RESOLUTION 1239 (1999)
Adopted by the Security Council
at its 4003rd meeting,
on 14 May 1999
The Security Council,
Recalling its resolutions 1160 (1998) of 31 March
1998, 1199 (1998) of 23 September 1998, and 1203
(1998) of 24 October 1998, and the statements of its President
of 24 August 1998 (S/PRST/1998/25), 19 January 1999 (S/PRST/1999/2),
and 29 January 1999 (S/PRST/1999/5),
Bearing in mind the provisions
of the Charter of the United Nations and guided by
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the international
covenants and conventions on human rights, the Conventions
and Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, the Geneva
Conventions of 1949 and the Additional Protocols thereto
of 1977, as well as other instruments of international
humanitarian law,
Expressing grave concern at the
humanitarian catastrophe in and around Kosovo, Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia, as a result of the continuing
crisis,
Deeply concerned by the enormous
influx of Kosovo refugees into Albania, the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and other
countries, as well as by the increasing numbers of displaced
persons within Kosovo, the Republic of Montenegro and
other parts of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia,
Stressing the importance of effective
coordination of humanitarian relief activities undertaken
by States, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) and international organizations in alleviating
the plight and suffering of refugees and internally displaced
persons,
Noting with interest the intention
of the Secretary-General to send a humanitarian needs
assessment mission to Kosovo and other parts of the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia,
Reaffirming the territorial integrity
and sovereignty of all States in the region,
1. Commends the efforts that have been taken
by Member States, the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) and other international humanitarian relief
organizations in providing the urgently needed relief assistance
to the Kosovo refugees in Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and urges
them and others in a position to do so to contribute resources
for humanitarian assistance to the refugees and internally
displaced persons;
2. Invites the UNHCR and other international
humanitarian relief organizations to extend relief assistance
to the internally displaced persons in Kosovo, the Republic
of Montenegro and other parts of the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia, as well as to other civilians being affected
by the ongoing crisis;
3. Calls for access for United Nations and all
other humanitarian personnel operating in Kosovo and other
parts of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia;
4. Reaffirms the right of all refugees and displaced
persons to return to their homes in safety and in dignity;
5. Emphasizes that the humanitarian situation
will continue to deteriorate in the absence of a political
solution to the crisis consistent with the principles adopted
by the Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy,
Japan, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America
on 6 May 1999 (S/1999/516), and urges all concerned
to work towards this aim;
6. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.