United Nations Security Council Resolution 959
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
959, adopted unanimously on November 19, 1994, after recalling all resolutions on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina
including resolutions Resolution 824
(1993) and Resolution 836
(1993), the Council discussed the efforts of the United Nations Protection Force
(UNPROFOR) to ensure the implementation of Security Council resolutions in the safe areas
of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Security Council reaffirmed the need for a settlement between the Bosnian parties and condemned the Bosnian Serbs after they rejected a territorial settlement. Concern was expressed about the escalation of the fighting around Bihać
and the safe area, and the subsequent displacement of persons. It reaffirmed previous calls to the parties to cease hostilities that could lead to a further escalation of tensions, and the need for an urgent ceasefire
. The importance of Sarajevo
as a multicultural
, multiethnic
, and religious centre was stressed. The statement by the European Union
, Russia
, United Kingdom
and United States
and their commitment to strengthen the regime of safe areas was noted.
There was concern about the hostilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and violations of its international border with Croatia
, particularly by the Krajina Serb forces
. All parties were urged to co-operate with UNPROFOR to ensure implementation of Security Council resolutions on the safe areas. The Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
was asked about possible additional measures to stabilise the situation in Bihać. Both the Secretary-General and UNPROFOR were required to continue negotiations with the Bosnian parties concerning the demilitarisation
of Sarajevo and the restoration of normal life in the city in accordance with Resolution 900
(1994). Finally, the Secretary-General was requested to report back to the Council by December 1, 1994 on the implementation of the current 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"....
959, adopted unanimously on November 19, 1994, after recalling all resolutions on the situation 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...
including resolutions Resolution 824
United Nations Security Council Resolution 824
United Nations Security Council Resolution 824, adopted unanimously on May 6, 1993, after considering a report by the Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali pursuant to Resolution 819 , the Council discussed the treatment of certain towns and surroundings as "safe areas" in Bosnia and...
(1993) and Resolution 836
United Nations Security Council Resolution 836
United Nations Security Council Resolution 836, adopted on June 4, 1993, after reaffirming Resolution 713 and all subsequent resolutions on the situation in the former Yugoslavia, the Council expressed its alarm at the continuing situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and decided to expand the...
(1993), the Council discussed the efforts of 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) to ensure the implementation of Security Council resolutions in 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....
of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Security Council reaffirmed the need for a settlement between the Bosnian parties and condemned the Bosnian Serbs after they rejected a territorial settlement. Concern was expressed about the escalation of the fighting around Bihać
Bihac
Bihać is a city and municipality on the river Una in the north-western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the Bosanska Krajina region. Bihać is located in the Una-Sana Canton in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.-History:...
and the safe area, and the subsequent displacement of persons. It reaffirmed previous calls to the parties to cease hostilities that could lead to a further escalation of tensions, and the need for an urgent 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...
. The importance 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....
as a multicultural
Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism is the appreciation, acceptance or promotion of multiple cultures, applied to the demographic make-up of a specific place, usually at the organizational level, e.g...
, multiethnic
Multiethnic society
A multiethnic society is one with members belonging to more than one ethnic group, in contrast to societies which are ethnically homogenous. In practice, virtually all contemporary national societies are multiethnic...
, and religious centre was stressed. The statement by the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, 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...
, 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...
and United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and their commitment to strengthen the regime of safe areas was noted.
There was concern about the hostilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and violations of its international border with Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, particularly by the Krajina Serb forces
Military of Serbian Krajina
* Armored Vehicles** T-34/85** T-55** T-72 ** M-84 ** PT-76** OT M-60** BVP M-80** BOV ** BRDM-2** M36 Jackson** M18 Hellcat* Artillery** M-63 Plamen** M-77 Oganj * Anti-aircraft ** ZSU-57-2** M53/59 Praga...
. All parties were urged to co-operate with UNPROFOR to ensure implementation of Security Council resolutions on the safe areas. 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...
was asked about possible additional measures to stabilise the situation in Bihać. Both the Secretary-General and UNPROFOR were required to continue negotiations with the Bosnian parties concerning the demilitarisation
Demilitarisation
Demilitarisation or demilitarization is the reduction of a nation's army, weapons, or military vehicles to an agreed minimum. Demilitarisation is usually the result of a peace treaty ending a war or a major conflict....
of Sarajevo and the restoration of normal life in the city in accordance with Resolution 900
United Nations Security Council Resolution 900
United Nations Security Council Resolution 900, adopted on March 4, 1994, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Council discussed the restoration of essential public services and normal life in and around the capital Sarajevo.The Security Council noted...
(1994). Finally, the Secretary-General was requested to report back to the Council by December 1, 1994 on the implementation of the current resolution.
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...