Activities of the Security Council (16 June 1997-15 June 1998) – SecCo report (excerpts)

Report of the Security Council

16 June 1997 – 15 June 1998

The present report, covering the period from 16 June 1997 to 15 June 1998, is submitted to the General  Assembly by the Security Council in accordance with Article 24, paragraph 3, and Article 15, paragraph 1, of the Charter of the United Nations. It is the fifty-third annual report of the Security Council to the General Assembly.  These reports are circulated as Supplement No. 2 to the Official Records of each regular session of the General Assembly.

As in previous years, the report in intended as a guide to the activities of the Security Council during the period covered. It should be noted, in this connection, that in December 1974 the Council decided to make its report shorter and more concise, without changing its basic structure (see Official Records of the Security Council, Twenty-ninth Year, Supplement for October, November and December 1974, document S/11586). Moreover, in January 1985, the Council agreed, in keeping with the spirit of its 1974 decision, to discontinue the practice of summarizing documents addressed to the President of the Council or to the Secretary-General and circulated as documents of the Council and instead simply to indicate the subject matter of those documents which related to the procedure of the Council (see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1985, part II, document S/16913).

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Chapter 12

A. The situation in the Middle East

1. United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and developments in the Israel-Lebanon sector

(a) Background information for the period from 16 June 1996 to 15 June 1997

(b)  Consideration by the Security Council from 24 July 1997 to 30 January 1998

At the informal consultations of the whole of the Security Council held on 24 July 1997, the members of the Council took up the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (S/1997/550 and Corr.1) in which he recommended that the mandate of the Force be extended for another six months, until 31 January 1998.

At the 3804th meeting, held on 29 July 1997 in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations, the Security Council continued its consideration of the item entitled "The situation in the Middle East", having before it the report of the Secretary-General (S/1997/550 and Corr.1).

The President drew attention to a draft resolution (S/1997/575) that had been prepared in the course of the Council's prior consultations, which he put to the vote.

Decision: At the 3804th meeting, on 29 July 1997, draft resolution S/1997/575 was adopted unanimously as resolution 1122 (1997).

By resolution 1122 (1997), the Security Council, inter alia, decided to extend the mandate of UNIFIL for a further period of six months, until 31 January 1998. (For the full text of resolution 1122 (1997), see appendix V.)

At the same meeting, the President made a statement on behalf of the Council (S/PRST/1997/40), in which the Council, inter alia, expressed its concern over the continuing violence in southern Lebanon, regretted the loss of civilian life, and urged all parties to exercise restraint. (For the full text of S/PRST/1997/40, see appendix VI.)

At the informal consultations of the whole held on 27 January 1998, the members of the Council took up the report of the Secretary-General on UNIFIL (S/1999/53), in which he recommended that the mandate of the force be extended for a further period of six months, until 31 July 1999.

At the 3852nd meeting, held on 30 January 1998 in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations, the Security Council continued its consideration of the item entitled "The situation in the Middle East", having before it the report of the Secretary-General (S/1998/53).

The President drew attention to a draft resolution (S/1998/80) that had been prepared in the course of the Council's prior consultations, which he put to the vote.

Decision: At the 3852nd meeting, on 30 January 1998, draft resolution S/1998/80 was adopted unanimously as resolution 1151 (1998).

By resolution 1151 (1998), the Security Council, inter alia, decided to extend the mandate of UNIFIL for a further period of six months, until 31 July 1998. (For the full text of resolution 1151 (1998), see appendix V.)

At the same meeting, the President made a statement on behalf of the Council (S/PRST/1998/2), along the lines of the statement of 29 July 1997 (S/PRST/1997/40). (For the full text of S/PRST/1998/2. see appendix VI.)

(c) Communications received from 7 July 1997 to 15 June 1998 and reports of the Secretary-General

Letter dated 7 July 1997 (S/1997/527) from the representative of Lebanon addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting a letter dated 30 June 1997 from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Lebanon to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 7 July (S/1997/528) from the representative of Lebanon addressed to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 10 July (S/1997/534) from the representative of Lebanon addressed to the Secretary-General.

