452 Political and security questions

Chapter V Europe and the Mediterranean

The restoration of peace and stability in the post- Kosovo in August when its Government adopted a conflict countries in the Europe and Mediterranean European Partnership Action Plan. In November, region advanced in 2006, as efforts to re-establish the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the fu- their institutions and social and economic infra- ture status of Kosovo announced that the presenta- structure continued. However, a number of issues tion of the Settlement Proposal would be delayed remained unresolved. until the end of January 2007 to allow for the hold- Led by the European Union (eu), the interna- ing of parliamentary elections in Serbia. tional community continued to assist Bosnia and In a historic referendum in May, Montenegro Herzegovina to move towards full integration voted to separate from Serbia. In June, the General into Europe through the eu Stabilization and Assembly welcomed Montenegro to membership in Association Process. The country adopted an eu the United Nations. integration strategy, its first long-term strategic Renewed efforts were made to end the stalemate document leading towards full eu membership, and in the Georgian Abkhaz peace process. During the made progress in meeting the North Atlantic Treaty year, the Special Representative of the Secretary- Organization Partnership for Peace requirements, General in Georgia convened the first session of which culminated in an invitation for Bosnia and the resumed Coordination Council of the Georgian Herzegovina to join the Partnership. In October, and Abkhaz sides, which had not met since 2001. domestic authorities successfully carried out the Senior officials of the Group of Friends of the country’s first self-organized general elections since Secretary-General (France, Germany, Russian the war ended in 1995. The Security Council, in a Federation, United Kingdom, United States) November resolution, authorized Member States, continued to encourage dialogue on the basis of acting through or in cooperation with the eu, to the 2001 Basic Principles for the Distribution of establish, for a further 12 months, a multinational Competencies between Tbilisi (the Georgian stabilization force (the European Union Force) and Government) and Sukhumi (the Abkhaz leader- welcomed the nato decision to continue its pres- ship). A difficult and complex situation prevailed ence in Bosnia and Herzegovina. on the ground, however, with Abkhaz authorities In Kosovo (Serbia and Montenegro), the United claiming that Georgian forces had violated the 1994 Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo Agreement on a Ceasefire and Separation of Forces (unmik) continued to assist in the building of a (Moscow Agreement), and Georgia demanding the modern, multi-ethnic society. The overall security withdrawal of Russian peacekeeping forces from situation in the province remained stable, allowing the conflict zone. Compliance with the Moscow unmik to continue to monitor progress towards the Agreement and with Security Council resolutions fulfillment of the benchmarks set out in the 2004 858(1993) and 937(1994) was monitored by the Kosovo Standards Implementation Plan and the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (un- 2001 Constitutional Framework for Provisional omig) and by a collective peacekeeping force of the Self-Government, including transferring author- Commonwealth of Independent States. ity to Kosovo’s domestic institutions. The year No progress was made towards settling the con- began with several leadership changes following flict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the oc- the January death of Kosovo’s President, Ibrahim cupied Nagorny Karabakh region in Azerbaijan. In Rugova, and with the opening of negotiations to December, Nagorny Karabakh held an independ- determine the final status of the province. Increased ence referendum, the results of which were rejected efforts by the Provisional Institutions to reach out by Azerbaijan, several neighbouring States and the to minority communities, including Kosovo Serb Organization of the Islamic Conference, and its sta- communities with close ties to Belgrade (Serbia tus remained uncertain at year’s end. and Montenegro), met with challenges throughout Similarly, a 17 September independence ref- the year as relations with Belgrade deteriorated. erendum in the Transnistrian region of Moldova However, significant progress towards European was rejected by Moldova and by the newly-formed integration was made by the new leadership of Organization for Democracy and Economic Europe and the Mediterranean 453

Development–guam, which consisted of Azerbaijan, turn, police restructuring, defence and economic Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. development, in accordance with European stand- In the Mediterranean, the situation in Cyprus ards, and continued to work towards full integra- remained unresolved. During an overview mission tion into Europe through the eu Stabilization and to the country in July by the UN Under-Secretary- Association Process and nato Partnership for Peace General for Political Affairs, Greek Cypriot and requirements. In March, Bosnia and Herzegovina Turkish Cypriot leaders signed a set of principles adopted an eu integration strategy, its first long- and a decision on cooperation and began to meet term strategic document leading towards full eu regularly regarding issues affecting the day-to-day membership and, in November, it was invited to join life of the Cypriot people. Despite such progress, the Partnership for Peace. The country’s October serious tensions continued to exist between the general elections were the first since the war to be two Cypriot communities. The United Nations wholly organized and run by domestic authorities. Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus continued to coop- erate with its UN partners and the two commu- nities to facilitate projects of benefit to Greek and Implementation of Peace Agreement Turkish Cypriots in the buffer zone and to advance towards the goal of restoring normal conditions and Civilian aspects humanitarian functions in Cyprus. The civilian aspects of the 1995 Peace Agreement entailed a wide range of activities, including hu- Bosnia and Herzegovina manitarian aid, infrastructure rehabilitation, estab- lishment of political and constitutional institutions, promoting respect for human rights and the holding During 2006, the European Union (eu) contin- of free and fair elections. The High Representative ued to lead the international community’s efforts for the Implementation of the Peace Agreement, to assist the two entities comprising the Republic who chaired the pic Steering Board and other key of Bosnia and Herzegovina—the Federation of implementation bodies, was the final authority with Bosnia and Herzegovina (where mainly Bosnian regard to implementing the civilian aspects of the Muslims (Bosniacs) and Bosnian Croats resided) Peace Agreement [YUN 1995, p. 547]. The reports and Republika Srpska (where mostly Bosnian on eupm activities were submitted by the High Serbs resided)—in implementing the 1995 General Representative to the Security Council President Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and through the Secretary-General. Herzegovina and the annexes thereto (the Peace Agreement) [YUN 1995, p. 544]. The Office of the Office of High Representative High Representative for the Implementation of Reports of High Representative. On 30 January the Peace Agreement, was responsible for the [S/2006/61], the Security Council President informed Agreement’s civilian aspects [YUN 1996, p. 293], while the Secretary-General that the Council welcomed the European Union Police Mission in Bosnia and the 2005 pic decision [YUN 2005, p. 460] to appoint Herzegovina (eupm) helped to develop sustainable Christian Schwarz-Schilling (Germany) to succeed policing arrangements. The eu Force (eufor) mis- Lord Paddy Ashdown as the High Representative sion was responsible for the Agreement’s military for Bosnia and Herzegovina, effective 31 January aspects, which were transferred to it by the North 2006. Atlantic Treaty Organization (nato) in December 2004 [YUN 2004, p. 401]. The Peace Implementation The new High Representative reported to the Council (pic) and its Steering Board continued to Security Council, through the Secretary-General, oversee and facilitate the Agreement’s implementa- on the peace implementation process for the periods tion. 1 February to 30 June 2006 [S/2006/810] and 1 July The High Representative reported on progress to 31 March 2007 [S/2007/253]. (For details on the made in the Agreement’s implementation process specific topics of the reports see below.) and related political developments in the country The Council considered the High Representative’s during the year in the context of his mission im- report covering the latter half of 2005 [ibid.] on 18 plementation plan, which set out a number of core April, and his report covering the first half of 2006 tasks to be accomplished [YUN 2003, p. 401]. Bosnia on 8 and 21 November. and Herzegovina undertook several reforms, par- On 21 November, the Council adopted resolu- ticularly with regard to the rule of law, refugee re- tion 1722(2006) (see p. 457). 454 Political and security questions

Mission implementation plan and forwarded it to the Council of Ministers for The High Representative, briefing the Security review in 2007. Council on 18 April [meeting 5412], during consid- No progress was made during the year in ap- eration of his report covering the latter half of 2005 prehending Radovan Karadzić, Ratko Mladić and [YUN 2005, p. 460], said that he saw three priori- other main indictees not yet in the custody of icty, ties for Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2006: consti- a situation that had so far disqualified Bosnia and tutional reform; the general elections in October; Herzegovina from joining the nato Partnership and the ongoing stability and association agree- for Peace. Nonetheless, in November, nato in- ment negotiations with the eu. In his October vited the country to join the Partnership, together report [S/2006/810], he stated that his Office had with Serbia and with Montenegro, stressing that endeavoured to implement its work plan and the the three countries were expected to improve their revised Mission Implementation Plan (mip), which coordination with icty. was approved by pic in March, but its efforts had In May, eu Foreign Ministers expressed the eu been hampered by the politicking that led up to the readiness to, in principle, reinforce its engagement 1 October elections. Three core tasks of the mip in the country in the context of the envisaged clo- remained incomplete: rule of law; reforming the sure of the Office of the High Representative. On 23 economy; and institution-building. June, the pic Steering Board decided that the Office should immediately begin preparations to close as of In January, the eu adopted a revised European 30 June 2007, taking into account the situation of Partnership with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. In October, judged that the conclusion of the Stabilization and the eu Secretary-General and High Representative Association Agreement depended, in particular, on for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier progress achieved by the country in developing its Solana, and the eu Commissioner for Enlargement, legislative framework and administration capacity, Olli Rehn, submitted their second joint report on a the implementation of police reform, the adoption reinforced eu presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and implementation of all necessary public broad- on 23 November, the High Representative submit- casting legislation and full cooperation with the ted a detailed proposal for the consideration of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia eu General Affairs and External Relations Council (icty) (see p. 1484). In March, the country’s on the mandate, structure and resources required Council of Ministers adopted an action plan to ad- for such a reinforced engagement. However, due to dress the European Partnership priorities; in April, such factors as the virtual halt in reform and a pro- it adopted an eu integration strategy, its first long- longed void in government following the October term strategic document setting out the steps and elections, the issue of the Office’s closure remained benchmarks required in order to fulfil membership uncertain at the end of 2006. criteria. Police restructuring, which was to take place Civil affairs through a phased implementation plan and which The High Representative, in his report covering would require that legislative and budgetary com- the first half of 2006[S/2006/810] , noted that a recent petencies for all police matters be vested at the accentuation of dangers and divisions in Bosnia and State level, faced significant challenges during Herzegovina had not only made the passage of re- the year. Immediately upon taking office at the form legislation impossible, but had also poisoned end of February, Prime Minister Milorad Dodik political discourse. Politicians in Republika Srpska, of Republika Srpska launched an attack on the le- referring to the 21 May independence referendum gitimacy of the Police Restructuring Directorate in Montenegro (see p. 472) and the Kosovo (Serbia) Steering Board and continued to obstruct reforms final status talks (see p. 466), claimed the right to a throughout the year. Despite Serb determination referendum on the future of Republika Srpska. On to maintain the name Republika Srpska for police the other hand, some Bosniac politicians suggested forces deployed on its territory, the Steering Board that Republika Srpska be abolished. The first six finally opted for a model based on State and local months of the year comprised two distinct periods: police authorities with no place for entity police one of high expectations and optimism resulting forces. Republika Srpska responded by unilaterally from the unprecedented six-party agreement on downgrading its participation in the Steering Board constitutional reform that, after several months of to that of observer. In December, the Directorate intensive talks, was signed on 18 March; and a sub- completed its final report on a proposed plan for the sequent period of political antagonism, increasingly implementation of the reform of police structures underscored by nationalist rhetoric following the Europe and the Mediterranean 455 narrow defeat of that constitutional reform pack- Hercegovacka Radio-Television and various cultural age in the lower House on 26 April. The second half institutions, or forming a single public utility com- of the year was dominated by the general election pany. The High Representative therefore appointed campaign and the subsequent negotiations to form a special envoy to mediate, arbitrate or recommend new governments at the state, entity and cantonal other solutions to outstanding disputes. Despite res- levels. olution by the envoy of several long-standing issues, The first general elections since the war to be the High Representative was obliged, in December, wholly organized and run by the domestic au- to impose solutions pertaining to urban and spatial thorities took place peacefully and successfully on planning that he had recommended but had been 1 October. The results showed that the traditional unable to convince the polarized parties to adopt. nationalist parties that had dominated the politi- Brcko District was also characterized by mounting cal scene in the country since the first free elec- disputes within the majority coalition and declin- tions in 1990 had weakened. However, the parties ing effectiveness on the part of the Government, that employed the most vociferous rhetoric during all of which were exacerbated by the State-wide the campaign were also the biggest winners. The election campaign and other factors. A working Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (snsd) group, initiated by the United States Government won 41 of the 83 seats in the National Assembly in November 2005 to find long-term political solu- of Republika Srpska, coming close to an absolute tions to problems plaguing Brcko’s relationship with majority and more than doubling its previous 19 the State, began work during the year. The Brcko seats. By contrast, the Serbian Democratic Party District Office in the Council of Ministers opened (sds) saw its tally fall from 26 to 17 seats. In the in March. Federation, the Party for Democratic Action (sda) The State Court, in addition to handling a number retained its position as the biggest Bosniac party, of ongoing complex war crimes trials, initiated tri- with 28 seats in the lower House. However, its ri- als of cases transferred from icty (Savo Todović, val, the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina (sbih), Mitar Rašević, Paško Ljubičić). A first instance ver- increased its seats from 15 to 24 and its candidate, dict of crimes against humanity was handed down Haris Silajdžić, defeated sda leader Sulejman Tihić in another case transferred from icty (Radovan in the race for the Bosniac place on the country’s Stanković). Although there was little or no progress Presidency. Despite the success of the elections, in capturing remaining icty fugitives, Republika both the intense pre-election environment and the Srpska, in December, adopted a new action plan complicated post-election situation were far from directed at locating, apprehending or arranging the conducive to the implementation of reforms; by the voluntary surrender of such fugitives. end of 2006, only Republika Srpska had a recon- structed government. Judicial reform Beginning on 1 January, Bosnia and Herzegovina Although the Rule of Law Department of the had a single defence ministry and military force. Office of the High Representative had closed at The Defence Minister, Nikola Radovanović, over- the end of 2005, the Office, mindful that work re- saw what was expected to be a two-year period of mained to be done to ensure that past reforms were implementation and integration, while a team of fully implemented, established a unit for that task. defence ministry experts began the process of plan- The Office also identified systemic problems in the ning, organizing, coordinating, and monitoring the work of prosecutors, facilitated improved coopera- transfer of all defence functions and personnel to tion between them and the police and produced state level. Nato continued to assist in the process an analysis of strategies and best practices in the and the Office of the High Representative provided prosecution of organized crime in other European political support to entity authorities with regard to countries and distributed it to local prosecutors. implementation. The formation of the new Armed It further contributed to ensuring the successful Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina was slated to be transition of the Registry of the State Court to full completed by the end of 2007. domestic ownership by concluding a new registry On 23 January, the eu repealed its long-standing agreement. Of particular importance in that agree- arms embargo on Bosnia and Herzegovina. ment were provisions authorizing the High Judicial The unification of the Mostar city administration and Prosecutorial Council to appoint all judges to slowed considerably during the first half of 2006, the State Court and all prosecutors to the State with little if any progress made in finalizing the Prosecutor’s Office, and the provisions reorganizing systematization of the administration, forming an the Registry and its financing. The agreement also urban planning institution, resolving the status of provided for the integration of national Registry 456 Political and security questions staff into domestic judicial institutions from 2006 provided the Western Balkan States with a single to 2009, with the goal of ensuring that Bosnia and set of trade rules harmonized with those of the eu. Herzegovina assumed full responsibility for the Public administration reform State Court and Prosecutor’s Office with regard to finance, administration and personnel matters. A In his October report [S/2006/810], the High further aim was to guarantee the long-term sustain- Representative stated that the authorities of Bosnia ability and capacity of domestic judicial institutions and Herzegovina continued to engage actively in to process war crimes and organized crime cases. the process of public administration reform dur- ing the first half of 2006. The National Public Economic reform Administration Reform Coordinator finalized the Although the pace of economic reform slowed first draft of the national public administration re- during the first half of 2006, economic growth dur- form strategy and an action plan for adoption by ing the year remained relatively robust. It was esti- the State, entities and Brcko District. The strategy mated that real gross domestic product (gdp) would encompassed human resources; legislative drafting; grow by 5.7 per cent in 2006, compared with 5 per administrative procedures; information technol- cent in 2005. ogy; institutional communications; and public fi- The value-added tax vat ( ) was introduced on nance. On 22 June, the three Prime Ministers and the Brcko mayor publicly endorsed the strategy. 1 January at a single rate of 17 per cent. Actual rev- Although six intergovernmental working groups enues from the tax far exceeded initial projections, were established to implement the action plan, reaching a final total of some 4 billion convertible the High Represetative stated, in a later report marka (km). However, there was intense disagree- [S/2007/253], that implementation had not begun in ment over revenue allocation among the entities and earnest at the end of 2006. Brcko District. The contention also caused delays in reaching an agreement on the National Fiscal Media development Council, which, by the end of 2006, still had no basis in law. The introduction ofvat had an impact The final handover of responsibility for pub- lic broadcasting by the Office of the High on retail prices, producing a one-time rise in the Representative to domestic institutions was delayed average rate of inflation to 6.8 per cent. Exports in 2006. Republika Srpska adopted its public broad- rose and the High Representative reported that, casting law on 11 May, but the Croats invoked the with improved statistics, the current account deficit Vital National Interest Procedure, referring to the should show a narrowing from 21 per cent of gdp constitutional court the 4 April Federation public in 2005 to about 13.5 per cent in 2006. The external broadcasting law. On 19 July, the entity court ruled deficit, however, remained very large. in their favour. In November, the Bosniac club in Economic policy advances were confirmed dur- the Federation House of Peoples appealed to the ing the year by the decision of Moody’s Investor Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Service to upgrade the country’s key debt rating seeking to reverse the entity court’s ruling. While from B3 to B2. Moody’s highlighted, in particular, no decision had been made on the matter as at 31 the resolution of the longstanding issue of compen- December, the Office of the High Representative sation for frozen foreign currency deposits, plans to continued to meet regularly with the public broad- deal with the other internal debts, restitution and casting service governors and other stakeholders to the smooth introduction of the vat. discuss the course of reform and encourage meas- Progress in improving the business environment, ures to modernize and streamline the system. restructuring corporations and making structural reforms slowed in 2006. The absence of political Relations with other countries interest or will stymied privatization efforts in the During the first half of 2006, regional Federation, although there was significant overall issues had a significant impact on Bosnia and progress in the Republika Srpska in privatizing a Herzegovina. The start of Kosovo status talks number of large companies. The country also faced in February (see p. 466) and the independence the challenge of increasing power generation capac- referendum in Montenegro (see p. 472) encour- ity and creating an overall national infrastructure aged politicians and commentators in Serbia and policy in the face of a marked increase in demand Republika Srpska to draw false parallels between for most modes of transportation. the future of Kosovo and Montenegro and that of In December, Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the the Republika. In his report covering the latter Central European Free Trade Agreement, which half of 2006 [S/2007/253], the High Representative Europe and the Mediterranean 457 noted that uncertainty over the future status of 1575(2004) of 22 November 2004 and 1639(2005) of Kosovo and related delays had had an especially 21 November 2005, negative influence during the 2006 election cam- Reaffirming its commitment to the political settlement paign and thereafter. Accordingly, the risk of re- of the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States there gional instability was a factor in his decision not within their internationally recognized borders, to close the Office of the High Representative Emphasizing its full support for the continued role in on the target date of 30 June 2007, as originally Bosnia and Herzegovina of the High Representative for set by pic in June. The High Representative also Bosnia and Herzegovina, noted that, while the nato invitation to Bosnia Underlining its commitment to support the implementa- and Herzegovina to join the Partnership for Peace tion of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in had a reassuring effect, any perceived lowering of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the annexes thereto (col- international interest in Bosnia and Herzegovina lectively the “Peace Agreement”), as well as the relevant or any apparent weakening of resolve to uphold its decisions of the Peace Implementation Council, sovereignty and territorial integrity could invite Recalling all the agreements concerning the status of forces referred to in appendix B to annex 1-A of the Peace trouble in the country. Agreement, and reminding the parties of their obligation Bosnia and Herzegovina continued to have mi- to continue to comply therewith, nor border disputes with Serbia and Croatia, though Recalling also the provisions of its resolution 1551(2004) the potential quarrel over Zagreb’s plan to build a concerning the provisional application of the status-of- bridge between the mainland and the Pelješac forces agreements contained in appendix B to annex 1-A peninsula that would have restricted Bosnia and of the Peace Agreement, Herzegovina’s access to the Adriatic had abated. Emphasizing its appreciation to the High Representative, Another long-standing irritant to regional rela- the Commander and personnel of the multinational sta- bilization force (the European Union Force), the Senior tions—the constitutional bans on extradition of Military Representative and personnel of the North their nationals by Croatia and Serbia—remained Atlantic Treaty Organization Headquarters Sarajevo, unresolved, although cooperation among prosecu- the Organization for Security and Cooperation in tors continued to improve. Europe, the European Union and the personnel of other Communication. In an 8 November letter international organizations and agencies in Bosnia and [S/2006/874] to the Security Council President, Herzegovina for their contributions to the implementa- Serbia stated that it had consistently supported all tion of the Peace Agreement, efforts towards stability, democracy and social and Emphasizing that a comprehensive and coordinated return of refugees and displaced persons throughout the economic prosperity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. region continues to be crucial to lasting peace, Both countries were committed to the European Recalling the declarations of the ministerial meetings principles and values that led to eu accession, in- of the Peace Implementation Council, cluding strengthening regional cooperation among Recognizing that full implementation of the Peace Western Balkan States. Agreement is not yet complete, while paying tribute to the achievements of the authorities at State and entity SECURITY COUNCIL ACTION level in Bosnia and Herzegovina and of the international community in the eleven years since the signing of the [meeting 5567] On 21 November , the Security Peace Agreement, Council, having considered the High Representative’s Emphasizing the importance of Bosnia and Herze­ report for the period from 1 February to 30 June govina’s progress towards Euro-Atlantic integration on 2006 [S/2006/810] and a 12 October letter from the the basis of the Peace Agreement, while recognizing the Secretary-General [S/2006/809], which transmitted importance of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s transition to the seventh report on the activities of the eu mili- a functional, reform-oriented, modern and democratic tary mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (see p. 462), European country, unanimously adopted resolution 1722(2006). The Taking note of the reports of the High Representative, draft [S/2006/900] was prepared in consultations including his latest report, of 6 October 2006, among Council members. Determined to promote the peaceful resolution of the conflicts in accordance with the purposes and principles The Security Council, of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling all its previous relevant resolutions con- Recalling the relevant principles contained in the cerning the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and relevant statements by its President, including resolu- Associated Personnel of 9 December 1994 and the state- tions 1031(1995) of 15 December 1995, 1088(1996) ment by its President of 9 February 2000, of 12 December 1996, 1423(2002) of 12 July 2002, Welcoming and encouraging efforts by the United 1491(2003) of 11 July 2003, 1551(2004) of 9 July 2004, Nations to sensitize peacekeeping personnel in the pre- 458 Political and security questions vention and control of hiv/aids and other communicable tioning self-sustaining State able to integrate itself into diseases in all its peacekeeping operations, the European structures, and in facilitating returns of Taking note of the conclusions of the Ministers for refugees and displaced persons; Foreign Affairs of the European Union at their meet- 3. Reminds the parties once again that, in accord- ing of 12 June 2006, which refer to the requirement ance with the Peace Agreement, they have committed for the European Union Force to remain in Bosnia and themselves to cooperate fully with all entities involved in Herzegovina beyond 2006, and confirm the intention of the implementation of this peace settlement, as described the European Union to take the steps necessary to that in the Peace Agreement, or which are otherwise author- end, ized by the Security Council, including the International Recalling the letters between the European Union Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, as it carries out its and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization sent to the responsibilities for dispensing justice impartially, and un- Security Council on 19 November 2004 on how those derlines that full cooperation by States and entities with organizations will cooperate together in Bosnia and the Tribunal includes, inter alia, the surrender for trial Herzegovina, in which both organizations recognize or apprehension of all persons indicted by the Tribunal that the European Union Force will have the main peace and the provision of information to assist in Tribunal in- stabilization role under the military aspects of the Peace vestigations; Agreement, 4. Emphasizes its full support for the continued role of Recalling also the confirmation by the Presidency the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina in of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on behalf of Bosnia and monitoring the implementation of the Peace Agreement Herzegovina, including its constituent entities, of the ar- and giving guidance to and coordinating the activities of rangements for the European Union Force and the North the civilian organizations and agencies involved in assist- Atlantic Treaty Organization Headquarters presence, ing the parties to implement the Peace Agreement, and Welcoming the increased engagement of the European reaffirms that, under annex 10 of the Peace Agreement, Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the continued en- the High Representative is the final authority in theatre gagement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, regarding the interpretation of civilian implementation of Further welcoming tangible signs of Bosnia and the Peace Agreement and that, in case of dispute, he may Herzegovina’s progress towards the European Union, give his interpretation and make recommendations, and and, in particular, the progress made in the negotiations make binding decisions as he judges necessary on issues of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the European Union as elaborated by the Peace Implementation Council in on a Stabilization and Association Agreement, and call- Bonn, Germany, on 9 and 10 December 1997; ing upon the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to 5. Expresses its support for the declarations of the min- implement in full their undertakings, including on police isterial meetings of the Peace Implementation Council; reform, as part of that process, 6. Reaffirms its intention to keep implementation of Determining that the situation in the region continues the Peace Agreement and the situation in Bosnia and to constitute a threat to international peace and secu- rity, Herzegovina under close review, taking into account the reports submitted pursuant to paragraphs 18 and 21 Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter, below, and any recommendations those reports might 1. Reaffirms once again its support for the General include, and its readiness to consider the imposition of Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herze­ measures if any party fails significantly to meet its obliga- govina and the annexes thereto (collectively the “Peace tions under the Peace Agreement; Agreement”), as well as for the Dayton Agreement on Implementing the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina 7. Recalls the support of the authorities of Bosnia of 10 November 1995, and calls upon the parties to comply and Herzegovina for the European Union Force and the strictly with their obligations under those Agreements; continued North Atlantic Treaty Organization presence 2. Reiterates that the primary responsibility for and their confirmation that both are the legal succes- the further successful implementation of the Peace sors to the Stabilization Force for the fulfilment of their Agreement lies with the authorities in Bosnia and missions for the purposes of the Peace Agreement, its Herzegovina themselves and that the continued will- annexes and appendices and relevant Security Council ingness of the international community and major do- resolutions and can take such actions as are required, nors to assume the political, military and economic bur- including the use of force, to ensure compliance with den of implementation and reconstruction efforts will ­annexes 1-A and 2 of the Peace Agreement and relevant be determined by the compliance and active participa- Council resolutions; tion by all the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina 8. Pays tribute to those Member States which par- in implementing the Peace Agreement and rebuilding ticipated in the multinational stabilization force (the a civil society, in particular in full cooperation with the European Union Force) and in the continued North International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Atlantic Treaty Organization presence, established in Responsible for Serious Violations of International accordance with its resolution 1575(2004) and extended Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the by its resolution 1639(2005), and welcomes their willing- Former Yugoslavia since 1991, in strengthening joint ness to assist the parties to the Peace Agreement by con- institutions, which foster the building of a fully func- tinuing to deploy a multinational stabilization force (the Europe and the Mediterranean 459

