United Nations Security Council Resolution 787
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
787, adopted on November 16, 1992, after reaffirming Resolution 713
(1991) and all subsequent resolutions on the topic, the Council called upon the parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina
to consider the draft outline constitution as a basis for negotiating a political settlement of the conflict in the country, and went on to impose further international sanctions
on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro).
The Council went on to reaffirm that the taking of territory by force, in particular the practice of ethnic cleansing
, is unacceptable, calling on all parties to respect the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and affirming that any entities unilaterally declared or arrangements imposed in contravention thereof will not be accepted. It also condemned all parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly Bosnian Serb paramilitary
forces, for their refusal to comply with previous Security Council resolutions. The Council also demanded that all outside interference in Bosnia and Herzegovina cease, including the requirement that all forces, in particular elements of the Croatian Army
, be withdrawn, disbanded or disarmed, calling upon all parties to fulfil their commitments to put into effect an immediate cessation of hostilities and to negotiate in the Mixed Military Working Group and end the blockade of Sarajevo
and other towns.
The resolution again condemned violations of international law
, including that of ethnic cleansing and the impeding of humanitarian aid
, welcoming the establishment of the Commission of Experts under Resolution 780
(1992), requesting it to actively investigate violations under the Geneva Conventions
. The Council then, under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter
, decided to expand the scope of international sanctions
against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to apply to ships with which it has an interest in or operating from the Federal Republic, calling on states to ensure that exports are not diverted to the country in violation of Resolution 757
(1992). It also asked for measures commesurate under the present circumstances to halt inward and outward maritime shipping in order to inspect and verify their cargoes and destinations and to ensure strict implementation of previous resolutions. In this regard, the Council commended riparian
states which were acting in compliance with Security Council resolutions.
Resolution 787 then requested the states concerned to coordinate with the Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
the facilitation of monitoring of compliance with the current resolution, providing any assistance when required. Concerning the humanitarian situation, the Council urged donors and international organisations to contribute to the relief efforts in the former Yugoslavia
, calling for full co-operation with the United Nations Protection Force
to ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian aid to the affected population. It also invited the Secretary-General to in consultation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
and other agencies, to consider the prospect of promoting "safe zones" for humanitarian purposes. Finally, the resolution appreciated the report by the Co-Chairmen of the Steering Committee of the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia and requested to be updated on the situation.
The resolution was adopted by 13 votes to none against, with two abstentions from China
and Zimbabwe
. The current resolution was strengthened by Resolution 820
.
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"....
787, adopted on November 16, 1992, after reaffirming Resolution 713
United Nations Security Council Resolution 713
United Nations Security Council Resolution 713, adopted unanimously on September 25, 1991, after receiving representations from a number of Member States and commending the efforts of the European Community in the region, the Council decided to impose, under Chapter VII, an arms embargo on the...
(1991) and all subsequent resolutions on the topic, the Council called upon the parties 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...
to consider the draft outline constitution as a basis for negotiating a political settlement of the conflict in the country, and went on to impose further international sanctions
International sanctions
International sanctions are actions taken by countries against others for political reasons, either unilaterally or multilaterally.There are several types of sanctions....
on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro).
The Council went on to reaffirm that the taking of territory by force, in particular the practice of ethnic cleansing
Ethnic cleansing
Ethnic cleansing is a purposeful policy designed by one ethnic or religious group to remove by violent and terror-inspiring means the civilian population of another ethnic orreligious group from certain geographic areas....
, is unacceptable, calling on all parties to respect the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and affirming that any entities unilaterally declared or arrangements imposed in contravention thereof will not be accepted. It also condemned all parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly Bosnian Serb paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
forces, for their refusal to comply with previous Security Council resolutions. The Council also demanded that all outside interference in Bosnia and Herzegovina cease, including the requirement that all forces, in particular elements of the Croatian Army
Croatian ground army
The Croatian Army is a branch of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia.The fundamental role and purpose of the Croatian Army is to protect vital national interests of the Republic of Croatia and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state.Basic tasks of the Croatian Army...
, be withdrawn, disbanded or disarmed, calling upon all parties to fulfil their commitments to put into effect an immediate cessation of hostilities and to negotiate in the Mixed Military Working Group and end the blockade of Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
and other towns.
The resolution again condemned violations of international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
, including that of ethnic cleansing and the impeding of humanitarian aid
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...
, welcoming the establishment of the Commission of Experts under Resolution 780
United Nations Security Council Resolution 780
United Nations Security Council Resolution 780, adopted unanimously on October 6, 1992, after reaffirming Resolution 713 and subsequent resolutions on the topic, the Council expressed its concern at the continued "widespread violations of international humanitarian law" in Bosnia and Herzegovina...
(1992), requesting it to actively investigate violations under 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...
. The Council then, 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...
, decided to expand the scope of international sanctions
International sanctions
International sanctions are actions taken by countries against others for political reasons, either unilaterally or multilaterally.There are several types of sanctions....
against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to apply to ships with which it has an interest in or operating from the Federal Republic, calling on states to ensure that exports are not diverted to the country in violation of Resolution 757
United Nations Security Council Resolution 757
United Nations Security Council Resolution 757, adopted on May 30, 1992, after reaffirming resolutions 713 , 721 , 724 , 727 , 740 743 , 749 and 752 , the Council condemned the failure of the authorities in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to implement Resolution 752.After demanding the...
(1992). It also asked for measures commesurate under the present circumstances to halt inward and outward maritime shipping in order to inspect and verify their cargoes and destinations and to ensure strict implementation of previous resolutions. In this regard, the Council commended riparian
Riparian zone
A riparian zone or riparian area is the interface between land and a river or stream. Riparian is also the proper nomenclature for one of the fifteen terrestrial biomes of the earth. Plant habitats and communities along the river margins and banks are called riparian vegetation, characterized by...
states which were acting in compliance with Security Council resolutions.
Resolution 787 then requested the states concerned to coordinate with 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...
the facilitation of monitoring of compliance with the current resolution, providing any assistance when required. Concerning the humanitarian situation, the Council urged donors and international organisations to contribute to the relief efforts 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....
, calling for full co-operation with 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...
to ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian aid to the affected population. It also invited the Secretary-General to in consultation with 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...
and other agencies, to consider the prospect of promoting "safe zones" for humanitarian purposes. Finally, the resolution appreciated the report by the Co-Chairmen of the Steering Committee of the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia and requested to be updated on the situation.
The resolution was adopted by 13 votes to none against, with two abstentions 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 Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. The current resolution was strengthened by Resolution 820
United Nations Security Council Resolution 820
United Nations Security Council Resolution 820, adopted on April 17, 1993, after reaffirming all previous resolutions on the topic for a lasting peace settlement in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region, the Council discussed the peace plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina and comprehensive steps to...
.
See also
- Breakup of Yugoslavia
- Bosnian GenocideBosnian GenocideThe term Bosnian Genocide refers to either the genocide committed by Bosnian Serb forces in Srebrenica in 1995 or the ethnic cleansing campaign that took place throughout areas controlled by the Bosnian Serb Army during the 1992–1995 Bosnian War....
- 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...
- 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 701 to 800 (1991 – 1993)
- 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...