Report of the Secretary-General dated 16 July on UNIFIL (S/1997/550 and Corr.1), submitted pursuant to Security Council resolution 1095 (1997), describing developments since his report dated 20 January 1997 (S/1997/42), and recommending that the Council accede to the request of the Government of Lebanon and extend the mandate of UNIFIL for a further period of six months, until 31 January 1998.

Letter dated 30 July (S/1997/603) from the representative of Israel addressed to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 4 August (S/1997/615) from the representative of Lebanon addressed to the  Secretary-General.

Letter dated 11 August (S/1997/630) from the representative of Lebanon addressed to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 19 August (S/1997/660) from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council, informing him of his intention, following consultations with the Governments concerned, to appoint Major-General Jioje Konouse Konrote (Fiji) as Force Commander of UNIFIL.

Letter dated 25 August (S/1997/661) from the President of the Security Council addressed to the Secretary-General, informing him that his letter dated 19 August 1997 (S/1997/660) had been brought to the attention of the members of the Council and that they agreed with the proposal contained therein.

Letter dated 9 September (S/1997/702) from the representative of Lebanon addressed to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 7 October (S/1997/780) from the representative of Lebanon addressed to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 11 November (S/1997/876) from the representative of Lebanon addressed to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 16 December (S/1997/988 and Corr.1) from the representative of Lebanon addressed to the

Secretary-General.

Letter dated 6 January 1998 (S/1998/7) from the representative of Lebanon addressed to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 6 January (S/1998/9) from the representative of Kuwait addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting the final communiqué adopted by the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council at its eighteenth session, held in Kuwait from 20 to 22 December 1997.

Letter dated 9 January (S/1998/20) from the representative of Lebanon addressed to the  Secretary-General.

Report of the Secretary-General dated 20 January on UNIFIL (S/1998/53), submitted in pursuance of Security Council resolution 1122 (1997), describing developments since his last report (S/1997/550 and Corr.1) and recommending that the Council accede to the request of the Government of Lebanon and extend the mandate of UNIFIL for another period of six months, until 31 July 1998.

Letter dated 27 January (S/1998/75) from the representative of Israel addressed to the  Secretary-General.

Letter dated 19 February (S/1998/138) from the representative of Lebanon addressed to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 23 February (S/1998/156) from the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting the final communiqué, the Tehran Declaration, the Tehran Vision Statement and resolutions adopted by the Islamic Summit Conference at its eighth session (Session of Dignity, Dialogue, Participation), held at Tehran from 9 to 11 December 1997.

Letter dated 13 March (S/1998/237) from the representative of Lebanon addressed to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 6 April (S/1998/301) from the representative of Israel addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting the decisions adopted by the Ministerial Committee for National Security of the Government of Israel on the acceptance by Israel of Security Council resolution 425(1978).

Letter dated 16 April (S/1998/338) from the representative of Lebanon addressed to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 22 April (S/1998/341) from the representative of Lebanon addressed to the President of the Security Council, transmitting a letter dated 21 April 1998 from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Lebanon to the President of the Security Council.

Letter dated 22 April (S/1998/352) from the representative of Lebanon addressed to the  Secretary-General, transmitting a letter dated 21 April 1998 from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Lebanon to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 6 May (S/1998/379) from the representative of Lebanon addressed to the Secretary-General.

2.  United Nations Disengagement Observer Force

(a) Background Information for the period from 16 June 1996 to 15 June 1997

(b) Consideration by the Security Council from 21 November 1997 to 27 May 1998

At the informal consultations of the whole of the Security Council held on 21 November 1997, the members of the Council took up the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (S/1997/884).

At the 3835th meeting, held on 21 November 1997 in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations, the Security Council continued its consideration of the item entitled "The situation in the Middle East", having before it the report of the Secretary-General (S/1997/884).