European Union Force) and by maintaining a continued 14. Authorizes the Member States acting under para- North Atlantic Treaty Organization presence; graphs 10 and 11 above to take all necessary measures 9. Welcomes the intention of the European Union to to effect the implementation of and to ensure compli- maintain a European Union military operation to Bosnia ance with annexes 1-A and 2 of the Peace Agreement, and Herzegovina from November 2006; stresses that the parties shall continue to be held equally 10. Authorizes the Member States acting through responsible for the compliance with those annexes and or in cooperation with the European Union to establish shall be equally subject to such enforcement action by the for a further period of twelve months, starting from the European Union Force and the North Atlantic Treaty date of adoption of the present resolution, a multinational Organization presence as may be necessary to ensure im- stabilization force (the European Union Force) as a legal plementation of those annexes and the protection of the successor to the Stabilization Force under unified com- European Union Force and the North Atlantic Treaty mand and control, which will fulfil its missions in rela- Organization presence; tion to the implementation of annexes 1-A and 2 of the 15. Authorizes Member States to take all neces- Peace Agreement in cooperation with the North Atlantic sary measures, at the request of either the European Treaty Organization Headquarters presence in accord- Union Force or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ance with the arrangements agreed between the North Headquarters, in defence of the European Union Force Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union as or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization presence re- communicated to the Security Council in their letters of spectively, and to assist both organizations in carrying 19 November 2004, which recognize that the European out their missions, and recognizes the right of both the Union Force will have the main peace stabilization role European Union Force and the North Atlantic Treaty under the military aspects of the Peace Agreement; Organization presence to take all necessary measures to 11. Welcomes the decision of the North Atlantic defend themselves from attack or threat of attack; Treaty Organization to continue to maintain a presence in 16. Authorizes the Member States acting under para- Bosnia and Herzegovina in the form of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization Headquarters in order to continue graphs 10 and 11 above, in accordance with annex 1-A of to assist in implementing the Peace Agreement in con- the Peace Agreement, to take all necessary measures to junction with the European Union Force, and author- ensure compliance with the rules and procedures govern- izes the Member States acting through or in cooperation ing command and control of airspace over Bosnia and with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to con- Herzegovina with respect to all civilian and military air tinue to maintain a North Atlantic Treaty Organization traffic; Headquarters as a legal successor to the Stabilization 17. Demands that the parties respect the security and Force under unified command and control, which will freedom of movement of the European Union Force, the fulfil its missions in relation to the implementation of an- North Atlantic Treaty Organization presence and other nexes 1-A and 2 of the Peace Agreement in cooperation international personnel; with the European Union Force in accordance with the 18. Requests the Member States acting through or in arrangements agreed between the North Atlantic Treaty cooperation with the European Union and the Member Organization and the European Union as communicated States acting through or in cooperation with the North to the Security Council in their letters of 19 November Atlantic Treaty Organization to report to the Security 2004, which recognize that the European Union Force Council on the activity of the European Union Force and will have the main peace stabilization role under the the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Headquarters military aspects of the Peace Agreement; presence respectively, through the appropriate channels 12. Reaffirms that the Peace Agreement and the pro- and at least at three-monthly intervals; visions of its previous relevant resolutions shall apply to 19. Invites all States, in particular those in the re- and in respect of both the European Union Force and gion, to continue to provide appropriate support and fa- the North Atlantic Treaty Organization presence as they cilities, including transit facilities, for the Member States have applied to and in respect of the Stabilization Force acting under paragraphs 10 and 11 above; and that, therefore, references in the Peace Agreement, 20. Reiterates its appreciation for the deployment by in particular in annex 1-A and the appendices thereto, and in relevant resolutions to the Implementation Force the European Union of its Police Mission to Bosnia and and/or the Stabilization Force, the North Atlantic Herzegovina since 1 January 2003; Treaty Organization and the North Atlantic Council 21. Requests the Secretary-General to continue shall be read as applying, as appropriate, to the North to submit to the Security Council reports from the Atlantic Treaty Organization presence, the European High Representative, in accordance with annex 10 of Union Force, the European Union and the Political and the Peace Agreement and the conclusions of the Peace Security Committee and Council of the European Union Implementation Conference held in London on 4 and respectively; 5 December 1996, and later Peace Implementation 13. Expresses its intention to consider the terms of Conferences, on the implementation of the Peace further authorization as necessary in the light of devel- Agreement and in particular on compliance by the par- opments in the implementation of the Peace Agreement ties with their commitments under that Agreement; and the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina; 22. Decides to remain seized of the matter. 460 Political and security questions

