[23 Oct 1998] SC/6587 : SECURITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION 1160 (1998) CONSIDERS VIOLATIONS OF THE ARMS EMBARGO

23 October 1998

Press Release
SC/6587

SECURITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION 1160 (1998) CONSIDERS VIOLATIONS OF THE ARMS EMBARGO

On 31 March 1998, acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, the Security Council adopted resolution 1160 (1998) by which it decided that all States should prevent the sale or supply to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, including Kosovo, of arms and related matériel of all types and spare parts thereof, as well as the arming and training for terrorist activities there and called on all States and all international and regional organizations to act strictly in conformity with the resolution. By imposing the above prohibitions the Council sought to contribute towards fostering peace and stability in Kosovo. On 23 September 1998, the Council adopted resolution 1199 (1998) by which it recalled the obligations of all States to implement fully the prohibitions contained in resolution 1160 (1998) and requested States to pursue all means consistent with their domestic legislation and relevant international law to prevent funds collected on their territory being used to contravene resolution 1160 (1998).

At its fourth meeting, held on 15 October 1998, the Committee acknowledged that concentrated efforts by States are needed for the effective implementation of the arms embargo, especially by those countries neighbouring the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Accordingly, the Committee authorized its Chairman, Ambassador Celso L.N. Amorim (Brazil), to issue the following statement on behalf of the Committee:

"On behalf of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1160 (1998), I wish to extend my appreciation to the following 52 States which reported to the Committee, in accordance with paragraph 12 of Security Council resolution 1160 (1998), on the steps they have taken to give effect to the prohibitions imposed by that resolution: Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Italy, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Korea (Republic of), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Thailand and Uruguay. Replies of the above listed States are contained in documents S/AC.35/1998/1-52.

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At the same time, I wish to call on all those States which have not yet fulfilled their obligations under paragraph 12 of Security Council resolution 1160 (1998) to adopt the necessary measures as soon as possible and inform the Committee accordingly. I appeal especially to those States in the region as well as other States that can play a significant role in achieving the objectives of resolutions 1160 (1998) and 1199 (1998). The Committee also urges all States as well as international and regional organizations to provide information that may be available to them concerning violations or suspected violations of the above prohibitions."

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