The President drew attention to a draft resolution (S/1997/904) that had been prepared in the course of the Council's prior consultations, which he put to the vote.

Decision: At the 3835th meeting, on 21 November 1997, draft resolution S/1997/904 was adopted unanimously as resolution 1139 (1997).

By resolution 1139 (1997), the Security Council, inter alia, decided to renew the mandate of UNDOF for another period of six months, until 31 May 1998. (For the full text of resolution 1139 (1997), see appendix V.)

At the same meeting, the President made a statement on behalf of the Council (S/PRST/1997/53), in which,the Council, inter alia, stated that paragraph 9 of the Secretary-General's report (S/1997/884) reflected the view of the Security Council. (For the full text of S/PRST/1997/53, see appendix VI.)

At the informal consultations of the whole held on 27 May 1998, the members of the Council took up the report of the Secretary-General on UNDOF (S/1998/391), in which he recommended that the mandate of the Force be extended for a further period of six months, until 30 November 1998.

At the 3885th meeting, held on 27 May 1998 in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations, the Security Council continued its consideration of the item entitled "The situation in the Middle East", having before it the report of the Secretary-General (S/1998/391).

The President drew attention to a draft resolution (S/1998/422) that had been prepared in the course of the Council's prior consultations, which he put to the vote.

Decision: At the 3885th meeting, on 27 May 1998, draft resolution S/1998/422 was adopted unanimously as resolution 1169 (1998).

By resolution 1169 (1998), the Security Council, inter alia, decided to renew the mandate of UNDOF for another period of six months, until 30 November 1998. (For the full text of resolution 1169 (1998), see appendix V.)

At the same meeting, the President made a statement on behalf of the Council (S/PRST/1998/15), in which the Council, inter alia, stated that paragraph 10 of the Secretary-General's report on UNDOF (S/1998/391) reflected the view of the Security Council. (For the full text of S/PRST/1998/15, see appendix VI.)

(c) Communications received from 14 November 1997 to 15 June 1998 and reports of the Secretary-General

Report of the Secretary-General dated 14 November 1997 on UNDOF (S/1997/884), giving an account of the activities of UNDOF during the period from 17 May to 14 November 1997 in pursuance of the mandate contained in Security Council resolution 350 (1974), and recommending that the mandate of the Force be extended for a further period of six months, until 31 May 1998.

Letter dated 6 January 1998 (S/1998/9) from the representative of Kuwait addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting the final communiqué adopted by the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council at its eighteenth session, held in Kuwait from 20 to 22 December 1997.

Letter dated 23 February (S/1998/156) from the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting the final communiqué, the Tehran Declaration, the Tehran Vision Statement and resolutions adopted by the Islamic Summit Conference at its eighth session (Session of Dignity, Dialogue, Participation), held at Tehran from 9 to 11 December 1997.

Letter dated 28 April (S/1998/363) from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council, proposing that, following the usual consultations, Slovakia be added to the list of Member States providing troops to UNDOF.

Letter dated 1 May (S/1998/364) from the President of the Security Council addressed to the Secretary-General, informing him that his letter dated 28 April 1998 (S/1998/363) had been brought to the attention of members of the Council and that they agreed with the proposal contained therein.

Report of the Secretary-General dated 14 May on UNDOF (S/1998/391) giving an account of the activities of UNDOF during the period from 15 November 1997 to 14 May 1998 in pursuance of the mandate contained in Security Council resolution 350 (1974), and recommending that the mandate of the Force be extended for a further period of six months, until 30 November 1998.

3. Other aspects of the situation in the Middle East

(a) Consideration by the Security Council

(b) Communications received from 28 August 1997 to 15 June 1998

Note verbale dated 28 August 1997 (S/1997/406/Add.1) from the Permanent Mission of India addressed to the United Nations Secretariat, transmitting, inter alia, the communiqué issued on 7 April 1997 by the Ministerial Committee of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries on Palestine and the Special Declaration on the Middle East Peace Process, issued by the Twelfth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held at New Delhi on 7 and 8 April 1997.