European Union missions ensure the integrity and effectiveness of the system in Bosnia and Herzegovina in dealing with organized crime, a new unit, the Criminal Justice Interface Unit, was created, with EUPM the task of identifying and addressing deficiencies Reports of EU Secretary-General. As requested in police and prosecutorial cooperation. by the Security Council in presidential statement While the provision of technical assistance and S/PRST/2002/33 [ Y U N 2 0 02 , p. 363], the eu Secretary- equipment had already proved beneficial,eupm con- General reported to the Council, through the UN tinued to liaise with international bodies and diplo- Secretary-General, on the activities of the European matic missions to establish better coordination ar- Union Police Mission (eupm). On 19 January rangements for donations, and, in turn, to strengthen [S/2006/62], he noted that eupm had made consid- local police capacity. Together with the Office of erable advances in developing sustainable policing the High Representative and the Directorate for arrangements under the ownership of Bosnia and the Implementation of Police Restructuring, the Herzegovina. They included: the transformation of Mission helped to finalize a draft cantonal law on the State Investigation and Protection Agency into police officials in order to regulate their powers and an operational policy agency with enhanced and ex- their employment-related legal status. By the end of ecutive powers to fight major and organized crime; 2006, the model law had been adopted by six of the and the solid development of other institutions in 10 cantons. Eupm also participated in the develop- cooperation with the European Commission (ec), ment of draft legislative amendments and a draft including the Ministry of Security and the State Council of Ministers decision on obligations for tel- Border Service. He stated that he would continue ecommunication providers, which were completed to keep the Council updated on the progress of the in May, and worked towards strengthening internal Mission’s follow-on phase, which was launched on and external control, inspection and accountabil- 1 January. He submitted two reports on the subject ity of the police. Eupm continued to monitor and during the year. provide advisory support to both sipa and the State In the first report covering the period from Border Service, including reviewing amendments 1 January to 30 June [S/2006/644], the eu Secretary- to sipa books of rules and planning and conducting General noted that the first five months of 2006 were operations for the arrest, detention and transfer of a transitional period for eupm, characterized by the suspected war criminals. development of a refocused mandate, the reduction In a report covering the period from 1 July to of Mission strength and the establishment of new 31 December [S/2007/118], the eu Secretary-General structures. Eupm took the lead role in coordinating said that the Mission continued to address the frag- the policing aspects of the European Security and mentation in the police system by supporting can- Defence Policy efforts against organized crime and tons in developing cantonal laws on police officials; assisted local authorities in planning and conducting facilitating the development of a new model law on major organized crime investigations. Among other police officials; and helping to develop 26 comple- activities, eupm assisted the local police in the plan- mentary by-laws on police issues. ning and execution of a number of operations for il- With regard to the fight against organized crime, legally stored weapons, a continuing problem affect- the eufor mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina ing safety and security in the country, and introduced turned all organized crime-related planning sup- a case management system to track all investigations port over to eupm at the end of September. As to of the State Investigation and Protection Agency deficiencies in relations between police and pros- (sipa) in order to monitor progress, identify weak- ecutors, eupm encouraged and supported the State nesses and give appropriate advice. Following a re- Prosecutor’s initiatives, although limited, to play view, the system was extended to the entire Mission. a coordinating role in dealing with some of the Eupm continued to monitor investigations in sup- concerns identified by the new Criminal Justice port of the police’s fight against organized crime. Interface Unit. It also worked with partner agen- In June, the Bosnia and Herzegovina strategy for cies to advise on improvements in the legislative the fight against organized crime and corruption and regulatory framework for major and organized for the period 2006-2009 (National Action Plan), criminal investigations. The Mission continued to drafted by a locally owned business group that was identify areas for inspections and oversee the work chaired by the Minister for Security, and assisted of internal control functions, or prosecutors, as cases by the eu Crime Strategy Group, was adopted by were passed to them, to ensure that the cases pro- the Council of Ministers. In view of the importance gressed through to a final, conclusive and appro- of monitoring the wider criminal justice bodies to priate result. It supported sipa in monitoring the Europe and the Mediterranean 461 newly established case management system, made Security Council and the UN Secretariat as a mat- progress in the build-up of permanent headquarters ter of urgency. and regional offices and advisedsipa in the training of its first class of cadets. EUFOR Eupm continued to follow the implementation The eu Force (eufor) mission in Bosnia and and finalization of projects launched during 2003- Herzegovina executed the military aspects of the 2005 in close cooperation with the Bosnia and Peace Agreement as specified in annexes 1-A and 2, Herzegovina police experts co-located within the which were transferred to it by nato in December department. It also provided legal and technical 2004 [YUN 2004, p. 401]. Its activities were described advice in the drawing up of a memorandum of un- in four reports, covering the periods 1 March to derstanding, adopted in November, relating to the 31 May [S/2006/476], 1 June to 31 August [S/2006/809], establishment of a new telecommunication system 1 September to 30 November [S/2006/1035], and for law enforcement agencies and played a coordi- 1 December 2006 to 28 February 2007 [S/2007/268], nating role in facilitating the participation of all law submitted by the eu Secretary-General and High enforcement agencies in securing eu funding. Representative for the Common Foreign and On 31 December, the Mission numbered 414 Security Policy, in accordance with Security Council personnel (166 international police officers, 29 -in resolution 1575(2004) [YUN 2004, p. 401]. ternational civilian experts and 219 national staff). As at 30 November, eufor strength stood at All 25 eu member States and 8 non-eu contribut- around 5,700 troops from 34 countries. ing States participated in the Mission in 2006. In During 2006, eufor main task was to conduct January, Brigadier General Vincenzo Coppola (Italy) and support operations in cooperation with local succeeded Commissioner Kevin Carty (Ireland) as authorities and law enforcement agencies. Particular Head of Mission/Police Commissioner. focus was given to targeting organized crime, espe- Police decertification cially illegal logging and fuel smuggling, and weap- ons collection. In June, it handed over to Bosnia and The decertification of police officers by the Herzegovina responsibility for the management of International Police Task Force (iptf) police re- airspace above 10,000 feet, while retaining control construction process, instituted in 2001 [YUN of airspace below that level. 2001, p. 332], continued to concern the Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities. The European Commission for Democracy through Law had also Serbia and Montenegro considered the matter in 2005 and recommended that the United Nations review the decisions that had denied certification [YUN 2005, p. 464]. In a 30 The authorities and population of the Kosovo January letter [S/2006/64], Bosnia and Herzegovina province of Serbia and Montenegro continued drew the Security Council’s attention to the chal- to receive UN assistance in 2006 in building a lenges by 150 of the country’s former police offic- multi-ethnic society. The United Nations Interim ers to their decertification by iptf and requested Administration Mission in Kosovo (unmik), to- the Council to consider offering the 150 decertified gether with the Kosovo’s leadership, led efforts to officers the right to appeal and have their cases re- strengthen the Provisional Institutions of Self- examined. Government, mainly the Kosovo Assembly and In August, the High Representative asked the the Kosovo Government, and transferred authority Council President to request the United Nations to to those institutions, in accordance with the 2001 determine a review mechanism for the cases, while Constitutional Framework for Provisional Self- he explored other options. In December, the Bosnia Government [YUN 2001, p. 352]. It also monitored and Herzegovina Council of Ministers adopted a progress towards achieving the eight standards decision on the establishment of a national commis- set out in the 2003 “standards for Kosovo” docu- sion for the review of individual cases of decertified ment [YUN 2003, p. 420], under which Kosovo was police officers who had initiated legal proceedings. expected to develop stable democratic institutions Given the implications of such a decision, notably under unmik administration before any decision with regard to relevant Security Council resolutions could be made on its future status. and annex 11 of the General Framework Agreement Throughout the year, the Secretary-General’s for Peace [YUN 1995, p. 544], the High Representative Special Envoy for the future status process for called upon the Council of Ministers to contact the ­Kosovo, Martti Ahtisaari, organized direct talks 462 Political and security questions between representatives of Serbia and the Kosovo Security Council consideration (February). On province on decentralization of Kosovo’s govern- 14 February [meeting 5373], the Security Council dis- mental and administrative functions and other cussed the situation in Kosovo. It had before it the issues. Underlying the negotiations to determine Secretary-General’s 25 January report [S/2006/45], Kosovo’s final status were several political chal- which mainly covered developments during the lenges, including the issue of northern Kosovo, second half of 2005 [YUN 2005, p. 472]. The Special where Kosovo Serbs were in the majority. Despite Representative informed the Council that three increased efforts by the Provisional Institutions to major issues defined recent politics in Kosovo: the reach out to minority communities, Kosovo Serb January death of President Rugova and the orderly participation in governance remained marginal, es- transition to a new President; the opening of the pecially at the central level. Belgrade continued to status process; and the continued and revitalized discourage Kosovo Serb participation in the prov- push for progress on standards implementation, de- ince’s governing bodies and, in response to some centralization and the full inclusion of minorities violent incidents that were viewed as possible eth- in the creation of Kosovo’s future. The latter part of nically motivated, several Kosovo Serb-majority 2005 had seen a noticeable slow-down in the pace of municipalities cut off contacts with the Provisional implementation of standards in Kosovo, particularly Institutions. with regard to minority rights. However, critical The death of Kosovo’s President Ibrahim Rugova observations made to the Kosovo authorities had an in January led to leadership changes, including the effect and a number of fresh initiatives were taken election by the Kosovo Assembly of his successor, to push standards implementation forward through Fatmir Sejdiu, and a new Prime Minister, Agim short-term, results-oriented governmental action Çeku. Significant progress was made in European plans. The Special Representative stated that decen- integration work with the adoption by the Govern­ tralization remained a key issue, not least in terms ment of Kosovo in August of a European Partnership of minority rights. It was vital that Kosovo’s institu- Action Plan. tions and the international community reach out as much as possible to the Kosovo Serb minority, and In May, Montenegro voted to separate from that Belgrade encourage and support Kosovo Serb Serbia, becoming an independent Republic. On 28 participation in the province’s institutions. June, the General Assembly admitted Montenegro Report of Secretary-General (June). The to membership in the United Nations. Secretary-General reported in June [S/2006/361] that the political process to determine the fu- Situation in Kosovo ture status talks of Kosovo was underway. Major changes occurred early in the year in the leadership Guided by Martti Ahtisaari (Finland), the of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Governance Special Envoy appointed by the Secretary-General in Kosovo following the death of President Rugova in 2005 [YUN 2005, p. 472], negotiations took place on 21 January; his 26 January funeral was a major throughout 2006 to determine the final status of public event that took place without incident. On the Serbia and Montenegro province of Kosovo. 10 February, a new President, Fatmir Sejdiu, was Work continued towards the full implementation elected by the Assembly of Kosovo. After the gov- of Security Council resolution 1244(1999) [YUN erning coalition parties reached an agreement re- 1999, p. 353], which set out the modalities for a po- garding changes in the leadership of the Provisional litical solution to the crisis in the province, and of Institutions, Prime Minister Bajram Kosumi an- resolutions 1160(1998) [YUN 1998, p. 369], 1199(1998) nounced his resignation on 1 March. The head of [ibid., p. 377], 1203(1998) [ibid., p. 382] and 1239(1999) the Kosovo Protection Corps (kpc), Agim Çeku, [YUN 1999, p. 349]. The civilian aspects of resolution was elected as his successor on 10 March. The new 1244(1999) were implemented by unmik and the Prime Minister accelerated the pace of standards military aspects by the international security pres- implementation and acknowledged a direct link ence (kfor), led by nato. between the Provisional Institutions’ ability to Appointment of Special Representative. On 14 improve performance on standards and the possi- August [S/2006/656], the Secretary-General informed ble outcome of the discussions on Kosovo’s future the Security Council of his intention to appoint status. The Kosovo negotiating team welcomed the Joachim Rücker (Germany) to replace Søren Jessen- statement by the Contact Group (France, Germany, Petersen (Denmark) as his Special Representative Italy, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom for Kosovo and Head of unmik. The Council took and the United States) on the political process to note of that intention on 16 August [S/2006/657]. determine Kosovo’s future status, following their 30 Europe and the Mediterranean 463

January meeting in London, and produced detailed Security Council consideration (June). The proposals for decentralization and a plan for the fu- Special Representative, briefing the Security ture governance of Mitrovica district. Council on 20 June [meeting 5470], reported an Despite increased efforts by the President, the across-the-board revitalization of the standards Prime Minister and the Kosovo negotiating team implementation process in Kosovo. The pace of to reach out to minority communities, Kosovo policy implementation had been matched by a far Serb participation in the governance structures of greater willingness on the part of the province’s the province remained marginal, particularly at new leadership to take the lead in reaching out the central level. The efforts of the new leadership to minority communities, in particular to Kosovo to rebuild confidence with the Kosovo Serb com- Serbs. Despite those efforts, however, the situation munity were dealt a severe blow in March, when of many Kosovo Serbs remained very difficult. The Serbia’s Coordination Centre for Kosovo and Special Representative called on the Serbian au- Metohija demanded that Kosovo Serb municipal thorities to work with the United Nations and the employees choose either to be on the payroll of the Kosovo Government to provide factual information Provisional Institutions or on that of the parallel about current events, so as not to promote a climate structures sponsored by Belgrade. All Kosovo Serb of fear and further isolate the Kosovo Serb minority. education workers resigned from their posts in the A further concern was the Serbian Government’s Provisional Institutions, although they continued directive obliging Kosovo Serbs to choose between their Belgrade and Pristina salaries (see above), to perform their functions, receiving payments which was a divisive move and did a disservice to from Belgrade. The Secretary-General, his Special Kosovo Serbs. The Special Representative called on Representative and his Special Envoy expressed Belgrade to withdraw that damaging directive. concerns regarding the pressure from Belgrade on While unmik was not a player in the status ne- that issue. The Secretary-General called on Belgrade gotiations, its activities in Kosovo had to be con- to assist Kosovo Serbs wanting to work within the sistent with and supportive of them. With the Institutions and not to hamper them. The Kosovo process gaining momentum, the end of unmik Ministry of Local Government Administration, mandate was drawing near and tensions could with the assistance of unmik and other international rise, increasing the risk of security incidents. The partners, made progress on decentralization, despite Special Representative was concerned that violent the continued lack of participation of Kosovo Serbs. crimes could quickly become politicized and used A draft law on local self-government and a concept to provoke tensions and divisions, in particular in paper on local finance were produced. the northern part of Kosovo. In that context, it was The security situation in Kosovo remained gener- important that political actors in the region did not ally stable, although fragile, and was not affected foment instability. Unmik was working closely with by the changes in the political leadership or by the kfor on strategies to respond to any eventuality and start of the future status process. The level of inter- to keep down the risk of incidents that could esca- ethnic incidents remained low. Unmik moved for- late into something worse. ward with the transfer of further competencies to The Special Representative welcomed the sign- the Provisional Institutions in the area of the rule ing, on 6 June, of a returns protocol between unmik, of law, while retaining overall authority for peace Belgrade and Pristina (see below), which would en- and justice, without prejudice to Security Council able the return of displaced persons to take place resolution 1244(1999). Senior officers of the newly on an agreed basis. He also noted that progress had established Kosovo Ministry of Justice, Ministry of been made also in the development and perform- Internal Affairs and Kosovo Judicial Council were ance of the Kosovo Police Service (kps). However, appointed in January and the Special Representative more needed to be done in several areas, including promulgated a regulation on the regulatory frame- in the field of justice and the rule of law. work for the justice system in Kosovo. Challenges Report of Secretary-General (September). in promoting returns and integrating returnees The Secretary-General, in a September report remained significant during the reporting period. [S/2006/707], said that the political situation in An eight-month consultation and review of the Kosovo, from May to August, was dominated by policy and process regarding communities, returns the future status process and the underlying po- and sustainable solutions was concluded in April litical challenges. Foremost among those was the at a two-day joint Provisional Institutions/unmik issue of governance of the portion of Kosovo ter- workshop on a new strategy and action plan on ritory north of the Ibar River. Relations between communities and returns for Kosovo. Kosovo Albanians and Kosovo Serbs, particularly 464 Political and security questions in the northern region, were still affected by appre- In response to a notable increase in reports of hensiveness. In May, several highly publicized se- vandalism against Serbian Orthodox Church sites, curity incidents affected Kosovo Serbs but were not kps developed operational plans to increase secu- necessarily of an inter-ethnic nature. Nonetheless, rity, especially at churches undergoing restoration. the incidents were denounced by some Kosovo Serb After an intervention by the Secretary-General’s leaders and Serbian authorities as inter-ethnic at- Special Envoy, the Kosovo Assembly included two tacks. A 5 June protest demonstration was attended key passages on religious communities in the Law by some 800 Kosovo Serbs in Zveçan municipal- on Cultural Heritage. The reconstruction of Serbian ity. Subsequently, the municipality, along with two Orthodox Churches damaged or destroyed during others, declared the cessation of contacts with the the violence of March 2004 [ibid.] moved forward. Provisional Institutions of Self-Government. On 17 On 6 June, the Special Representative and July, the Municipal Assembly Presidents of the three the Belgrade and Pristina representatives on the northern municipalities requested the withdrawal Working Group on Returns signed the Protocol of Kosovo Albanian members of the kps border po- on Voluntary and Sustainable Returns, which sig- lice in the northern region. While rejecting contacts nalled the operational and technical cooperation of with the Provisional Institutions, the municipali- Belgrade and Pristina to improve conditions for, ties maintained cooperation with unmik. Although and facilitate returns of, internally displaced per- Kosovo Serbs from northern Kosovo participated in sons to Kosovo. The Protocol had an immediate ef- the future status talks as part of the Belgrade del- fect, with more than 70 families agreeing to return egation, Belgrade continued to discourage Kosovo to one Serb-majority village. However, displaced Serb participation in Kosovo’s governing bodies. persons continued to cite economic and security In close coordination with kfor, unmik po- factors as the primary reasons for their reluctance to return; the number of minority returns remained lice and kps took measures to enhance security unsatisfactory. throughout Kosovo, with particular attention to the north, including programmes to enhance relations On 9 August, the Government of Kosovo adopted between the police and minority communities. a European Partnership Action Plan to replace the [YUN Border and boundary controls were strengthened 2004 Kosovo Standards Implementation Plan 2004, p. 408]. The new Plan incorporated the values through the deployment of international officers. and principles of the Standards in the process of the The Kosovo Ministry of Internal Affairs continued European integration work. to make generally satisfactory progress towards its full establishment and took an active and positive Security Council consideration (September). The Special Representative, briefing the Security role in the finalization of terms of reference for the Council on 13 September [meeting 5522], said that Municipal Community Safety Councils and Local the future status process would continue to domi- Public Safety Committees. Additional competen- nate the political agenda in Kosovo until its final cies in the justice sector were transferred to the status was determined. The pace of standards im- Kosovo Ministry of Justice, while unmik retained plementation remained at the rate reported in his overall authority in the area of justice. No signifi- previous briefing in June (see above). The standards cant progress was made in investigating and pros- programme received even greater attention since ecuting cases related to the violence of March 2004 the Contact Group presented the Government, on [YUN 2004, p. 405]. 9 June, with a list of 13 priorities, drawn largely from With regard to decentralization, unmik liaised the results of an April unmik technical assessment with local stakeholders and evaluated proposals on on standards implementation. Most of the priorities the delineation of new municipal boundaries and had been achieved and the remaining areas were the transfer of competencies from central institu- on track. The situation in northern Kosovo was of tions to the proposed new municipal units. Despite particular concern. Referring to the May security earlier progress, the establishment of three pilot incidents that had induced three northern provinces municipal units—two in Kosovo Albanian areas to sever cooperation with the Pristina authorities and one in a Kosovo Turkish-majority area—faced (see above), the Special Representative stated that challenges due to a lack of capacity. Following con- violent crimes were to be deplored wherever they sultations with all key political actors in Kosovo, occurred and prosecuted with the full force of the the Special Representative decided on 16 June to law. However, attempts to portray Kosovo as a place postpone the 2006 Kosovo municipal elections for where non-Albanians, in particular Kosovo Serbs, up to 12 months to maintain focus on the future were under constant attack and were victims of daily status process. ethnic crimes, were unjustified. Belgrade retained a Europe and the Mediterranean 465 powerful influence over the attitudes of the Kosovo control. The establishment of the Kosovo Ministry Serbs, including through its continued directive of Justice proceeded well and the consolidation of that Serbs in the public service should either leave the Ministry of Internal Affairs progressed, with the Provisional Institutions’ payroll or lose the ex- unmik and donor agencies focusing on four priority tra salaries and other benefits paid by Belgrade (see areas: clarification of the role and authority of the above). The Special Representative hoped for a clear Ministry vis-à-vis kps; the creation of capacity for signal from Belgrade, including the withdrawal of managing migration and repatriation; improved ca- that directive, that the future of Kosovo Serbs was pability for emergency preparedness and response; in Kosovo if they so wished. and civil registration and documentation. With regard to the justice system, the Special The Secretary-General noted that sustained Representative said that efforts to reappoint all progress on standards was an encouraging feature judges and prosecutors on the basis of a reassess- throughout 2006. The Provisional Institutions ment of their credentials should contribute to an were also creating structures and work plans to improvement and should begin soon. As to the implement the European Partnership Action Plan, economy, the legal and institutional framework adopted in August (see p. 464). Within the region, for a functioning market economy was largely in two bilateral free trade agreements were signed on place, but increased private sector development was 28 September and 19 October, with Croatia and needed to extricate Kosovo’s economy from a cycle Bosnia Herzegovina, respectively. Negotiations on of low growth, unemployment and a large trade im- a single agreement for the region of South-East balance. With regard to the possible termination of ­Europe concluded in Brussels on 20 October. On 24 the unmik mandate, he informed the Council that August, the Special Representative signed a regula- an eu planning team was in Pristina to examine tion that transformed the Banking and Payments future involvement in the police and justice sectors, Authority of Kosovo into the Central Banking and a separate team was advising Brussels on the Authority of Kosovo. The newly established body composition of the future international civilian of- produced the province’s first balance-of-payments fice. report, in accordance with International Monetary Report of Secretary-General (November). In Fund guidelines. a November report covering mid-August to the The Special Representative noted a decrease end of October [S/2006/906], the Secretary-General in incidents reported against Serbian Orthodox stated that the issue of decentralization had led to Church sites, and unmik intervened through the protests in a number of Kosovo Albanian-majority Provisional Institutions to stop illegal constructions municipalities affected by the proposed decen- in the vicinity of the cultural heritage sites included tralization plan. Grenade attacks against Kosovo by the Special Envoy in the list of sites for proposed Serbs in August and September, along with subse- protective zones. quent protests, further raised tensions in the prov- Security Council consideration (December). ince. Despite those incidents, however, the overall Briefing the Security Council on 13 December number of potentially ethnically motivated crimes [meeting 5588], the Special Representative reported on had decreased considerably over the course of the several areas of progress. He highlighted the effort year. An October referendum in Kosovo on the new to create the conditions for the return of internally Serbian Constitution, which described the province displaced persons. Large reconstruction projects as an integral part of Serbia, was conducted with- were nearly completed in several villages, including out incident. The start of the party election process one near Mitrovica. However, those efforts would of the Democratic League for Kosovo (ldk) was a have limited impact if more was not done—partic- source of pressure on the unity of the Kosovo nego- ularly by Belgrade—to encourage returns when the tiating team. In September, ldk proposed President conditions for them had been created. There had Sejdiu as its candidate for the party’s chief posi- also been a sharp drop in the number of incidents tion, despite the stipulation in the constitutional that were possibly ethnically motivated. Unmik framework that the President of Kosovo should not continued to monitor those incidents very carefully, hold any other office or employment. Despite be- and put a high priority on all those in which police ing informed by the Special Representative that he suspected ethnic or political motives. The Mission should either resign as President or not accept the had also been working intensively to address the role of party president, President Sejdiu accepted supply of electricity in the province, which was an- the nomination. other important concern. Unmik and the Provisional Institutions contin- With regard to the status process (see below), the ued to transfer aspects of security to greater local Special Representative said that further delay would 466 Political and security questions entail significant political and economic costs for the President and the Prime Minister of Serbia and Kosovo, its neighbours, the region as a whole and the President and the Prime Minister of Kosovo the international community; it would raise tensions [S/2006/707]. The meeting provided the parties and play into the hands of extremists on all sides. with an opportunity to present their proposals on Once a status decision was made, unmik would Kosovo’s future status at the political level, but they need to provide for an orderly and smooth hand­ also reiterated their divergent positions on substan- over to future local and international institutions tial autonomy (Serbia) and independence (Kosovo). established under the status settlement. Kosovo Further rounds of direct talks between the par- would need a new constitutional arrangement to ties revealed that they remained far apart on most replace the constitutional framework, which relied i­ s s u e s . on unmik, and elections would follow. The Special On 20 November [S/2006/906], the Secretary- Representative advocated early and prudent transi- General reported that the future status process tion planning, and stated that it was important that continued to advance between mid-August and the the future International Civilian Office, which was end of October. The Special Envoy convened fur- being prepared by the eu and the United States, ther rounds of direct talks between Belgrade and be fully operational when Kosovo’s status was de- Pristina on decentralization, and cultural and re- cided. ligious heritage rights in September. However, no Communications. On 20 September [A/61/375], major shifts of position resulted. Following those Serbia transmitted a statement in exercise of its talks, the Special Envoy brought the sides together right of reply to remarks made by Albania in the to discuss the delineation of new municipalities, General Assembly on 20 September [A /61/ PV.13]. including Mitrovica, but there was no substantial Serbia observed that Albania had openly advocated progress. the independence of the Kosovo province of Serbia, In a later report [S/2007/134], the Secretary- thereby supporting the break-up of Serbia’s territo- General stated that the Special Envoy had an- rial integrity. The position expressed by Albania was nounced, on 10 November, that his presentation contrary to the interest of stability in the Western to the parties of the Settlement Proposal would be Balkan region. delayed until after 21 January 2007 to allow for the In a 6 October letter [A/61/508], Albania stated holding of parliamentary elections in Serbia. that it had been playing a helpful and moderating role in the region. It believed that the situation in Later developments Kosovo would be better served if all interested par- Reporting on developments during the latter ties offered their continuous support for the Special part of the year [S/2007/134], the Secretary-General Envoy and his mandate. said that the November announcement by his Kosovo future status process Special Envoy that his presentation of the Kosovo Settlement Proposal to the parties would be delayed In his June report on unmik [S/2006/361], the until after 21 January was received with deep dis- Secretary-General said that, during the first four appointment by Kosovo Albanians. Kosovo Serbs months of 2006, the efforts of his Special Envoy continued to take very little part in the political for the future status process for Kosovo, Martti institutions. Against a background of active dis- Ahtisaari, appointed in 2005 [YUN 2005, p. 472], had couragement from Belgrade, Kosovo Serbs in the focused on bringing representatives of Belgrade and Assembly and the Government had not taken up Pristina together in direct talks to discuss practi- their seats and the only Kosovo Serb Minister in cal issues. During the four rounds of talks on the the Government, the Minister for Communities decentralization of Kosovo’s governmental and ad- and Returns, was forced to resign on 27 November, ministrative functions and others on cultural herit- following allegations of financial irregularities and age, religious sites and economic issues, there was mismanagement. Three Kosovo Serb municipalities some convergence of views on specific points, but in the north of the province continued to boycott in many areas the proposals of the parties remained most contacts with Pristina and were nearly fully far apart. The Special Envoy also held parallel con- dependent on Serbian state financial support. In sultations on developments in the future status pro- December, President Sejdiu emerged victorious cess with a range of interested Member States and from ldk party elections but suspended his role as regional organizations. party leader in order to retain his post as President, Direct talks continued during the following as required by the constitutional framework. months, including the first high-level meeting The Government continued to make progress (Vienna, 24 July) between delegations headed by on standards implementation, with the Agency for Europe and the Mediterranean 467

