RESOLUTION 1199 (1998)
Adopted by the Security Council at its 3930th meeting on 23
September 1998
The Security Council,
Recalling its resolution 1160 (1998) of 31 March 1998,
Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General
pursuant to that resolution, and in particular his report of 4
September 1998 (S/1998/834 and Add.1),
Noting with appreciation the statement of the Foreign
Ministers of France, Germany, Italy, the Russian Federation, the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United
States of America (the Contact Group) of 12 June 1998 at the conclusion
of the Contact Group's meeting with the Foreign Ministers of Canada
and Japan (S/1998/567, annex), and the further statement of the
Contact Group made in Bonn on 8 July 1998 (S/1998/657),
Noting also with appreciation the joint statement by
the Presidents of the Russian Federation and the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia of 16 June 1998 (S/1998/526),
Noting further the communication by the Prosecutor of
the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia to the Contact
Group on 7 July 1998, expressing the view that the situation in
Kosovo represents an armed conflict within the terms of the mandate
of the Tribunal,
Gravely concerned at the recent intense fighting in Kosovo
and in particular the excessive and indiscriminate use of force
by Serbian security forces and the Yugoslav Army which have resulted
in numerous civilian casualties and, according to the estimate
of the Secretary-General, the displacement of over 230,000 persons
from their homes,
Deeply concerned by the flow of refugees into northern
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other European countries as
a result of the use of force in Kosovo, as well as by the increasing
numbers of displaced persons within Kosovo, and other parts of
the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, up to 50,000 of whom the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has estimated are without
shelter and other basic necessities,
Reaffirming the right of all refugees and displaced persons
to return to their homes in safety, and underlining the
responsibility of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for creating
the conditions which allow them to do so,
Condemning all acts of violence by any party, as well
as terrorism in pursuit of political goals by any group or individual,
and all external support for such activities in Kosovo, including
the supply of arms and training for terrorist activities in Kosovo
and expressing concern at the reports of continuing violations
of the prohibitions imposed by resolution 1160 (1998),
Deeply concerned by the rapid deterioration in the humanitarian
situation throughout Kosovo, alarmed at the impending humanitarian
catastrophe as described in the report of the Secretary-General,
and emphasizing the need to prevent this from happening,
Deeply concerned also by reports of increasing violations
of human rights and of international humanitarian law, and emphasizing
the need to ensure that the rights of all inhabitants of Kosovo
are respected,
Reaffirming the objectives of resolution 1160 (1998),
in which the Council expressed support for a peaceful resolution
of the Kosovo problem which would include an enhanced status for
Kosovo, a substantially greater degree of autonomy, and meaningful
self-administration,
Reaffirming also the commitment of all Member States
to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia,
Affirming that the deterioration of the situation in
Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, constitutes a threat to
peace and security in the region,
Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United
Nations,
1. Demands that all parties, groups and individuals
immediately cease hostilities and maintain a ceasefire in Kosovo,
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which would enhance the prospects
for a meaningful dialogue between the authorities of the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia and the Kosovo Albanian leadership and
reduce the risks of a humanitarian catastrophe;
2. Demands also that the authorities of the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia and the Kosovo Albanian leadership take
immediate steps to improve the humanitarian situation and to
avert the impending humanitarian catastrophe;
3. Calls upon the authorities in the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia and the Kosovo Albanian leadership to enter immediately
into a meaningful dialogue without preconditions and with international
involvement, and to a clear timetable, leading to an end of
the crisis and to a negotiated political solution to the issue
of Kosovo, and welcomes the current efforts aimed at
facilitating such a dialogue;
4. Demands further that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia,
in addition to the measures called for under resolution 1160
(1998), implement immediately the following concrete measures
towards achieving a political solution to the situation in Kosovo
as contained in the Contact Group statement of 12 June 1998:
(a) cease all action by the security forces affecting the
civilian population and order the withdrawal of security units
used for civilian repression;
(b) enable effective and continuous international monitoring
in Kosovo by the European Community Monitoring Mission and diplomatic
missions accredited to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, including
access and complete freedom of movement of such monitors to,
from and within Kosovo unimpeded by government authorities,
and expeditious issuance of appropriate travel documents to
international personnel contributing to the monitoring;
(c) facilitate, in agreement with the UNHCR and the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the safe return of refugees
and displaced persons to their homes and allow free and unimpeded
access for humanitarian organizations and supplies to Kosovo;
(d) make rapid progress to a clear timetable, in the dialogue
referred to in paragraph 3 with the Kosovo Albanian community
called for in resolution 1160 (1998), with the aim of agreeing
confidence-building measures and finding a political solution
to the problems of Kosovo;
5. Notes, in this connection, the commitments of the
President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in his joint
statement with the President of the Russian Federation of 16
June 1998:
(a) to resolve existing problems by political means on the
basis of equality for all citizens and ethnic communities
in Kosovo;
(b) not to carry out any repressive actions against the
peaceful population;
(c) to provide full freedom of movement for and ensure that
there will be no restrictions on representatives of foreign
States and international institutions accredited to the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia monitoring the situation in Kosovo;
(d) to ensure full and unimpeded access for humanitarian
organizations, the ICRC and the UNHCR, and delivery of humanitarian
supplies;
(e) to facilitate the unimpeded return of refugees and displaced
persons under programmes agreed with the UNHCR and the ICRC,
providing State aid for the reconstruction of destroyed homes,
and calls for the full implementation of these commitments;
6. Insists that the Kosovo Albanian leadership condemn
all terrorist action, and emphasizes that all elements
in the Kosovo Albanian community should pursue their goals by
peaceful means only;
7. Recalls the obligations of all States to implement
fully the prohibitions imposed by resolution 1160 (1998);
8. Endorses the steps taken to establish effective international
monitoring of the situation in Kosovo, and in this connection
welcomes the establishment of the Kosovo Diplomatic Observer
Mission;
9. Urges States and international organizations represented
in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to make available personnel
to fulfil the responsibility of carrying out effective and continuous
international monitoring in Kosovo until the objectives of this
resolution and those of resolution 1160 (1998) are achieved;
10. Reminds the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia that it
has the primary responsibility for the security of all diplomatic
personnel accredited to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as
well as the safety and security of all international and non-governmental
humanitarian personnel in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
and calls upon the authorities of the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia and all others concerned in the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia to take all appropriate steps to ensure that monitoring
personnel performing functions under this resolution are not
subject to the threat or use of force or interference of any
kind;
11. Requests States to pursue all means consistent with
their domestic legislation and relevant international law to
prevent funds collected on their territory being used to contravene
resolution 1160 (1998);
12. Calls upon Member States and others concerned to
provide adequate resources for humanitarian assistance in the
region and to respond promptly and generously to the United
Nations Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Humanitarian Assistance
Related to the Kosovo Crisis;
13. Calls upon the authorities of the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia, the leaders of the Kosovo Albanian community
and all others concerned to cooperate fully with the Prosecutor
of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in the
investigation of possible violations within the jurisdiction
of the Tribunal;
14. Underlines also the need for the authorities of the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to bring to justice those members
of the security forces who have been involved in the mistreatment
of civilians and the deliberate destruction of property;
15. Requests the Secretary-General to provide regular
reports to the Council as necessary on his assessment of compliance
with this resolution by the authorities of the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia and all elements in the Kosovo Albanian community,
including through his regular reports on compliance with resolution
1160 (1998);
16. Decides, should the concrete measures demanded in
this resolution and resolution 1160 (1998) not be taken, to
consider further action and additional measures to maintain
or restore peace and stability in the region;
17. Decides to remain seized of the matter.
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