Letter dated 9 September (S/1997/707) from the representative of Egypt addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting the final communiqué of the talks held in Cairo on 7 September 1997 by King Hussein of Jordan, President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and President Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Palestinian Authority.

Letter dated 25 September (S/1997/743) from the representatives of China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting a statement issued on the same date, by their Ministers for Foreign Affairs following their meeting with the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 26 September (S/1997/758) from the representatives of Egypt and the Russian Federation addressed to the Secretary-General transmitting a joint Russian-Egyptian statement issued in Moscow on 23 September 1997 during talks held by the Presidents of the Russian Federation and the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Letter dated 1 October (S/1997/775) from the representative of Colombia addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting the communiqué of the meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs and heads of delegation of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries to the fifty-second session of the General Assembly, held in New York on 25 September 1997.

Letter dated 23 October (S/1997/820) from the representative of Indonesia addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting the final communiqué, and the annexes thereto, of the annual coordination meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), held in New York on 2 October 1997.

Letter dated 5 November (S/1997/854) from the representative of the Russian Federation addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting the proposals on the Middle East, entitled "A code of peace and security in the Middle East", put forward in Cairo on 31 October 1997 by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

Letter dated 6 January 1998 (S/1998/9) from the representative of Kuwait addressed to the Secretary-General transmitting the final communiqué adopted by the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council at its eighteenth session, held in Kuwait from 20 to 22 December 1997.

Letter dated 19 January (S/1998/48) from the observer of Palestine addressed to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 23 February (S/1998/156) from the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting the final communiqué, the Tehran Declaration, the Tehran Vision Statement and resolutions adopted by the Islamic Summit Conference at its eighth session (Session of Dignity, Dialogue, Participation), held at Tehran from 9 to 11 December 1997.

Letter dated 25 February (S/1998/183) from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council, informing the Council that, following consultations with the Governments concerned, it was his intention to appoint Major General Timothy Roger Ford (Australia) as the next Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO).

Letter dated 2 March (S/1999/184) from the President of the Security Council addressed to the Secretary-General, informing him that his letter dated 25 February 1998 (S/1998/183) had been brought to the attention of the members of the Council and that they agreed with the intention contained therein.

Letter dated 27 March (S/1998/290) from the observer of Palestine addressed to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 8 April (S/1998/311) from the representative of Qatar addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting the final communiqué of the twenty-fifth session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (Session for a Better Future for the Peoples of the Islamic Ummah), held at Doha from 15 to 17 March 1998.

B. The situation in the occupied Arab territories

1. Background information for the period from 16 June 1996 to 15 June 1997

2. Consideration by the Security Council

3. Communications received from 26 June 1997 to 15 June 1998 and reports of the Secretary-General

Report of the Secretary-General dated 26 June 1997 (S/1997/494 and Corr.1) submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution ES-10/2 of 25 April 1997, describing developments with regard to the construction of a new Israeli settlement at Jebel Abu Ghneim; and addendum dated 11 July (S/1997/494/Add.1).

Letter dated 3 July (S/1997/515) from the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic addressed to the

Secretary-General.

Letter dated 7 July (S/1997/530) from the representative of Israel addressed to the Secretary-General.

Identical letters dated 9 July (S/1997/532) from the representative of Indonesia addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council.

Letter dated 11 July (S/1997/540) from the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran addressed to the President of the General Assembly.

Letter dated 16 July (S/1997/555) from the President of the General Assembly addressed to the President of the Security Council, informing him that on 15 July 1997 the General Assembly adopted resolution ES-10/3 by a recorded vote of 131 to 3, with 14 abstentions, and drawing his attention in particular to certain paragraphs of the resolution.

Identical letters dated 18 July (S/1997/560) from the observer of Palestine addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council.

Letter dated 1 August (S/1997/604) from the representative of Israel addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting a letter dated 31 July 1997 from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Israel to his counterparts.