European Integration becoming the main coordinat- on unmik covering 2006 [S/2006/45, S/2006/361, ing mechanism on standards within the Provisional S/2006/707, S/2006/906, S/2007/134]. Institutions, and the European Partnership Action In his November assessment [S/2006/906], the Plan representing the main guiding tool for Kosovo’s Special Representative outlined progress made in European integration process. Preparations and standards implementation and listed 13 implemen- planning for the handover of unmik responsibili- tation priorities, identified by the Contact Group ties at the end of its mandate following a politi- in June (see p. 462), which primarily addressed cal settlement intensified. They were carried out by community-related issues. five technical working groups dealing with rule of Functioning democratic institutions. In law, governance, civil administration, legislation, 2006, improvements were made in the handling of economy and property. Good progress was made Government and Assembly business following the in preparing for the transition at both the political change of leadership of those institutions in March. and technical levels. With regard to the economy, The Assembly adopted a comprehensive reform the first draft of the Kosovo Development Strategy plan in June, resulting in more regular and frequent and Plan was completed at the end of December, plenary sessions, improved forward planning and though much work remained to be done on priori- greater transparency and coordination between the tizing its proposed policy measures and formulating Presidency, committee chairpersons and the lead- concrete, cost-specific projects. On 19 December, ers of parliamentary groups. The Office of Gender unmik, on behalf of Kosovo, signed the enlarged Equality was fully established within the Office of Central Europe Free Trade Area Agreement, which the Prime Minister and, in May, the Government constituted a single free trade agreement among its approved a long-term strategy to increase the parties and was designed to simplify trade relations number and improve the position of women in the among them, giving them access to a large mar- Provisional Institutions. The Independent Media ket of consumers. Several significant projects also Council was established in August, which subse- moved forward in the energy and telecommunica- quently created working groups on the future li- tions sectors. censing process and related guidelines, cable regula- During the year, the number of returns and re- tion and advertising policies, and the protection of patriations to Kosovo remained low, due primarily minors. On 27 July, the Assembly adopted the Law to a lack of economic opportunities, uncertainty on Languages (a Contact Group priority), which about the future status of Kosovo and, to a much provided for full equality of Albanian and Serbian lesser degree than in the past, security factors. Some as official languages of Kosovo. 3,600 persons were involuntarily repatriated from The withdrawal from the payroll of the Provisional host countries during 2006, and another 90,000 Institutions of large numbers of Kosovo Serb teach- Kosovars were subject to deportation and return to ers, health-care workers and administrative staff Kosovo, adding urgency to the Government/unmik weakened the link between Kosovo Serbs and local plan to address reintegration needs. institutions, while strengthening parallel structures supported by Belgrade. Boycotts by three northern Progress on standards implementation Kosovo Serb municipalities of most contacts with Pristina had a similar effect. The Government con- The Secretary-General transmitted to the tinued to hold in trust the salaries of the Kosovo Security Council the technical assessments of Serbs who had left the payroll of the Provisional progress in implementing the eight standards for Institutions. Kosovo (functioning democratic institutions, rule Rule of law. The establishment of the new of law, freedom of movement, returns and inte- Ministries of Internal Affairs and Justice was slow gration, economy, property rights, dialogue with but orderly and a more extensive set of competen- Belgrade, kpc), which it had to meet to comply with cies was transferred to them in 2006. New ministers Council resolution 1244(1999) [YUN 1999, p. 353], the for both departments were appointed in March. In Constitutional Framework for Provisional Self- February, the Kosovo Assembly adopted the Law Government [ Y U N 2 0 01, p. 352], t he or ig ina l sta nda rds/ on the Kosovo Judicial Institute, which established benchmarks endorsed by the Council in presiden- the Institute as an independent body to coordinate tial statement S/PRST/2002/11 [YUN 2002, p. 369] the training of judges and judicial and prosecuto- and the 2004 Kosovo Standards Implementation rial candidates. It also approved the long-awaited Plan [YUN 2004, p. 408]. The assessments, prepared Anti-Corruption Action Plan. In December, a two- by the Special Representative, were annexed to the week anti-corruption campaign publicized a con- Secretary-General’s five reports to the Council fidential hotline for citizens to report corruption 468 Political and security questions cases. During the year, 24 people were arrested and meetings in the municipality with all stakeholders, 1 person was convicted on corruption charges. including internally displaced persons, the receiving Insufficient progress was made in investigating community and municipal officers, and established and prosecuting cases relating to the riots of March a decision-making board which began to hold regu- 2004 [YUN 2004, p. 405], a Contact Group priority. lar meetings. Local courts were handling cases against 513 per- Despite progress made throughout the year, only sons: 423 were convicted, 8 were acquitted, charges 1,608 minorities (593 Serbs) returned to Kosovo were dropped against 19 and cases were pending voluntarily in 2006. That was the lowest minority against 63 persons. returns figure since 2001 and the lowest Kosovo Freedom of movement. Freedom of movement Serb returns figure since proper monitoring was in Kosovo improved during the year, and the police established in 2000. The low figures were partly continued to assess the security situation as stable due to the improper management of the Ministry but fragile. Regular surveys showed that 94 per of Communities and Returns in the previous years. cent of minorities travelled outside their areas of On 27 November, the Minister of Communities residence and their perception of freedom of move- and Returns resigned following many months of ment remained good. In an effort to ensure access criticism from the international community. His of all communities to the police, police substations replacement quickly established a more productive were opened in 18 minority communities (a Contact relationship with the international community and Group priority) and more openings were expected. initiated the restructuring of the Ministry. Local Public Safety Committees were established Economy. Privatization in Kosovo continued to in 14 areas. Following an August hand grenade at- accelerate. The Board of the Kosovo Trust Agency tack on a bar in Mitrovica, the main bridge across met regularly, approving the launch of new waves the Ibar River was closed for several weeks. of privatization. By the end of the year, 393 new Returns and reintegration. In April, a work- companies derived from the assets of 256 socially shop on a Strategic Framework on Communities owned enterprises had been tendered for sale, 216 and Returns was held, with significant participa- contracts were signed and 85 contracts were pend- tion from representatives of the internally displaced ing signature. The total privatization proceeds from Serbia and Montenegro, to finalize the policy amounted to €267,784,767. The Advisory Board of for achieving sustainable solutions for the displaced the Investment Promotion Agency was established population and to stabilize the life of communities and held its first meeting in January. The incorpora- in Kosovo. Communities and mediation committees tion of unmik Railways, District Heating into the were established in all municipalities and human Kosovo electricity company (kek) completed the in- rights units were formed in all ministries. On 6 June, corporation of all major publicly owned enterprises a returns protocol, signed by unmik, Pristina and in Kosovo. Belgrade, sought to improve conditions for returns Following a mid-year review, the Special and enhance capacity for implementation of return Representative promulgated in September the projects through measures such as providing access 2006 budget for Kosovo. The Ministry of Finance to basic services for the returnees and promoting in- and Economy continued to enforce the authorized tegration of internally displaced persons. An increas- ceiling on the wage bill and, on 7 September, the ing number of municipalities showed considerable Government imposed a hiring freeze, with the ex- progress in taking over the ownership of the returns ception of a few employment categories. At year’s process. However, lack of funding remained the end, spending on wages and salaries appeared to be single most important obstacle to returns. Central- broadly in line with the mid-year review; however, level involvement was also impeded by serious fi- it was 10.1 per cent lower than budgeted, mostly due nancial and administrative management problems to underspending in capital projects. in the Ministry of Returns and Communities. Property rights. Legal reform relating to prop- Major progress was made in completing the re- erty rights moved forward slowly. Draft laws on construction and compensation programme relating housing and the treatment of illegal construction, to the unrest of March 2004 [ibid.] (a Contact Group plus other bills to ensure compliance with European priority). On 16 June, the Special Representative, Standards, were sent to the Kosovo Assembly for at the request of Prime Minister Çeku, assigned approval. The Kosovo Property Agency was es- kpc a major role in completing the reconstruction tablished on 4 March as an independent body and work in Svinjarë and in utilizing kpc humanitar- successor to the Housing and Property Directorate. ian and public services to help resolve other pend- The Agency received, registered and assisted the ing claims relating to the reconstruction. Kpc held courts in resolving conflict-related private immov- Europe and the Mediterranean 469 able property claims (including those related to Kosovo Protection Corps. Sylejman Selimi re- agricultural and commercial property), enforced placed Agim Çeku as Commander of the Kosovo related decisions and administered abandoned Protection Corps (kpc) following Mr. Çeku’s elec- properties. By the end of 2006, the Agency had tion as Prime Minister in March (see p. 462). Kpc received over 8,500 claims and the first decisions performed its functions in accordance with the law were expected in March 2007. The Agency and the and its disciplinary code. Its activities included in- Government agreed to implement a pilot project on volvement in remedial action against natural disas- the rental scheme (a Contact Group priority) that ters (flooding and a landslide), returns, and other included properties under Agency administration, humanitarian projects, such as rubble-clearing, the owners of which were identified and would be road-building, constructing fire-stations, medical able to receive the rent collected. A Kosovo-wide assistance, mine risk education, snow-clearing and information campaign against illegal occupation, monitoring reconstructed properties until returnees which was still a common phenomenon, was also were ready to move in. implemented. In August, 20 minority community members Cultural heritage. Early in the year, the Ministry joined kpc (from the Bosniac, Croat, Egyptian, of Culture, Youth and Sport launched a youth in- Kosovo Serb and Roma communities), 19 of them formation campaign on cultural heritage; ministers entering the active contingent. By October, the and officials gave presentations in the 12 munici- Corps had 223 non-Albanian members, including palities most affected by the violence of March 58 Serbs, as compared to 180 non-Albanian mem- 2004 [ibid.] on the importance of cultural heritage bers at the start of the year. Women were repre- in Kosovo. Meetings of cultural coordinators from sented at all levels of kpc and continued to occupy Pristina and Belgrade resulted in the establishment relatively more senior ranks in comparison with of four working groups on: return of documents; men. return of artefacts; archaeology; and artist-to- UN Interim artist exchange. Reconstruction and restoration of Administration Mission in Kosovo cultural heritage sites continued and progress was made on the inventory of cultural heritage, with The United Nations Interim Administration 2,847 objects entered into a central database by the Mission in Kosovo (unmik), established in 1999 end of December. [YUN 1999, p. 357] to facilitate a political process to Following a February request by minority rep- determine Kosovo’s political future, comprised five resentatives, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and components referred to as pillars: interim admin- Sport stopped the approval process by the Kosovo istration (led by the United Nations); institution- Assembly of the draft law on cultural heritage. The building (led by the Organization for Security and Council of Europe agreed to assist the Ministry and Cooperation in Europe (osce)); economic recon­ the Parliamentary Committee to redraft the law. struction (led by the eu); humanitarian ­affairs A revised Law was promulgated on 6 November. (led by the Office of the United Nations High As required by the Law, the Ministry of Culture, Com­missioner for Refugees (unhcr)); and police Youth and Sports began working with the Assembly and ­justice (led by the United Nations). Unmik to establish the multi-ethnic Kosovo Council for was headed by the Special Representative of the Cultural Heritage. Secretary-General, Joachim Rücker. Dialogue with Belgrade. Direct dialogue with The Secretary-General reported to the Security Belgrade continued during the year. The Working Council on unmik activities and developments Group on Missing Persons met in March and May, in Kosovo for the periods 1 January to 30 April and held numerous meetings with the International [S/2006/361], 1 May to 14 August [S/2006/707] and 15 Committee of the Red Cross and the unmik Office August to 31 October [S/2006/906]. Activities during on Missing Persons and Forensics. In April, the the remainder of the year were covered in a later Government issued a statement declaring its com- report [S/2007/134]. mitment to the dialogue, and appealed to the pub- Financing lic to come forward with information on missing persons. In June, the Working Group on Returns On 30 June [meeting 92], the General Assembly, met in Belgrade and agreed to establish at least one having considered the Secretary-General’s per- sub-working group to deal with various technical formance report on the unmik budget covering the issues, including tracking the implementation of the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005 [A/60/637 & Returns Protocol. Corr.1], the Secretary-General’s report on the unmik 470 Political and security questions budget for 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 [A/60/684 & 5. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by Corr.1] and the report of the Advisory Committee on the Secretary-General in deploying and providing ad- Administrative and Budgetary Questions (acabq) equate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, thereon [A/60/809], adopted, on the recommenda- in particular those in Africa; tion of the Fifth (Administrative and Budgetary) 6. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeep- ing missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory [A/60/923] Committee , resolution 60/275 without treatment in respect of financial and administrative ar- vote [agenda item 147]. rangements; 7. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions Financing of the United Nations Interim shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective Administration Mission in Kosovo and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; The General Assembly, 8. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to Having considered the reports of the Secretary- make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment General on the financing of the United Nations Interim at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, Administration Mission in Kosovo and the related re- in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the port of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Mission; Budgetary Questions, 9. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations Recalling Security Council resolution 1244(1999) of contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on 10 June 1999 regarding the establishment of the United Administrative and Budgetary Questions, subject to the Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, provisions of the present resolution, and requests the Recalling also its resolution 53/241 of 28 July 1999 on Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation; the financing of the Mission and its subsequent resolu- 10. Recalls its request as contained in section XIV, tions thereon, the latest of which was resolution 59/286 B paragraph 4, of its resolution 59/296; of 22 June 2005, 11. Decides to finance resources for conduct and Acknowledging the complexity of the Mission, discipline capacity equivalent to 601,300 dollars under Reaffirming the general principles underlying the fi- general temporary assistance; nancing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as 12. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the full stated in General Assembly resolutions 1874(S-IV) of implementation of the relevant provisions of its resolu- 27 June 1963, 3101(XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and tions 59/296 and 60/266; 55/235 of 23 December 2000, 13. Also requests the Secretary-General to take all Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the necessary action to ensure that the Mission is adminis- Mission with the necessary financial resources to enable tered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolution 14. Further requests the Secretary-General, in order of the Security Council, to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, 1. Requests the Secretary-General to entrust the to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Mission Head of Mission with the task of formulating future against General Service posts, commensurate with the budget proposals in full accordance with the provisions requirements of the Mission; of General Assembly resolutions 59/296 of 22 June 2005 Financial performance report for the and 60/266 of 30 June 2006, as well as other relevant period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005 resolutions; 2. Takes note of the status of contributions to the 15. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General United Nations Interim Administration Mission in on the financial performance of the Mission for the pe- Kosovo as at 30 April 2006, including the contributions riod from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005; outstanding in the amount of 58.7 million United States Budget estimates for the dollars, representing some 2 per cent of the total assessed period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 contributions, notes with concern that only eighty-three 16. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account Member States have paid their assessed contributions for the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in full, and urges all other Member States, in particular in Kosovo the amount of 227,400,400 dollars for the those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007, inclusive of assessed contributions; 217,962,000 dollars for the maintenance of the Mission, 3. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States 7,795,800 dollars for the support account for peacekeep- which have paid their assessed contributions in full, and ing operations and 1,642,600 dollars for the United urges all other Member States to make every possible Nations Logistics Base; effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Mission in full; Financing of the appropriation 4. Expresses concern at the financial situation with re- 17. Decides also to apportion among Member States gard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the amount of 227,400,400 dollars, in accordance with the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear ad- the levels updated in General Assembly resolution 58/256 ditional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member of 23 December 2003, and taking into account the scale States of their assessments; of assessments for 2006, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B Europe and the Mediterranean 471 of 23 December 2003, and the scale of assessments for Also on 22 December, the Secretary-General 2007; submitted to the Assembly the performance report 18. Decides further that, in accordance with the pro- for unmik covering 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006 visions of its resolution 973(X) of 15 December 1955, [A/61/675]. there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 17 above, International security presence (KFOR) their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the amount of 17,537,800 dollars, comprising the esti- In accordance with resolution 1244(1999) [YUN mated staff assessment income of 16,536,600 dollars ap- 1999, p. 353], the Secretary-General transmitted proved for the Mission, the prorated share of 876,900 to the Security Council reports on the activities dollars of the estimated staff assessment income approved during 2006 of the international security pres- for the support account and the prorated share of 124,300 dollars of the estimated staff assessment income approved ence in Kosovo (kfor), also known as Operation for the United Nations Logistics Base; Joint Guard, covering the periods 1 to 31 January 19. Decides that, for Member States that have ful- [S/2006/210], 1 to 28 February [S/2006/228], 1 to 31 filled their financial obligations to the Mission, there March [S/2006/288], 1 to 30 April [S/2006/368], 1 to shall be set off against their apportionment, as provided 31 May [S/2006/574], 1 to 31 June [S/2006/643], 1 to 31 for in paragraph 17 above, their respective share of the July [S/2006/720], 1 to 31 August [S/2006/830], 1 to 31 unencumbered balance and other income in the amount October [S/2007/39], 1 to 30 November [S/2007/53] and of 10,423,600 dollars in respect of the financial period 1 to 31 December [S/2007/130]. As at 25 December, ended 30 June 2005, in accordance with the levels up- the force, which operated under nato leadership, dated in General Assembly resolution 58/256, and taking comprised 14,498 troops, including 2,537 from into account the scale of assessments for 2005, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B; non-nato countries. 20. Decides also that, for Member States that have not Kfor continued to handle incidents related to fulfilled their financial obligations to the Mission, there unexploded ordnance, illegal weapons possession, shall be set off against their outstanding obligations their drugs, human trafficking and smuggling. It also respective share of the unencumbered balance and other carried out operations to prevent ethnic violence income in the amount of 10,423,600 dollars in respect of and protect patrimonial sites and monitored pos- the financial period ended 30 June 2005, in accordance sible threats against international organizations and with the scheme set out in paragraph 19 above; military bases. It continued to improve its crowd 21. Decides further that the increase of 84,100 dollars and riot control capabilities so as to be better pre- in the estimated staff assessment income in respect of the pared to counter any resurgence of violence. financial period ended 30 June 2005 shall be added to the credits from the amount of 10,423,600 dollars referred to Pristina Airport investigation in paragraphs 19 and 20 above; 22. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall OIOS report. On 14 March [A/60/720 & Corr.1], be financed by borrowing funds from other active peace- the Office of Internal Oversight Servicesoios ( ) keeping missions; reported to the General Assembly on the investi- 23. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to gation conducted by the Investigations Task Force take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations into fraud and corruption allegations at Pristina participating in the Mission, bearing in mind para- Airport. The Task Force was jointly established in graphs 5 and 6 of Security Council resolution 1502(2003) 2003 by oios, the eu European Anti-fraud Office of 26 August 2003; (olaf), unmik and its Financial Investigations Unit 24. Invites voluntary contributions to the Mission in to identify fraud and corruption in unmik, all pub- cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable licly owned enterprises in Kosovo and institutions to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appro- funded from the Kosovo consolidated budget. priate, in accordance with the procedure and practices Between 2004 and 2005, the Task Force submit- established by the General Assembly; ted 33 reports to the Special Representative cover- 25. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of ing institutional and administrative shortcomings its sixty-first session the item entitled “Financing of and flaws, primarily in the area of procurement. the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in ­Kosovo”. Nine cases were referred, through the Special Representative, to the unmik Department of Justice By decision 61/552 of 22 December, the for further criminal investigation. The findings and Assembly decided that the agenda item on the fi- the resultant actions by unmik showed a lack of nancing of unmik would remain for consideration accountability in the operation, management and during its resumed sixty-first (2007) session. supervision of the airport. 472 Political and security questions

