United Nations Security Council Resolution 1239
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1239, adopted on May 14, 1999, after recalling resolutions 1160
(1998), 1199
(1998) and 1203
(1998), the Council called for access for the United Nations and other humanitarian personnel operating in Kosovo
to other parts of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro
).
The Security Council recalled the United Nations Charter
, Universal Declaration of Human Rights
, international agreements and conventions on human rights
, the Conventions
and Protocol
relating to the Status of Refugees, the Geneva Conventions
of 1949 and other instruments of international humanitarian law
. It expressed concern at the humanitarian catastrophe occurring in and around Kosovo as a result of the continuing crisis. Furthermore, there was concern for the influx of Kosovan refugee
s into Albania
, Macedonia
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
and other countries. In this regard it noted the intention of the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
to send a mission to Kosovo to assess humanitarian needs.
The resolution commended efforts already undertaken by Member States, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) and other humanitarian relief
organisations. They were asked to extend assistance to the internally displaced person
s in Kosovo, Montenegro
and other parts of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Security Council called for access for United Nations and all humanitarian personnel operating in Kosovo and other parts of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, reaffirming the right of refugees to return home safely. It emphasised that, without a political solution, the humanitarian solution would continue to deteriorate consistent with principles adopted by the G8
.
Resolution 1239 was adopted by 13 votes to none against and two abstention
s from China
and Russia
, which argued that the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
, without authorisation of the Security Council, had contributed towards the crisis and regretted that this was not mentioned in the resolution.
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"....
1239, adopted on May 14, 1999, after recalling resolutions 1160
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1160
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1160, adopted on March 31, 1998, after noting the situation in Kosovo, the Council, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, imposed an arms embargo on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia .Some countries had suggested a comprehensive arms...
(1998), 1199
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1199
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1199, adopted on September 23, 1998, after recalling Resolution 1160 , the Council demanded that the Albanian and Yugoslav parties in Kosovo end hostilities and observe a ceasefire....
(1998) and 1203
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1203
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1203, adopted on October 24, 1998, after recalling resolutions 1160 and 1199 on Kosovo, the Council demanded that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia comply with previous Security Council resolutions and co-operate with the NATO and Organization for...
(1998), the Council called for access for the United Nations and other humanitarian personnel operating in Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
to other parts of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro was a country in southeastern Europe, formed from two former republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia : Serbia and Montenegro. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was established in 1992 as a federation called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
).
The Security Council recalled the United Nations Charter
United Nations Charter
The Charter of the United Nations is the foundational treaty of the international organization called the United Nations. It was signed at the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center in San Francisco, United States, on 26 June 1945, by 50 of the 51 original member countries...
, Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly . The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled...
, international agreements and conventions on human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, the Conventions
Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees
The United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees is an international convention that defines who is a refugee, and sets out the rights of individuals who are granted asylum and the responsibilities of nations that grant asylum. The Convention also sets out which people do not...
and Protocol
Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees
The Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees entered into force on October 4, 1967. Where the United Nations 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees had restricted refugee status to those whose circumstances had come about "as a result of events occurring before 1 January 1951", as...
relating to the Status of Refugees, the Geneva Conventions
Geneva Conventions
The Geneva Conventions comprise four treaties, and three additional protocols, that establish the standards of international law for the humanitarian treatment of the victims of war...
of 1949 and other instruments of international humanitarian law
International humanitarian law
International humanitarian law , often referred to as the laws of war, the laws and customs of war or the law of armed conflict, is the legal corpus that comprises "the Geneva Conventions and the Hague Conventions, as well as subsequent treaties, case law, and customary international law." It...
. It expressed concern at the humanitarian catastrophe occurring in and around Kosovo as a result of the continuing crisis. Furthermore, there was concern for the influx of Kosovan refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s into Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
, Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
, 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...
and other countries. In this regard it noted the intention of the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
to send a mission to Kosovo to assess humanitarian needs.
The resolution commended efforts already undertaken by Member States, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees , also known as The UN Refugee Agency is a United Nations agency mandated to protect and support refugees at the request of a government or the UN itself and assists in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to...
(UNHCR) and other humanitarian relief
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
organisations. They were asked to extend assistance to the internally displaced person
Internally displaced person
An internally displaced person is someone who is forced to flee his or her home but who remains within his or her country's borders. They are often referred to as refugees, although they do not fall within the current legal definition of a refugee. At the end of 2006 it was estimated there were...
s in Kosovo, Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
and other parts of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Security Council called for access for United Nations and all humanitarian personnel operating in Kosovo and other parts of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, reaffirming the right of refugees to return home safely. It emphasised that, without a political solution, the humanitarian solution would continue to deteriorate consistent with principles adopted by the G8
G8
The Group of Eight is a forum, created by France in 1975, for the governments of seven major economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 1997, the group added Russia, thus becoming the G8...
.
Resolution 1239 was adopted by 13 votes to none against and two abstention
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...
s from 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...
, which argued that the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
The NATO bombing of Yugoslavia was NATO's military operation against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War. The strikes lasted from March 24, 1999 to June 10, 1999...
, without authorisation of the Security Council, had contributed towards the crisis and regretted that this was not mentioned in the resolution.
See also
- Breakup of Yugoslavia
- Kosovo status process
- Kosovo WarKosovo WarThe term Kosovo War or Kosovo conflict was two sequential, and at times parallel, armed conflicts in Kosovo province, then part of FR Yugoslav Republic of Serbia; from early 1998 to 1999, there was an armed conflict initiated by the ethnic Albanian "Kosovo Liberation Army" , who sought independence...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1201 to 1300 (1998 – 2000)
- 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...