S/PV.3918 Security Council

I should like to inform the Council that I have received letters from the representatives of Germany 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, At the invitation of the President, Mr. Reichel (Germany) and Mr. Fulci. (Italy) took the seats reserved for them at the side of the Council Chamber.

The Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. Members of the Council have before them the report of the Secretary-General prepared pursuant to Security Council resolution 1160 (1998), document S/1998/712. I should like to draw the attention of the members of the Council to document S/1998/675, which contains the text of a letter dated 20 July 1998 from the Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting the text of a statement by the President of the European Union. “The Security Council has considered the report of the Secretary-General of 5 August 1998 (S/1998/712) submitted pursuant to its resolution 1160 (1998) of 31 March 1998. “The Security Council remains gravely concerned about the recent intense fighting in Kosovo which has had a devastating impact on the, civilian population and has greatly increased the numbers of refugees and displaced persons. “The Security Council shares the concern of the Secretary-General that the continuation or further escalation of the conflict in Kosovo has dangerous implications for the stability of the region. In particular, the Council is gravely concerned that given the increasing numbers of displaced persons, coupled with the approaching winter, the situation in Kosovo has the potential to become an even greater humanitarian disaster. The Council affirms the right of all refugees and displaced persons to return to their homes. In particular, the Council emphasizes the importance of unhindered and continuous access of humanitarian organizations to the affected population. The Council is concerned over reports of increasing violations of international humanitarian law. “The Security Council calls for an immediate ceasefire. The Council emphasizes that the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Kosovo Albanians must achieve a political solution to the issue of Kosovo and that all violence and acts of terrorism from whatever quarter are unacceptable, and reiterates the importance of the implementation of its resolution 1160 (1998). The Council reaffirms the commitment of all Member States to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and urges the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Kosovo Albanian leadership to enter immediately into a meaningful dialogue leading to an end to the violence and a negotiated political solution to the issue of Kosovo. It supports in this context the efforts of the Contact Group, including its initiatives to engage the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Kosovo Albanian “In this regard, the Security Council welcomes the announcement by Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, the leader of the Kosovo Albanian community, of the formation of a negotiating team to represent the interests of the Kosovo Albanian community. The formation of the Kosovo Albanian negotiating team should lead to the early commencement of a substantial dialogue with the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, with the aim of ending the violence and achieving a peaceful settlement, including the safe and permanent return of all internally displaced persons and refugees to their homes. “It remains essential that the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Kosovo “The Security Council will continue to follow the situation in Kosovo closely and will remain seized of the matter.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/1998/25. 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. The meeting rose at 1.15 p.m.