In an exchange of correspondence with the Montenegro independence Task Force, oios and olaf in 2005, the Special In a 21 May referendum, the Republic of Representative stated that, in most instances, no ad- Montenegro, one of the two constituent Republics ministrative action against airport managers would of Serbia and Montenegro [YUN2003, p. 412], voted be taken. The Special Representative, supported for independence. by a legal opinion from the UN Office of Legal On 24 May [S/2006/335], Austria drew attention Affairs, had asserted that it was outside oios juris- to a statement by the eu Presidency welcoming the diction to report to the Assembly on the results of referendum on the independence of Montenegro the Task Force investigations. However, oios, citing and calling on all sides to accept the result. On Assembly resolution 48/218 B [YUN 1994, p. 1362], 7 June [S/2006/412], Austria drew attention to an eu stated that it had an obligation to report to the Presidency statement, in which the eu reiterated Assembly on matters that provided insight into the its full respect for the decision of Montenegro and effective utilization and management of resources called on Belgrade and Podgorica to pursue a dia- and the protection of assets. It was the view of oios, logue on their future relations. shared by olaf, that unmik had the responsibility to combat corruption vigorously, including by ad- Admission to UN membership dressing all issues raised by the Task Force, to en- On 16 June [A/60/890-S/2006/409], the Secretary- sure that the future of Kosovo was based on sound General transmitted to the General Assembly management and international standards in the area and the Security Council a 5 June letter from the of anti-corruption prevention and investigation to President of the Republic of Montenegro, in which reduce long-term problems. Oios was concerned he formally requested admission of the Republic to that the Special Representative’s failure to address membership in the United Nations. many of the recommendations of the Task Force On 22 June, the Council President issued state- and his ­reluctance to consider any of the oios rec- ment S/PRST/2006/27, in which the Council ommendations would allow the ongoing problem of recommended to the Assembly that Montenegro corruption to prevail. be admitted as a Member of the United Nations. The 11 oios recommendations, based on the On the same day, the Council adopted resolution findings of the Task Force investigations, included: 1691(2006) making the same recommendation. the creation of a viable, long-term anti-corruption On 28 June, the Assembly adopted resolution entity responsible for administrative investigations 60/264, in which it admitted the Republic of in the public sector; the evaluation of the perform- Montenegro to membership in the United Nations ance of all managers of Pristina Airport; the provi- (see p. 1592). sion of resources for regular external audits of all publicly owned enterprises; the introduction of pro- Georgia cedures for the regular disclosure of assets of staff of publicly owned enterprises; and the introduction of the concept of merit-based employment in all public institutions. In 2006, efforts continued to advance the Note by Secretary-General. In May [A/60/720/ Georgian Abkhaz peace process, based on the 2001 Basic Principles for the Distribution of Competences Add.1], the Secretary-General, commenting on the between Tbilisi (Georgia’s Government) and oios report, provided details of the structural and Sukhumi (the Abkhaz leadership) [YUN 2001, p. 386]. management reforms undertaken and completed by That document was intended to serve as a frame- unmik since 2003 to address the issues of govern- work for substantive negotiations on the status of ance, fraud and corruption in publicly owned enter- Abkhazia as a sovereign entity within the State of prises, including Pristina Airport. It also provided Georgia. information on the status of implementation of the In May, the Secretary-General’s Special recommendations made in the oios report. Representative for Georgia convened the first ses- By decision 60/551 C of 7 July, the Assembly sion of the resumed Coordinating Council of the deferred until its sixty-first session considera- Georgian and Abkhaz sides, which had not met tion of the oios report on the investigation by since 2001 [YUN 2001, p. 378], followed by a meeting the Investigations Task Force into allegations of of the Council’s working groups on security (June) fraud and corruption at Pristina Airport and the and on the return of internally displaced persons Secretary-General’s comments theron. and refugees (July). The Group of Friends of the Europe and the Mediterranean 473

