S/PV.3885 Security Council

I should like to acknowledge the presence at the Council table of the new Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations, Mr. Bernd Niehaus Quesada. On behalf of the Council I extend a warm welcome to him. We look forward to cooperating with him in the work of the Council. Adoption of the agenda

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security 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 Disengagement Observer Force, document S/1998/391. Members of the Council also have before them document S/1998/422, 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 vote on the draft resolution before it. Unless I hear any objection, I shall now put the draft resolution to the vote. There being no objection, it is so decided. In favour: Bahrain, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, France, Gabon, Gambia, Japan, Kenya, Portugal, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America

There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 1169 (1998). In connection with the resolution just adopted on the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, I have been authorized to make the following complementary statement on behalf of the Security Council: “As is known, the report of the Secretary- General on the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (S/1998/391) states in paragraph 10: Despite the present quiet in the Israeli- Syrian sector, the situation in the Middle East continues to be potentially dangerous and is likely to remain so, unless and until a comprehensive settlement covering all aspects of the Middle East problem can be reached.' “That statement of the Secretary-General reflects the view of the Security Council.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/1998/15. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.