Letter dated 4 August (S/1997/609) from the observer of Palestine addressed to the President o the Security Council.

Letter dated 6 August (S/1997/623) from the observer for the League of Arab States addressed to the President of the Security Council, transmitting a statement adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its extraordinary session hold on 5 August 1997.

Note verbale dated 28 August (S/1997/406/Add. 1) from the Permanent Mission of India addressed to the United Nations Secretariat transmitting, inter alia, the communiqué issued on 7 April 1997 by the Ministerial Committee of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries on Palestine and the Special Declaration on the Middle East Peace Process issued by the Twelfth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held at New Delhi on 7 and 8 April 1997.

Letter dated 4 September (S/1997/689) from the representative of Israel addressed to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 12 September (S/1997/710) from the observer of Palestine addressed to the Secretary-General.

Identical letters dated 19 September (S/1997/727) from the observer of Palestine addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council.

Letter dated 26 September (S/1997/749) from the observer of Palestine addressed to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 26- September (S/1997/758) from the representatives of Egypt and the Russian Federation addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting a joint Russian-Egyptian statement issued in Moscow on 23 September 1997 during talks held by the Presidents of the Russian Federation and the Arab Republic of

Egypt.

Letter dated from the representative of Colombia addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting the communiqué of the meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs and heads of delegation of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries to the fifty-second session of the General Assembly, held in New York on 25

September 1997.

Report of the Secretary-General dated 14 October (S/1997/798) submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution ES-10/3 of 15 July 1997, transmitting information provided by the Government of Switzerland in its capacity as depositary of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War; and addendum dated 10 November (S/1997/798/Add. 1).

Letter dated 23 October (S/1997/820) from the representative of Indonesia addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting the final communiqué and the annexes thereto, of the annual coordination meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of OIC, held in New York on 2 October 1997.

Report of the Secretary-General dated 6 November (S/1997/866) submitted in accordance with General Assembly resolution 51/26 on the question of Palestine, describing his efforts with regard to the implementation of that resolution.

Letter dated 24 December (S/1997/1011) from the observer of Palestine addressed to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 6 January 1998 (S/1998/9) from the representative of Kuwait addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting the final communiqué adopted by the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council at its eighteenth session, held in Kuwait from 20 to 22 December 1997.

Letter dated 13 January (S/1990/31) from the observer of Palestine addressed to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 19 January (S/1998/48) from the observer of Palestine addressed to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 26 January (S/1998/70) from the representative of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya addressed to the President of the Security Council, transmitting a letter dated 22 January 1998 from the Secretary of the General People's Committee for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to the President of the Security Council.

Letter dated 23 February (S/1998/156) from the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting the final communiqué, the Tehran Declaration, the Tehran Vision Statement and resolutions adopted by the Islamic Summit Conference at its eighth session (Session of Dignity, Dialogue, Participation), held at Tehran from 9 to 11 December 1997.

Letter dated 3 March (S/1999/189) from the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting, in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Arab States for the month of March 1998, a note verbale of the same date addressed to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 12 March (S/1998/224) from the observer of Palestine addressed to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 1 April (S/1998/290) from the observer of Palestine addressed to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 8 April (S/1998/311) from the representative of Qatar addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting the final communiqué of the twenty-fifth session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (Session for a Better Future of the Peoples of the Islamic Ummah) held at Doha from 15 to 17 March 1998.

Letter dated 14 May (S/1998/393) from the observer of Palestine addressed to the Secretary-General.

Identical letters dated 15 May (S/1998/400) from the representative of Saudi Arabia addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council.

Letter dated 29 May (S/1998/444) from the Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 8 June (S/1998/481) from the observer of Palestine addressed to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 9 June (S/1998/487) from the observer of Palestine addressed to the Secretary-General.

Letter dated 15 June (S/1999/511) from the observer of Palestine addressed to the Secretary-General.

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