Secretary-General on Georgia (France, Germany, manned by observers operating from Sukhumi. As Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the at December 2006, unomig strength stood at 127 United States) continued to meet throughout the military observers and 14 civilian police ­officers. year, with the participation of the parties, and some In August [S/2006/539, S/2006/540], Jean Arnault of their high-level representatives visited conflict (France) succeeded Heidi Tagliavini (Switzerland) regions in Georgia. Georgian and Abkhaz repre- as the Secretary-General’s Special Representative sentatives to the Group of Friends recognized the for Georgia and head of unomig. He was as- importance of a package of documents on the non- sisted by the unomig Chief Military Observer, use of force and welcomed the planned registration Major General Niaz Muhammed Khan Khattak of returnees in the Gali district. (Pakistan). Despite some political progress, the situation on the ground remained difficult and complex. In Political aspects of the conflict July, a large-scale law enforcement operation was Report of Secretary-General (January). In a 13 launched by Georgian forces in the upper Kodori January report to the Security Council [S/2006/19], Valley, which the Abkhaz side declared a gross vio- the Secretary General described the situation in lation of the 1994 Agreement on a Ceasefire and Abkhazia, Georgia, and unomig operations dur- Separation of Forces (Moscow Agreement) [YUN ing the latter part of 2005 [YUN 2005, p. 485]. 1994, p. 583]. Also in July, Georgia’s Parliament, Security Council consideration. During closed maintaining that Russian Federation peacekeepers sessions of the Security Council on 26 January had ignored violations of human rights perpetrated [meetings 5357, 5358], the Special Representative of by the Sukhumi separatist regime, adopted a reso- the Secretary-General and Head of ­unomig, Heidi lution to begin the suspension of peacekeeping op- Tagliavini, briefed Council members on the situa- erations and requested the immediate withdrawal tion in Abkhazia. Countries contributing troops to of Russian peacekeeping forces from the country. unomig attended the earlier session. Abductions and, in some cases, killings continued in the Gali and Zugdidi conflict regions through- SECURITY COUNCIL ACTION out the year, prompting several investigations by the On 31 January [meeting 5363], the Council, having United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia. In considered the Secretary-General’s 13 January re- October and December, unomig and peacekeep- port, unanimously adopted resolution 1656(2006). ing forces of the Commonwealth of Independent The draft [S/2006/58] was prepared in consultations States, with security guarantees from the parties, among Council members. launched joint patrols in the Kodori Valley region. The Security Council, Recalling its relevant resolutions on the issue, in par- UN Observer Mission in Georgia ticular resolution 1615(2005) of 29 July 2005, Taking note of the meeting of the Group of Friends The United Nations Observer Mission in of the Secretary-General on Georgia scheduled to take Georgia (unomig), established by Security Council place in Geneva on 2 and 3 February 2006, resolution 858(1993) [YUN 1993, p. 509], continued 1. Decides to extend the mandate of the United to monitor compliance with the 1994 Moscow Nations Observer Mission in Georgia until 31 March Agreement [YUN 1994, p. 583] and to fulfil other 2006; tasks, as mandated by Council resolution 937(1994) 2. Decides also to remain actively seized of the mat- ter. [ibid., p. 584]. The Mission operated in close collabo- ration with the collective peacekeeping forces of the Meeting of Group of Friends (February). Senior Commonwealth of Independent States (cis) located representatives of the Group of Friends of the in the zone of conflict since 1994 [ibid., p. 583]. The Secretary-General on Georgia (France, Germany, Council extended the Mission’s mandate three Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the times during the year, the first time until 31 March, United States) met, with the participation of the the second until 15 October, and the third until 15 parties (Geneva, 2-3 February). The Group under- April 2007. lined the need for a peaceful settlement of the con- Unomig main headquarters was located in flict within the framework of the relevant Security Sukhumi (Abkhazia, Georgia), with some admin- Council resolutions and reaffirmed its commitment istrative headquarters in Pitsunda, a liaison office to the sovereignty, independence and territorial in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi and team bases integrity of Georgia within internationally recog- and a sector headquarters in the Gali and Zugdidi nized borders. They agreed on the need to address sectors. A team base in the Kodori Valley was the core political issues of the conflict, in addition to 474 Political and security questions continuing work on confidence-building measures. of force and on the return of internally displaced They supported the registration of returnees in the persons and refugees would be a strong indication of Gali district by the Office of the United Nations their commitment to make tangible progress in the High Commissioner for Refugees (unhcr), which peace process. As unomig continued to play a key was to commence in April. role in maintaining stability in the conflict zone and In separate consultations with the parties, the in facilitating progress toward a sustainable politi- Group of Friends stressed the urgent need for tangi- cal solution of the conflict, the Secretary-General ble results in the peace process and urged them to fi- recommended that the Mission’s mandate be ex- nalize, without delay, the package of documents on tended until 30 September. He urged the parties the non-use of force and on the return of internally to ensure the security and freedom of movement of displaced persons and refugees, and to follow up on all unomig personnel and, as a matter of priority, a possible meeting of their highest leadership. They bring the perpetrators of criminal acts against the stressed the need for the Georgian side to address Mission to justice. legitimate Abkhaz security concerns and to avoid Communications. On 16 February [A/60/685], actions that might be seen as threatening. They also Georgia transmitted to the General Assembly the underlined the need for the Abkhaz side to address text of a resolution adopted by its Parliament con- the issues of return and the security and human cerning the situation and conduct of peacekeeping rights concerns of returnees, open a UN human operations in the Former Autonomous Region of rights sub-office in Gali, and take other measures. South Ossetia, which it assessed as extremely nega- Georgian and Abkhaz representatives recognized tive. Among other things, the Parliament instructed the importance of finalizing the non-use of force the Georgian Government to replace Russian documents and welcomed the planned registration Federation peacekeeping forces in the district with of returnees in the Gali district. They expressed in- an effective international peacekeeping operation. dividual concerns, but also acknowledged the need On 28 March [S/2006/188], Georgia drew the to maintain a constructive and results-oriented dia- Security Council’s attention to positive develop- logue on those issues. ments in the conflict resolution process in Abkhazia Report of Secretary-General (March). In a but observed that there was increasing public dis- March report on the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia trust in Georgia of the Russian peacekeeping forces. [S/2006/173], the Secretary-General stated that, on It stated that there was an alarming increase in the 24 January, at its Gali sector headquarters, unomig number of criminal offenses where evidence showed had chaired a ministerial-level meeting between that the culprits were the peacekeepers themselves, Georgian and Abkhaz representatives on security and that there were cases where local criminals issues, in particular in the Gali district. The parties and peacekeepers had colluded, resulting in raids, signed a protocol in which they agreed to intensify trafficking and killing of ethnic Georgian civil- cooperation in order to combat and prevent crimi- ians. The Russian Federation, it said, continued to nal activities and, for that purpose, to nominate co- seize property in Abkhazia. Georgia called for the ordinators at the regional level, exchange relevant United Nations to consider new options for setting operational information, elaborate a joint action in motion the process of returns for refugees and plan and appoint focal points for the mass media displaced persons. to provide verified information about the situa- tion on the ground. In February, the Parliament SECURITY COUNCIL ACTION of Georgia adopted a resolution requesting the Georgian Government to pursue a revision of the On 28 March, in a closed session [meeting 5398], the 1992 Sochi agreement relating to South Ossetia Security Council and troop-contributing countries and the replacement of the peacekeeping forces to unomig were briefed by the UN Department of there by an international peacekeeping operation. Peacekeeping Operations (dpko). The Secretary-General noted that a meeting had On 31 March [meeting 5405], the Council, hav- been held between the two sides on avian flu pre- ing considered the Secretary-General’s March re- vention and described the February meeting of the port (see above), unanimously adopted resolution Group of Friends (see above). 1666(2006). The draft[S/2006/201] was submitted by The Secretary-General stated that it was essen- France, Germany, the Russian Federation, Slovakia, tial for the Georgian and Abkhaz sides to follow the United Kingdom and the United States. up actively on the understandings reached at the The Security Council, meeting of the Group of Friends. In particular, Recalling all its relevant resolutions, in particular reso- early finalization of the documents on the non-use lution 1615(2005) of 29 July 2005, Europe and the Mediterranean 475

Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General of 8. Underlines the fact that it is the primary responsi- 17 March 2006, bility of both sides to provide appropriate security and to Supporting the sustained efforts of the Secretary- ensure the freedom of movement of the United Nations General and of his Special Representative for Georgia, Observer Mission in Georgia, the peacekeeping force of with the assistance of the Russian Federation in its capac- the Commonwealth of Independent States and other in- ity as facilitator, as well as of the Group of Friends of the ternational personnel, and calls upon both sides to fulfil Secretary-General on Georgia and of the Organization their obligations in this regard; for Security and Cooperation in Europe, 9. Supports all efforts by the Georgian and Abkhaz Stressing the importance of close and effective co- sides to engage constructively in economic cooperation operation between the United Nations Observer as envisaged in the Geneva meetings and complemented Mission in Georgia and the peacekeeping force of the by the working groups established in Sochi, Russian Commonwealth of Independent States as they currently Federation, in March 2003, including, security condi- play an important stabilizing role in the conflict zone, and tions permitting, the rehabilitation of infrastructure, and recalling that a lasting and comprehensive settlement of welcomes the intention expressed by Germany to host the conflict will require appropriate security guarantees, a meeting on economic cooperation and confidence- 1. Reaffirms the commitment of all Member States ­building measures, pending progress in the conflict to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity resolution process; of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders, 10. Welcomes the efforts being undertaken by the and supports all efforts of the United Nations and the Mission to implement the Secretary-General’s zero- Group of Friends of the Secretary-General on Georgia tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and which are guided by their determination to promote a to ensure full compliance of its personnel with the settlement of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict only by United Nations code of conduct, requests the Secretary- peaceful means and within the framework of the Security General to continue to take all necessary action in this Council resolutions; regard and to keep the Council informed, and urges 2. Recalls, with a view to achieving a lasting and troop-contributing countries to take appropriate preven- comprehensive settlement, its support for the princi- tive action, including conducting predeployment aware- ples contained in the paper on “Basic Principles for ness training, and to take disciplinary action and other the Distribution of Competences between Tbilisi and action to ensure full accountability in cases of such con- Sukhumi”, and welcomes additional ideas that the sides duct involving their personnel; would be willing to offer with a view to conducting crea- 11. Decides to extend the mandate of the Mission for tively and constructively a political dialogue under the a new period terminating on 15 October 2006, subject aegis of the United Nations; to a review, as appropriate, of its mandate by the Council 3. Calls upon the two sides to make full use of all in the event of changes in security conditions, including existing mechanisms as described in the relevant Council changes in the mandate of the peacekeeping force of the resolutions in order to come to a peaceful settlement, and Commonwealth of Independent States; to comply fully with previous agreements and under- 12. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to standings regarding ceasefire, non-use of violence and keep the Council regularly informed and to report three confidence-building measures; months from the date of adoption of the present resolu- tion on the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia, in particular 4. Urges both parties to finalize without delay the on progress in negotiations on the documents on the non- package of documents on the non-use of violence and on use of violence and the return of refugees and internally the return of refugees and internally displaced persons for displaced persons; the Gali district and to undertake the necessary steps to 13. Strongly supports the efforts of the Special secure the protection and dignity of the civilian popula- Representative of the Secretary-General for Georgia, tion, including the returnees; and calls upon the Group of Friends of the Secretary- 5. Calls upon both parties to follow up on their ex- General to continue giving her their steadfast and unified pressed readiness for a meeting of their highest authori- support; ties without preconditions; 14. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter. 6. Urges the Georgian side to address seriously le- gitimate Abkhaz security concerns, to avoid steps which Meeting of Group of Friends (May). High- could be seen as threatening and to refrain from militant level representatives of the Group of Friends rhetoric; of the Secretary-General on Georgia and the 7. Urges the Abkhaz leadership to address seriously Special Representative of the Secretary-General the need for a dignified return of internally displaced for Georgia held meetings with the President and persons and refugees, including their security and human rights concerns, to publicly reassure the local population, senior members of the Government of Georgia and particularly in the Gali district, that their residency rights with the Abkhaz leadership at the highest level and identity will be respected, and to move without delay (22-25 May). The Group reaffirmed the proposals on implementing past commitments relating to United and concerns expressed by the Security Council Nations police advisers, a United Nations human rights in resolution 1666(2006) (see above), in particular sub-office and the language of instruction; the human rights situation in the Gali district, the 476 Political and security questions return of displaced persons and refugees and the sides, in particular as a result of the Georgian special non-use of force. The Group welcomed steps taken operation in the upper Kodori Valley (see p. 479). by both sides to establish a closer dialogue and en- Following the resumption of the Coordinating couraged them to focus on practical steps to build Council on 15 May (see above), the first session confidence. of the resumed working group on security matters Report of Secretary-General (June). In a 26 was held; the Georgian and Abkhaz sides tasked June report on the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia their regional coordinators with preparing a plan [S/2006/435], the Secretary-General stated that re- of action for combating crime and building trust cent efforts by his Special Representative to facili- in the zones of conflict. On 11 July, the first ses- tate dialogue between the Georgian and Abkhaz sion of the resumed working group on the return sides included a 29 March visit to Sukhumi by a of internally displaced persons and refugees took senior Georgian official and a 2 May meeting be- place; the sides exchanged views on issues relating tween the Special Representative and senior officials to dignified returns, in the first instance to the Gali of the Russian Federation. On 15 May, the Special district, and outlined their approaches on how to Representative convened the first session of the re- improve the situation in the district. They agreed to sumed Coordinating Council of the Georgian and recommend participation of their respective repre- Abkhaz sides, which had not met since 2001 [YUN sentatives on educational issues at the next session 2001, p. 378]. Among other things, the participants and to continue discussions on the verification of re- agreed on an agenda and a schedule of meetings for turnees to the Gali district. The two meetings took the Council’s three working groups (security con- place against the backdrop of Abkhaz objections cerns; the return of internally displaced persons and to the composition of the Georgian delegation to refugees; socio-economic issues). They also con- the Coordinating Council and its working groups, firmed their intention to continue work on the set which resulted in several delays before the meetings of documents on the non-use of force and the safe could be held. and dignified return of internally displaced persons and refugees, and on preparations for a meeting of On 18 July, the Parliament of Georgia adopted a their highest authorities. resolution calling on the Government to start pro- cedures for the immediate suspension of the peace- The Secretary-General noted, however, that new tensions had emerged between Georgia and keeping operations in the country and to request the Russian Federation following a Russian ban the immediate withdrawal of Russian Federation on some Georgian imports and the establishment peacekeeping forces from Georgian territory. It of a Georgian governmental commission to as- also requested the Government to start work- sess the implications of a possible withdrawal of ing immediately on a change of the peacekeeping Georgia from cis. Georgia protested the Russian format and the deployment of international police Federation’s April decision to lift restrictions on for- forces in South Ossetia and Abkhazia and inform eign nationals crossing the Abkhaz section of the the international community of its plans for the Russian-Georgian border, and visits that Russian peaceful resolution of the conflicts. The Abkhaz officials had made to Sukhumi without prior agree- side stated that a withdrawal of the cis Collective ment with Tbilisi. The Secretary-General urged the Peacekeeping Forces would lead to an escalation of Georgian and Abkhaz sides to implement the un- tensions and a resumption of hostilities. It reiterated derstandings reached during the February meeting its firm opposition to any change in the negotiation of the Group of Friends (see p. 473), in particular and peacekeeping mechanisms. By early September, regarding a high-level meeting between the parties the Government of Georgia insisted that new mo- and the early finalization of documents on the non- mentum could be given to the settlement pro- use of force and on returns. cess only through amendments to the peace pro- Security Council consideration. On 11 July, cess mechanisms involving, in particular, broader during a closed session [meeting 5483], the Security international participation in the peacekeeping Council heard statements on the situation in Georgia force. On 22 September, President Saakashvili pre- by the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia and the sented Georgia’s proposals on the resolution of the representative of the Russian Federation. conflicts, which included the demilitarization of Report of Secretary-General (September). Abkhazia and South Ossetia, direct dialogue be- Reporting in September on the situation in tween the parties, the establishment of an interna- Abkhazia, Georgia [S/2006/771], the Secretary- tional police presence followed by the signing of a General indicated that a new and tense situation comprehensive pledge on the non-use of force, and had emerged between the Georgian and Azkhaz economic rehabilitation. Europe and the Mediterranean 477

Relations between the two sides took a turn for report (see above), unanimously adopted resolution the worse on 25 July when Georgia launched a 1716(2006). The draft[S/2006/804] was submitted by large-scale special operation in the upper Kodori France, Germany, the Russian Federation, Slovakia Valley (see p. 479). Throughout that tense period, and the United Kingdom. the Deputy Special Representative was in constant The Security Council, contact with both parties in order to avoid any es- Recalling all its relevant resolutions, in particular reso- calation of the situation. Unomig requested secu- lution 1666(2006) of 31 March 2006, rity guarantees for joint patrols in the upper Kodori Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General of Valley and continued to be guided by agreements be- 28 September 2006 on the activities of the United tween the parties and the relevant Security Council Nations Observer Mission in Georgia, resolutions. It also stressed that independent veri- Supporting the sustained efforts of the Secretary- fication of the situation in the Kodori Valley was General and of his Special Representative for Georgia, overdue and hoped that the parties would reach an with the assistance of the Russian Federation in its capac- agreement on that issue. In August, the UN High ity as facilitator, as well as of the Group of Friends of the Commissioner for Refugees visited Georgia, in- Secretary-General on Georgia and of the Organization cluding Sukhumi, Gali and Zugdidi. In September, for Security and Cooperation in Europe, a dpko fact-finding mission visited the country to Regretting the continued lack of progress on key issues of a comprehensive settlement of the Georgian-Abkhaz review the security and crime situation in the con- conflict, flict zone and identify possible steps to enhance the Acknowledging with concern the observation of the effectiveness of law enforcement and cooperation Secretary-General that a new and tense situation has between the parties. emerged between the Georgian and the Abkhaz sides, The Secretary-General stated that several issues in particular as a result of the Georgian special operation related to the events in the Kodori Valley were of in the upper Kodori Valley, special relevance: the commitment of both sides to 1. Reaffirms the commitment of all Member States providing advance notification and full transpar- to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity ency in the movement of those pieces of military of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders, equipment and armed personnel that were permit- and supports all efforts by the United Nations and the ted under the Moscow Agreement; maintaining Group of Friends of the Secretary-General on Georgia which are guided by their determination to promote a open channels of communication and dialogue; and settlement of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict only by agreement on the modalities for the monitoring of peaceful means and within the framework of the Security the Kodori Valley. He recommended an extension Council resolutions; of unomig mandate until 15 April 2007. 2. Recalls, with a view to achieving a lasting and Communication. On 19 July [S/2006/555], the comprehensive settlement, its support for the princi- Russian Federation informed the Secretary-General ples contained in the paper on “Basic Principles for that it considered the Georgian Parliament’s deci- the Distribution of Competences between Tbilisi and sion to end peacekeeping operations in Abkhazia Sukhumi”, and welcomes additional ideas that the sides and South Ossetia to be a provocative step designed would be willing to offer with a view to conducting crea- to aggravate tensions, destroy the existing format tively and constructively a political dialogue under the of negotiations and shatter the framework of le- aegis of the United Nations; gal agreements for the peaceful settlement of the 3. Having in mind the relevant Council resolutions containing an appeal to both sides to refrain from any Georgian-Abkhaz and Georgian-South Ossetia action that might impede the peace process, expresses its conflicts. The Russian Federation would take such concern with regard to the actions of the Georgian side measures as were necessary to ensure compliance in the Kodori Valley in July 2006, and to all violations of with existing international agreements, prevent the the Agreement on a Ceasefire and Separation of Forces destabilization of the situation in the region and signed at Moscow on 14 May 1994, and other Georgian- protect the rights of Russian citizens living there. Abkhaz agreements concerning the Kodori Valley; 4. Urges the Georgian side to ensure that the situ- SECURITY COUNCIL ACTION ation in the upper Kodori Valley is in line with the Moscow Agreement and that no troops unauthorized by On 6 October, during a closed session [meet ing 554 4], the Agreement are present; the Security Council and troop-contributing coun- 5. Notes with satisfaction the resumption of joint pa- tries were briefed by the new Special Representative trols in the upper Kodori Valley by the United Nations of the Secretary-General for Georgia and Head of Observer Mission in Georgia and the peacekeeping force unomig, Jean Arnault. of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and reaf- On 13 October [meeting 5549], the Council, hav- firms that such joint patrols should be conducted on a ing considered the Secretary-General’s September regular basis; 478 Political and security questions

