to that end, encourages the support group and the OSCE mission to keep each other fully informed. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.