The Security Council this afternoon demanded that the parties to the Peace Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina comply "fully, unconditionally and without any further delay" with their commitments regarding the release of prisoners, implementation of the constitutional framework, withdrawal of foreign forces, ensuring freedom of movement, cooperation with the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, return of refugees and respect for human rights and international humanitarian law.

In a statement read out by its President, Juan Somavia (Chile), the Council demanded that the parties to the Agreement fully implement it and demonstrate a genuine commitment to confidence- and security-building measures, regional arms control, reconciliation and the building of a common future. The Council called on the authorities concerned with the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to move forward vigorously on measures to strengthen that Federation and to implement in full the Sarajevo Agreement concluded on 30 March.

The Council expressed concern at the failure of all parties to comply with the provisions of the Peace Agreement concerning the release of prisoners, stressing that the "obligation to release the prisoners is unconditional". In that context, the Council noted the readiness of the High Representative to propose measures to be taken against any party that failed to comply.

By the same text, the Council expressed its support for the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its International Police Task Force and called on the parties to allow Task Force personnel immediate and complete access to any system, person, activity, proceeding, record or other item or event in Bosnia and Herzegovina upon request. Member States which had agreed to provide civilian police to the Task Force were urged to expeditiously dispatch qualified personnel to enable it to reach full deployment by mid-April.

Stating that economic reconstruction and rehabilitation throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina were key to the success of the implementation process, the Council urged that priority be given to projects aimed at facilitating the process of reconciliation and the economic reintegration of the whole country. It called on States and international institutions to honour fully their commitments regarding economic and financial assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Council expressed concern over recent developments in the Sarajevo area which caused thousands of Bosnian Serb civilians to leave their homes. It called on the parties to make greater efforts towards reconciliation and the reconstitution of a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic Sarajevo, "as a city of Bosniacs, Serbs, Croats and others and as the capital and seat of the future common institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina". It further called on the parties to put into place additional measures to ensure security and freedom of movement and conditions for the return of people affected in Sarajevo and all other transferred areas. The Council called on the parties to reverse the trend of population movements and partition efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina along ethnic lines.

Also this afternoon, the President, on behalf of the Council, extended sympathy to the Government and people of the United States in connection with the plane crash in Croatia yesterday which claimed the lives of 33 persons, including the United States Secretary of Commerce, Ronald H. Brown. The representative of the United States thanked the Council for its words of sympathy and condolence.

For further details please see source:
MEETINGS COVERAGE

For further details please see official record:
S/PV.3647

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