6. Urges both parties to comply fully with previ- 15. Underlines that it is the primary responsibility of ous agreements and understandings regarding ceasefire, both sides to provide appropriate security and to ensure non-use of violence and confidence-building measures, the freedom of movement of the Mission, the peacekeep- and stresses the need to strictly observe the Moscow ing force of the Commonwealth of Independent States Agreement in the air, on the sea and on land, including and other international personnel, and calls upon both in the Kodori Valley; sides to fulfil their obligations in this regard; 7. Acknowledges the important role of the peacekeep- 16. Welcomes the efforts being undertaken by the ing force of the Commonwealth of Independent States Mission to implement the Secretary-General’s zero- and of the Mission in the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and zone, stresses the importance of close and effective coop- to ensure full compliance of its personnel with the eration between the Mission and the peacekeeping force United Nations code of conduct, requests the Secretary- as they currently play a stabilizing role in the conflict General to continue to take all necessary action in this zone, looks to all sides to continue to extend the neces- regard and to keep the Council informed, and urges sary cooperation to them, and recalls that a lasting and troop-contributing countries to take appropriate preven- comprehensive settlement of the conflict will require ap- tive action, including conducting predeployment aware- propriate security guarantees; ness training, and to take disciplinary action and other 8. Once again urges the Georgian side to address seri- action to ensure full accountability in cases of such con- ously legitimate Abkhaz security concerns, to avoid steps duct involving their personnel; which could be seen as threatening and to refrain from 17. Decides to extend the mandate of the Mission for militant rhetoric and provocative actions, especially in a new period terminating on 15 April 2007; the upper Kodori Valley; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to include de- 9. Urges the Abkhaz leadership to address seriously tailed information on developments in the Kodori Valley the need for a dignified return of internally displaced and on the progress on efforts for the return of refugees persons and refugees, including their security and human and internally displaced persons, particularly to the Gali rights concerns, to publicly reassure the local population, district, in his next report on the situation in Abkhazia, particularly in the Gali district, that their residency rights Georgia; and identity will be respected, and to move without delay 19. Strongly supports the efforts of the Special on implementing past commitments relating to United Representative of the Secretary-General for Georgia, Nations police advisers, a United Nations human rights and calls upon the Group of Friends of the Secretary- sub-office and the language of instruction; General to continue giving him their steadfast and uni- 10. Urges both parties to finalize without delay the fied support; package of documents on the non-use of violence and on 20. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter. the return of refugees and internally displaced persons for the Gali district and to undertake necessary steps to Communications. On 4 September [S/2006/709], secure the protection and dignity of the civilian popula- Georgia informed the Security Council President tion, including the returnees; of violations of human rights perpetrated by the 11. Commends the presentation by both sides of ideas Abkhaz armed forces against Georgians in the Gali as a basis for dialogue, and calls upon the two sides to district, within sight of the cis peacekeeping forces. resume this dialogue by using all existing mechanisms Georgia observed that those events supported the as described in the relevant Council resolutions in order correctness of its Parliament’s decision on the to come to a peaceful settlement; withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from the con- 12. Calls upon both parties to follow up on their ex- flict zone and to replace them by an international pressed readiness for a meeting of their highest authori- ties without preconditions and to maintain open channels component. In a 9 October letter to the Secretary- of communication to build confidence, and encourages General [A/61/505], Georgia stated that the Russian further contacts between representatives of civil society; authorities had begun retaliatory measures against 13. Calls upon the Secretary-General to explore with Georgian citizens and ethnic Georgians, including the sides ways and means to build confidence, in particu- women and children, on the territory of Russia. lar by improving the welfare and security of the inhabit- On 13 October [S/2006/807], Georgia emphasized ants of Gali and Zugdidi districts; that Security Council resolution 1716(2006) (see 14. Supports all efforts by the Georgian and Abkhaz above) recognized that a new reality had emerged in sides to engage constructively in economic cooperation the upper Kodori Valley as a result of the Georgian as envisaged in the Geneva meetings and complemented operation there (see p. 480). Patrols, which had by the working groups established in Sochi, Russian been impossible since 2003 because of lack of secu- Federation, in March 2003, including, security condi- tions permitting, the rehabilitation of infrastructure, and rity, had resumed. welcomes the intention expressed by Germany to host On 23 October [A/61/536], Georgia transmitted to a meeting on economic cooperation and confidence- the Secretary-General a statement by its Minister building measures, pending progress in the conflict of Foreign Affairs, Gela Bezhuashvili, in response resolution process; to comments made by the Russian Federation Europe and the Mediterranean 479

President, Vladimir Putin, at an informal eu sum- cises conducted outside the security and restricted mit (Lahti, Finland, 20 October). The Minister weapons zones, on 26 September and from 8 to 10 said that President Putin had deliberately misrep- November. resented the nature of the tensions between Russia The Secretary-General condemned the recent and Georgia. There had never been a genocide acts of violence in the conflict zone and urged both against the people of South Ossetia and the ethnic parties to work together to identify and bring to cleansing in Abkhazia was carried out by troops justice those responsible. He appealed to them to sponsored by the Russian Federation. engage in dialogue to prevent an escalation of the In a 25 October letter [S/2006/845], Georgia ex- situation on the ground and reaffirmed unomig pressed its deep concern regarding recent Abkhaz readiness to assist in that respect. military exercises in the Upper Tkvarcheli region Communications. On 26 July [S/2006/597], at a location where the Georgian Minister of the Finland, on behalf of the eu, expressed deep con- Interior was present. It strongly protested what it cern about continuing tensions between Georgia considered to be a deliberate provocation with the and the Russian Federation and recent incidents in aim of escalating tension in the conflict zone and South Ossetia. It was particularly worried by the requested the international community to under- recent closure of the only recognized border cross- take measures to prevent future recurrences. ing between the two States and emphasized the On 2 November [A/61/569-S/2006/880], Ukraine, importance of ensuring freedom of movement of on behalf of the Organization for Democracy goods and people. It urged the parties to do their and Economic Development-guam (Azerbaijan, utmost to promote stability and peaceful develop- Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine), ment in the region. It regretted the cancellation of welcomed Georgia’s decision to repatriate Russian the July meeting of the Joint Control Commission servicemen detained on its territory. It also wel- on South Ossetia. comed the Russian Federation’s undertaking to re- Referring to the 12 November referendum in move its military bases and facilities from the ter- South Ossetia (see above), Moldova, on 13 November ritory of Georgia in 2008. Guam called on States [A/61/573], transmitted to the Secretary-General an to refrain from unilateral acts directed at Georgia 11 November declaration by its Ministry of Foreign with a view to severing economic, humanitarian Affairs, which stated that it considered the refer- and other inter-State contacts, and expressed the endum to be a destabilizing step and a display of conviction that problems, including those related to separatism. In solidarity with the eu and the United conflict settlement, should be resolved at the nego- States, it would not recognize the referendum or the tiating table. presidential elections held in South Ossetia on the Later report of Secretary-General. In a report same day. On 20 November [S/2006/955], Finland, on the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia, during late on behalf of the eu, transmitted a statement sup- 2006 [S/2007/15], the Secretary-General stated that, porting Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integ- since the adoption of resolution 1716(2006) (see rity within its internationally recognized borders. It p. 477), both sides had agreed to work towards its reiterated that it did not recognize the referendum, implementation. However, recent developments the presidential elections, or their respective out- in the Georgian-controlled upper Kodori Valley comes. (see below) had caused the Abkhaz side to delay On 7 December [A/61/619], Georgia expressed the resumption of formal dialogue. A similar situ- deep concern regarding statements in support of ation had emerged in South Ossetia, where the the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia Georgian Government protested the November by the Russian Federation State Duma. It appealed independence referendum organized by the South to international organizations, parliamentary as- Ossetia leadership. Weekly quadripartite meetings semblies and parliaments of friendly States to sup- on security issues between the parties, unomig and port Georgia in its difficult but legitimate quest for the cis peacekeeping force were suspended follow- common democratic and just values. ing the resignation of the Georgian coordinator in November; a new coordinator had not yet been ap- Situation on the ground pointed. The Joint Fact Finding Group opened new cases, investigating incidents in the Gali district, Kodori Valley including the September unidentified overflight of the security zone and restricted weapons zone, and On 25 July, Georgia launched a large-scale the 25-26 December killings (see below). Unomig operation in the upper Kodori Valley, the stated also closely observed two Abkhaz military exer- ­objective of which was to restore law and order in 480 Political and security questions the area. Georgia, which controlled the upper val- sized the benefits of regular patrols for improving ley, provided, without detail, advance notice of the confidence, and proposed follow-up on joint patrols impending operation to the Abkhaz side, which to maintain the momentum. A serious incident took controlled the lower valley. The Abkhaz side de- place in the upper valley on 25 October when three clared the operation a gross violation of the 1994 rockets were fired towards Kvemo Azhara village. Moscow Agreement [YUN 1994, p. 583], aimed at While the rockets did not explode, the attack’s po- taking over a strategically important bridgehead tential to escalate tensions led unomig to dispatch for the further build-up of the Georgian military a fact-finding team to the impact sites and to the presence. It put its forces on high alert, deployed district from which the Georgian side assessed that military units just outside the lower valley and the firing had taken place. threatened to retaliate in the event of an incursion Communications. In identical letters dated 26 by the Georgian side into that part of the valley. July [A/60/959, S/2006/576] addressed, respectively, to The Government of Georgia stressed that the forces the Secretary-General and the Security Council involved in the operation belonged to the Ministry President, Georgia categorically ruled out any kind of the Interior or were military assets on loan to of military operation in the Kodori Gorge. It urged that Ministry; that it was conducting not a military the population to obey the law; in cases of disobedi- but a law enforcement operation against a defiant ence, the Georgian authorities would exercise their local armed group; and that the operation would legitimate right to carry out anti-criminal police not spill over into Abkhaz-controlled territory. operations in the region. On 27 July, President Saakashvili announced the In two identical letters of the same date [A/60/960, completion of the operation and the relocation of S/2006/577] addressed, respectively, to the Secretary- the Tbilisi-based Government of the Autonomous General and the Council President, Georgia reiter- Republic of Abkhazia to the upper Kodori Valley, a ated that the police operation in the Kodori Gorge decision that he described as a first important step took place in full compliance with Georgian laws towards extending Georgia’s jurisdiction in the re- and its international commitments. It reaffirmed gion. In response, the Abkhaz side stated that it that the operation did not extend to the territory would oppose, even by force, such a relocation, and controlled by the Abkhazian de facto authorities, announced that it had the support of the North and that special representatives were keeping in Caucasus republics of the Russian Federation, in- contact with them to bring clarity to the state of cluding in the form of volunteers. affairs in the region. On 28 July[A/60/962] , Georgia In the absence of unomig monitoring of the up- informed the Secretary-General of its continuing per Kodori Valley, which had been suspended since intensive consultations with international organiza- the hostage-taking incident in June 2003 [YUN 2003, tions and others concerned regarding the ongoing p. 439], the Mission was unable to verify the situation police operation in Kodori Gorge. there. On 27 and 28 July, unomig established two On 13 September [S/2006/739], Georgia drew temporary observation posts in the vicinity of two the Council’s attention to the successful comple- checkpoints of the cis peacekeeping force to moni- tion of the police operation in the Kodori Valley tor movement to and from the upper Kodori Valley region. Immediately after the operation, Georgia on a 24-hour basis. Throughout the tense period, the launched social-economic rehabilitation projects in Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative the region, including the delivery of food aid, the was in constant contact with both parties in order to creation of jobs and the reconstruction of bridges. avoid an escalation of the situation. The Mission re- It noted that the restoration of order and security in quested security guarantees for a joint patrol, which the Gorge would create the necessary prerequisites were eventually granted. Joint unomig-cis peace- for the United Nations to conduct monitoring in the keeping patrols in the upper Kodori Valley took area, which had been halted three years earlier for place on 12 October and in the upper and lower security reasons [YUN 2003, p. 439]. valley from 13 to 16 December, with security guar- Gali and Zugdidi sectors antees and full cooperation provided by both par- ties. Unomig discussed the findings of the patrols, The situation in the Gali sector fluctuated during including the discovery of a large amount of am- the year. Following several killings by unidentified munition and some weapons, with both sides and armed men in March and reports of the presence the cis peacekeeping force, with a view to enhanc- of an armed group in the vicinity, Abkhaz law ing mutual confidence and transparency. It encour- enforcement agencies and the cis peacekeeping aged dialogue between the parties to discuss their force increased their activities in the area, includ- respective security concerns in the valley, empha- ing joint patrolling. Two reports of violations of the Europe and the Mediterranean 481

Moscow Agreement [YUN 1994, p. 583] in the Gali the authorities to implement those measures soon; area were issued, one in July when Abkhaz de facto together with regular joint patrolling in the upper law enforcement agency personnel denied freedom Kodori Valley, they could contribute to easing ten- of movement to a unomig patrol, and the second sion in the area. in August when a similar incident took place at an Abkhaz observation post in the restricted weapons Humanitarian situation and human rights zone. Despite a comparatively low level of criminal The UN Human Rights Office in Abhkazia, activity, some incidents were investigated, including Georgia, continued to implement the programme the 8 August killing of three persons during an at- for the protection and promotion of human rights tempted abduction and the 17 August shooting at- by monitoring the human rights situation and tak- tack against armoured vehicles of a unomig patrol, ing measures to prevent and redress violations. The in which there were no casualties. Office provided human rights education and techni- The security situation in the Gali sector remained cal assistance to strengthen local non-governmental generally calm. However, in September, an over- organizations (ngos) and grass-roots initiatives and flight by an unidentified aircraft caused both the investigated reports of violations of due process; Georgian and Abkhaz sides to exchange accusa- arbitrary detention and ill-treatment of detainees; tions, and live firing along the ceasefire line on 28 prolonged pre-trial detention; impunity; involun- September caused protests by the Georgian side. tary disappearances; and arbitrary evictions and Unomig established two temporary posts along the other property rights violations. In cooperation ceasefire line, and no further incidents were ob- with local ngos, the Office continued its projects served. In November, several raids were conducted dealing with: support for a confidential phone line by the Abkhaz militia in the district, resulting in for detainees; training of prison inmates to facili- the temporary detention of some local residents. tate their reintegration into society upon release; In December, tensions rapidly increased following free legal aid for vulnerable groups; internet com- the arrest in Zugdidi of Pridon Chakaberia, the de munication between family members separated by facto administrator of the Kvemo Bargebi village conflict; and awareness initiatives on women’s and in the lower Gali district, and the killings of three children’s rights. members of the Abkhaz militia. The Abkhaz side Unomig stressed that the implementation of a 15 claimed that those acts were perpetrated by armed May de facto Abkhaz parliamentary decree, which groups backed by the Georgian Government, resulted in the de facto courts declining as inadmis- while the Georgian side attributed the killings to sible claims by property owners displaced by armed Abkhaz inter-factional rivalry and denied any con- conflict and violence since 1992 to repossess their nection with so-called armed groups. At the end of illegally occupied property, discriminated against December, the Abkhaz militia detained 66 residents non-Abkhaz citizens and that the courts’ practice in the lower Gali district, causing apprehension was a deterrent to the return and reintegration of among the local population. In response, unomig internally displaced persons, especially in the areas launched special patrols and, with the participa- beyond the Gali district. tion of the Chief Military Officer, initiated inves- Unomig continued the implementation of quick- tigations into the killings. The Secretary-General’s impact humanitarian projects and the first phase Special Representative publicly condemned the of the rehabilitation programme funded by the violence and appealed to both sides to cooperate in European Commission. It also secured additional bringing to justice the perpetrators and to engage funding for the continued operation of a shut- in dialogue. tle bus across the ceasefire line. UN agencies and The Zugdidi sector was a main transit zone for international ngos continued to assist vulnerable Georgian military vehicles and aircraft en route to groups on the Abkhaz side of the ceasefire line. The the upper Kodori Valley. Unomig maintained spe- Mission began preparations for the rehabilitation cial patrols in the sector and observed the move- of several hospitals affected by conflict, including ment of vehicles transporting armed and unarmed the tuberculosis hospital in Zugdidi. The United personnel, stores and fuel, movement of isolated Nations Development Programme (undp) pursued military vehicles and overflight by military heli- its integrated area-based recovery programme; some copters. Unomig presented a number of options 40 groups were formed and received inputs as part to the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs re- of the agricultural income-generation component. garding movements through the security zone that An agricultural youth programme was set up in were in line with the Moscow Agreement, which eight schools in the Zugdidi district and nine in were considered favourably. The Mission called on Abkhazia. The implementation of water rehabilita- 482 Political and security questions tion projects in three urban areas also continued. 1. Requests the Secretary-General to entrust the During the year, the United Nations Development Head of Mission with the task of formulating future Fund for Women launched an information net- budget proposals in full accordance with the provisions work to advocate the inclusion of women’s needs of General Assembly resolutions 59/296 of 22 June 2005 into ongoing reconstruction and development and 60/266 of 30 June 2006, as well as other relevant processes, and the United Nations Children’s Fund resolutions; (unicef) continued its immunization programmes 2. Takes note of the status of contributions to the and provided district hospitals and rural medical United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia as at 30 April 2006, including the contributions outstanding points with medical equipment and supplies. On in the amount of 16.8 million United States dollars, rep- 1 November, unhcr opened an office in Sukhumi, resenting some 6 per cent of the total assessed contribu- in addition to its field office in Gali. tions, notes with concern that only thirty-three Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and Financing urges all other Member States, in particular those in ar- rears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed On 30 June [meeting 92], the General Assembly, contributions; having considered the financial performance report on the unomig budget covering 1 July 2004 to 30 3. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States which have paid their assessed contributions in full, and [A/60/643 & Corr.2] June 2005 , the budget for unomig urges all other Member States to make every possible ef- covering 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 [A/60/652], and fort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to acabq’s comments and recommendations thereon the Observer Mission in full; [A/60/810], adopted, on the recommendation of the 4. Expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Fifth Committee [A /60/921], resolution 60/273 Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate without vote [agenda item 144]. resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in par- ticular those in Africa; Financing of the United Nations 5. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeep- Observer Mission in Georgia ing missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory The General Assembly, treatment in respect of financial and administrative ar- Having considered the reports of the Secretary- rangements; General on the financing of the United Nations Observer 6. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions Mission in Georgia and the related report of the shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; Questions, 7. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to Recalling Security Council resolution 854(1993) of make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment 6 August 1993, by which the Council approved the de- at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, ployment of an advance team of up to ten United Nations in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the military observers for a period of three months and the Observer Mission; incorporation of the advance team into a United Nations 8. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations observer mission if such a mission was formally estab- contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on lished by the Council, Administrative and Budgetary Questions, subject to the Recalling also Security Council resolution 858(1993) provisions of the present resolution, and requests the of 24 August 1993, by which the Council established the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation; United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia, and the 9. Recalls its request as stated in section XIV, para- subsequent resolutions by which the Council extended graph 4, of its resolution 59/296; the mandate of the Observer Mission, the latest of which was resolution 1666(2006) of 31 March 2006, 10. Decides to finance resources for conduct and discipline capacity equivalent to 191,200 dollars under Recalling further its decision 48/475 A of 23 December general temporary assistance; 1993 on the financing of the Observer Mission and its subsequent resolutions and decisions thereon, the latest 11. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the full of which was resolution 59/304 of 22 June 2005, implementation of the relevant provisions of its resolu- Reaffirming the general principles underlying the fi- tions 59/296 and 60/266; nancing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as 12. Also requests the Secretary-General to take all ac- stated in General Assembly resolutions 1874(S-IV) of tion necessary to ensure that the Observer Mission is ad- 27 June 1963, 3101(XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and ministered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 55/235 of 23 December 2000, 13. Further requests the Secretary-General, in order Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, Observer Mission with the necessary financial resources to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Observer to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant Mission against General Service posts, commensurate resolutions of the Security Council, with the requirements of the Mission; Europe and the Mediterranean 483

