United Nations Security Council Resolution 998
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
998, adopted on June 16, 1995, after reaffirming all resolutions on the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia
, in particular Resolution 982
(1994), the Council established a rapid reaction force of up to 12,500 personnel within the United Nations Protection Force
(UNPROFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina
following attacks on it and the overall deteriorating situation.
A letter received from the Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
on June 9, 1995 included proposals from France
, the Netherlands
and United Kingdom
to strengthen UNPROFOR by the creation of a rapid reaction force within it. The rapid reaction force would form an integral part of the existing peacekeeping
operation and that UNPROFOR would remain impartial. The Council was concerned by the continuing armed hostilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and that a further ceasefire
was not agreed. Attacks on UNPROFOR and civilians by Bosnian Serb forces were condemned.
Acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter
, the Council demanded that Bosnian Serb forces release all detained UNPROFOR personnel and that all parties respect the safety of UNPROFOR. The conflict would not be resolved through military means and negotiations had to begin, reiterating that the Bosnian Serb side accept the Contact Group peace plan as a starting point. A complete ceasefire
, cessation of hostilities and unimpeded access to humanitarian organisations, particularly to the safe areas
and Sarajevo
, was demanded. The resolution called on the parties to respect the safety of civilians and the status of the safe areas.
It was then decided to increase the size of UNPROFOR by an additional 12,500 personnel, an increase of over 50%, as provided for in the letter of the Secretary-General. Any further changes should consider the security of the force and reduce the danger to which they were exposed.
China
and Russia
abstained
from the voting on Resolution 998 after expressing concern that UNPROFOR should remain a strictly peacekeeping force, which was approved by the other members of the Council.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
998, adopted on June 16, 1995, after reaffirming all resolutions on the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia
Former Yugoslavia
The former Yugoslavia is a term used to describe the present day states which succeeded the collapse of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia....
, in particular Resolution 982
United Nations Security Council Resolution 982
United Nations Security Council Resolution 982, adopted unanimously on March 31, 1995, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation in the former Yugoslavia in particular Resolution 947 concerning the United Nations Protection Force , the Council extended the mandate of UNPROFOR for...
(1994), the Council established a rapid reaction force of up to 12,500 personnel within the United Nations Protection Force
United Nations Protection Force
The United Nations Protection Force ', was the first United Nations peacekeeping force in Croatia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Yugoslav wars. It existed between the beginning of UN involvement in February 1992, and its restructuring into other forces in March 1995...
(UNPROFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
following attacks on it and the overall deteriorating situation.
A letter received from the Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Boutros Boutros-Ghali is an Egyptian politician and diplomat who was the sixth Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1992 to December 1996...
on June 9, 1995 included proposals from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to strengthen UNPROFOR by the creation of a rapid reaction force within it. The rapid reaction force would form an integral part of the existing peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
operation and that UNPROFOR would remain impartial. The Council was concerned by the continuing armed hostilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and that a further ceasefire
Ceasefire
A ceasefire is a temporary stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions. Ceasefires may be declared as part of a formal treaty, but they have also been called as part of an informal understanding between opposing forces...
was not agreed. Attacks on UNPROFOR and civilians by Bosnian Serb forces were condemned.
Acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter
Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter
Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter sets out the UN Security Council's powers to maintain peace. It allows the Council to "determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression" and to take military and nonmilitary action to "restore international peace...
, the Council demanded that Bosnian Serb forces release all detained UNPROFOR personnel and that all parties respect the safety of UNPROFOR. The conflict would not be resolved through military means and negotiations had to begin, reiterating that the Bosnian Serb side accept the Contact Group peace plan as a starting point. A complete ceasefire
Ceasefire
A ceasefire is a temporary stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions. Ceasefires may be declared as part of a formal treaty, but they have also been called as part of an informal understanding between opposing forces...
, cessation of hostilities and unimpeded access to humanitarian organisations, particularly to the safe areas
United Nations Safe Areas
United Nations Safe Areas were areas established in 1993 in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Bosnian War by a resolution of the United Nations Security Council....
and Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
, was demanded. The resolution called on the parties to respect the safety of civilians and the status of the safe areas.
It was then decided to increase the size of UNPROFOR by an additional 12,500 personnel, an increase of over 50%, as provided for in the letter of the Secretary-General. Any further changes should consider the security of the force and reduce the danger to which they were exposed.
China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
abstained
Abstention
Abstention is a term in election procedure for when a participant in a vote either does not go to vote or, in parliamentary procedure, is present during the vote, but does not cast a ballot. Abstention must be contrasted with "blank vote", in which a voter casts a ballot willfully made invalid by...
from the voting on Resolution 998 after expressing concern that UNPROFOR should remain a strictly peacekeeping force, which was approved by the other members of the Council.
See also
- Bosnian WarBosnian WarThe Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
- Breakup of Yugoslavia
- Croatian War of IndependenceCroatian War of IndependenceThe Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia —and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb forces, with the JNA ending its combat...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 901 to 1000 (1994 – 1995)
- Yugoslav WarsYugoslav warsThe Yugoslav Wars were a series of wars, fought throughout the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 1995. The wars were complex: characterized by bitter ethnic conflicts among the peoples of the former Yugoslavia, mostly between Serbs on the one side and Croats and Bosniaks on the other; but also...