Financial performance report for the spective share of the unencumbered balance and other period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005 income in the amount of 1,854,900 dollars in respect of 14. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General the financial period ended 30 June 2005, in accordance on the financial performance of the Observer Mission for with the levels updated in its resolution 58/256, and tak- the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005; ing into account the scale of assessments for 2005, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B; Budget estimates for the period 21. Decides that, for Member States that have not ful- from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 filled their financial obligations to the Observer Mission, 15. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account there shall be set off against their outstanding obligations for the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia the their respective share of the unencumbered balance and amount of 34,827,000 dollars for the period from 1 July other income in the total amount of 1,854,900 dollars 2006 to 30 June 2007, inclusive of 33,377,900 dollars for in respect of the financial period ended 30 June 2005, the maintenance of the Observer Mission, 1,196,900 dol- in accordance with the scheme set out in paragraph 20 lars for the support account for peacekeeping operations above; and 252,200 dollars for the United Nations Logistics 22. Decides also that the increase of 37,400 dollars in Base; the estimated staff assessment income in respect of the Financing of the appropriation financial period ended 30 June 2005 shall be added to the credits from the amount of 1,854,900 dollars referred to 16. Decides also to apportion among Member States in paragraphs 20 and 21 above; the amount of 10,157,900 dollars for the period from 23. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall 1 July to 15 October 2006, in accordance with the lev- be financed by borrowing funds from other active peace- els updated in General Assembly resolution 58/256 of keeping missions; 23 December 2003, and taking into account the scale of 24. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue assessments for 2006, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B to take additional measures to ensure the safety and se- of 23 December 2003; curity of all personnel under the auspices of the United 17. Decides further that, in accordance with the pro- Nations participating in the Observer Mission, bearing visions of its resolution 973(X) of 15 December 1955, in mind paragraphs 5 and 6 of Security Council resolu- there shall be set off against the apportionment among tion 1502(2003) of 26 August 2003; Member States, as provided for in paragraph 16 above, 25. Invites voluntary contributions to the Observer their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund Mission in cash and in the form of services and supplies of 694,300 dollars, comprising the estimated staff as- acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, sessment income of 649,400 dollars approved for the as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and Observer Mission, the prorated share of 39,300 dollars practices established by the General Assembly; of the estimated staff assessment income approved for the 26. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of support account and the prorated share of 5,600 dollars its sixty-first session the item entitled “Financing of the of the estimated staff assessment income approved for the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia”. United Nations Logistics Base; 18. Decides to apportion among Member States By decision 61/552 of 22 December, the the amount of 24,669,100 dollars for the period from Assembly decided that the agenda item on the fi- 16 October 2006 to 30 June 2007 at a monthly rate of nancing of unomig would remain for consideration 2,902,247 dollars, in accordance with the levels updated during its resumed sixty-first (2007) session. in General Assembly resolution 58/256, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2006, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B, and the scale of assessments for 2007, Armenia and Azerbaijan subject to a decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Observer Mission; 19. Decides also that, in accordance with the provi- sions of its resolution 973(X), there shall be set off against In 2006, Armenia and Azerbaijan maintained the apportionment among Member States, as provided their positions with regard to the Nagorno- for in paragraph 18 above, their respective share in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, which had erupted Tax Equalization Fund of 1,686,100 dollars, compris- in conflict in 1992 [YUN 1992, p. 388]. Both sides ing the estimated staff assessment income of 1,577,200 addressed communications regarding the conflict dollars approved for the Observer Mission, the prorated to the Secretary-General. The Organization for share of 95,400 dollars of the estimated staff assessment Security and Cooperation in Europe (osce) Minsk income approved for the support account and the prorated share of 13,500 dollars of the estimated staff assessment Group (France, the Russian Federation, the United income approved for the United Nations Logistics Base; States) continued to mediate the dispute between 20. Decides further that, for Member States that Armenia and Azerbaijan. have fulfilled their financial obligations to the Observer Communications. On 21 February [A/60/686- Mission, there shall be set off against their apportion- S/2006/118], Azerbaijan stated that, on 26 February ment, as provided for in paragraph 16 above, their re- it would commemorate the fourteenth anniversary 484 Political and security questions of the genocide in the town of Khojaly, which was situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan perpetrated by Armenian armed forces in 1992 submitted to the General Assembly by Azerbaijan [ibid.]. In a 24 February letter [A/60/697-S/2006/128], (see below), stated that it was politically motivated it transmitted the text of an appeal by displaced and was presented under the pretext of the issues of persons from Khojaly to the United Nations, osce resettlement and fires. and the Council of Europe, which called for a le- gal and political assessment of the Khojaly geno- GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION cide. In response to those letters, Armenia, on On 7 September [meeting 98], the General Assembly 24 February [A/60/701-S/2006/132] and 6 March adopted resolution 60/285 [draft: A/60/L.60/Rev.2] [A/60/710-S/2006/141], stated that the events that led without vote [agenda item 40]. to the deaths of civilians in Khojaly were the result solely of political intrigues and power struggle in The situation in the occupied territories Azerbaijan, and that Armenians suffered massacres of Azerbaijan of their own between 1988 and 1990 in three of The General Assembly, Azerbaijan’s largest cities. Seriously concerned by the fires in the affected terri- On 28 June [A/60/911-S/2006/450], Azerbaijan tories, which have inflicted widespread environmental transmitted to the Secretary-General a statement damage, by its Minister for Foreign Affairs concerning 1. Stresses the necessity to urgently conduct an envi- massive fires in the eastern occupied territories of ronmental operation to suppress the fires in the affected Azerbaijan. Satellite images of the affected areas, territories and to overcome their detrimental conse- quences; which, Azerbaijan said, had been seized and settled 2. Welcomes the readiness of the parties to cooperate by Armenians, were attached to the communication. to that end, and considers such an operation to be an The Minister stated that the separation of the fires important confidence-building measure; by lanes untouched by them, as well as their massive 3. Takes note of the intention of the Organization and targeted character, gave reasonable grounds to for Security and Cooperation in Europe to organize a suggest that they were man-made and intentional; mission to the region to assess the short- and long-term even if they had occurred naturally, however, impact of the fires on the environment as a step in prepa- Armenia, as the occupying power, bore full respon- ration for the environmental operation; sibility for suppressing the fires. On the same date 4. Calls upon, in this regard, the organizations and [A/60/915], Azerbaijan transmitted to the Secretary- programmes of the United Nations system, in particu- General a letter from the Secretary-General of the lar the United Nations Environment Programme, in cooperation with the Organization for Security and Organization of the Islamic Conference (oic) con- Cooperation in Europe, to provide all necessary assist- cerning the fires in the occupied territories. ance and expertise, including, inter alia, the assessment Armenia, on 27 June [A/60/961-S/2006/588], stated of and counteraction to the short- and long-term impact that Azerbaijan was attempting to create an emer- of the environmental degradation of the region, as well gency situation out of the natural phenomenon as in its rehabilitation; of grass fires that occurred yearly in the region. 5. Requests the Chairman-in-Office of the Annexed to the letter was the report of an osce Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe monitoring team, which had proven Azerbaijan’s to provide a report on this matter to States members of assertions to be unfounded. In letters of 28 July the General Assembly by 30 April 2007. [A/60/963] and 10 August [A/60/975-S/2006/642], By decision 60/564 of 11 September, the Azerbaijan stated that satellite images of the area Assembly deferred consideration of the agenda in 2005 and 2006 proved that in 2005 the occupied item on the situation in the occupied territories of territories had not been touched by fire. It accused Azerbaijan and included it in the agenda of its sixty- Armenia of applying a scorched earth policy. first (2006) session. On 6 December [A/61/618-S/2006/952], Armenia Further communications. On 7 July [A/60/933- transmitted a Statement on Nagorno-Karabakh S/2006/500], Armenia transmitted to the Secretary- adopted by the Ministerial Council of osce the pre- General statements by its Foreign Minister and vious day. Among other things, the Council called Foreign Ministry on the two statements by the osce on both sides, with the assistance of the interna- Minsk Group Co-Chairs on the question of the tional community, to cooperate in suppressing the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Foreign Ministry fires in the affected territories and to overcome their said that the osce Co-Chairs had, for the first time, detrimental consequences. affirmed that the people of Nagorno-Karabakh On 28 August [A/60/995-S/2006/689], Armenia, should determine their own future status through referring to the draft resolution [A/60/L.60] on the a referendum. On 21 July [A/60/952-S/2006/564 & Europe and the Mediterranean 485

Corr.1], Azerbaijan forwarded statements by its own the conflict in compliance with the principle of the Foreign Ministry indicating that no progress had territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. been made at the recent osce negotiations (Vienna, Also transmitted to the Secretary-General 22 June). It was concerned that Armenia would during the year were an 8 June joint declaration soon begin to refer to its forthcoming elections, es- [A/61/93] by Azerbaijan and Lithuania on enhanc- pecially when neutral parties commented on them ing political, economic and social relations between as being an obstacle to an active and results-oriented the two countries and a 6 July letter [A/61/126] from peace process. Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey announcing the in- On 11 December [A/61/627-S/2006/966], Azerbaijan auguration of a new main pipeline to carry crude oil stated that the holding of a so-called constitutional from Azerbaijan, through Georgia, to the Ceyhan referendum in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh re- export terminal in Turkey. gion violated both the Constitution of Azerbaijan The General Assembly, by decision 61/552 of and relevant norms and principles of international 22 December, decided that the agenda item on the law; it also interfered with the peace process. In an- situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan other letter [A/61/629-S/2006/968] of the same date, would remain for consideration during its resumed Azerbaijan drew the Secretary-General’s attention sixty-first (2007) session. to the reaction of the international community to the referendum, which had been held on 10 December. It pointed out that osce, the Council of Europe and Republic of Moldova the eu had stated that the referendum would not be recognized and could not have any legal validity. In a further 11 December letter [A/61/628-S/2006/967], In September 2006, the Republic of Moldova Azerbaijan transmitted an address by its Minister reported that the authorities of its breakaway for Foreign Affairs to theosce Ministerial Council Transnistrian region had carried out a referendum (Brussels, 5 December). The Minister called for the on self-determination. complete withdrawal of Armenian troops from the Communications. On 18 September [A/61/359], occupied territories of Azerbaijan and the safe and Moldova transmitted to the Secretary-General a dignified return of the displaced Azerbaijani pop- statement by its Government rejecting the results of a ulation to the Nagorno-Karabakh region. On 13 17 September referendum conducted by the self-pro- December [A/61/637-S/2006/983], Azerbaijan trans- claimed separatist regime in its Transnistrian region. mitted two press releases issued by oic, which also On 20 September [A/61/364], it submitted a report by rejected the outcome of the referendum. In letters the Committee on European Affairs of the New York dated 12 [A/61/649-S/2006/1005] and 20 December City Bar Association, which had conducted a year- [A/61/660-S/2006/1015], Ukraine, on behalf of guam long study on the Transnistrian region. The study (see p. 486), and Turkey, respectively, followed concluded that the Russian Federation’s support of suit. the separatist regime in Transnistria could support a Armenia, on 22 December [A/61/678-S/2006/1027], serious claim that Russia was violating international stated that the people of Nagorno-Karabakh had law and illegally interfering in Moldova’s internal af- demonstrated their ability to rule themselves, pro- fairs. Ukraine, on 29 September [A/61/491-S/2006/794], tect their territory and freedom and meet their in- transmitted a statement by the Council of Ministers ternational commitments, including upholding the for Foreign Affairs of the guam States (see p. 486), ceasefire, and that their constitutional referendum which also rejected the Transnistrian referendum, was a necessary and overdue step in establishing a noting that it was illegal and violated the interna- basic legal framework in the region. tionally recognized sovereignty and territorial integ- On 27 December [A/61/684-S/2006/1032], rity of Moldova. Azerbaijan transmitted to the Secretary-General On 16 October [A/61/518], Moldova transmit- an appeal by the Congress of National Minorities ted a Declaration from its Parliament, which ex- of Azerbaijan to the United Nations, osce, the pressed concern that the Russian State Duma had Council of Europe and the foreign ministries of adopted a declaration on the so-called referendum the Minsk Group countries regarding the so-called in Moldova’s Transnistrian region, which recog- constitutional referendum conducted by the il- nized the referendum as an act of free expression legal military regime in Nagorno-Karabakh. The of citizens’ will. The Moldovan Parliament called Congress called on the international community to on the Duma to refrain from supporting separatism condemn the referendum, to refuse to recognize the that could have unpredictable consequences for the results and to support efforts to find ways to resolve entire European continent. 486 Political and security questions

leaders for a resumption of the Secretary-General’s Establishment of GUAM mission of good offices, which had been discon- tinued following the disappointing results of the April 2004 referenda [YUN 2004, p. 440] on Communications. On 24 May [A/60/875- the “Comprehensive Settlement of the Cyprus S/2006/364], Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republic of Problem” [ibid., p. 438]. The Secretary-General and Moldova and Ukraine transmitted to the Secretary- the Security Council were of the view that condi- General the Kyiv Declaration on the establishment tions were not yet ripe for the Secretary-General of the Organization for Democracy and Economic to resume his mission. The Secretary-General’s Development-guam, the secretariat of which Special Representative in Cyprus focused his ef- would be in Kyiv, Ukraine. In the annexed Joint forts on assisting the two sides in implementing Declaration on the Issue of Conflict Settlement, the their existing agreements aimed at the resumption Heads of State of the four countries said that the of negotiations leading to a comprehensive set- settlement of conflicts in the territories of theguam tlement. During an overview mission to Cyprus States would be carried out exclusively on the basis in July by the UN Under-Secretary-General for of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and Political Affairs, the leaders of both sides signed the inviolability of the internationally recognized a set of principles and a decision, which included borders of those States. They stressed that the terri- a commitment to the unification of Cyprus based tory of a State could not be the subject of acquisition on a bizonal, bicommunal federation and political or military occupation and underscored the incom- equality, and agreed to meet regularly on issues patibility of the use of force, the practice of ethnic affecting the day-to-day life of the Cypriot people. cleansing and the seizure of territory with univer- Several months into the working process, however, sal and European values, the principles and ideals differences arose between the two sides regarding of peace, democracy, stability and regional coop- the implementation of the agreement. eration. The guam States entrusted the Council of The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Ministers of Foreign Affairs with the task of imple- Cyprus (unficyp) continued to cooperate with its menting the provisions of the Declaration. UN partners and local actors to facilitate projects On 10 August [A/61/195], the guam States re- for the benefit of both Greek and Turkish Cypriots quested the inclusion in the agenda of the sixty-first in and outside the buffer zone and to promote (2006) session of the General Assembly of a supple- confidence-building measures between them. The mentary item entitled “Protracted conflicts in the Security Council extended the unficyp mandate guam area and their implications for international twice during the year, the second time until June peace, security and development”. 2007. On 22 September [A/61/379], Moldova, referring to the fact that the issue of protracted conflicts in Incidents and position statements the guam area had been placed on the Assembly’s Communications. Throughout 2006, the agenda, said that protracted or “frozen” conflicts Secretary-General received letters from the were turning into forgotten conflicts. That situa- Government of Cyprus and from Turkish Cypriot tion had done little to help efforts to find solutions authorities containing charges and counter-charges, to severe political problems in the region, including protests and accusations, and explanations of po- the Transnistrian issue. sitions regarding the question of Cyprus. Letters The General Assembly, bydecision 61/552 of 22 from the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” December, decided that the agenda item on pro- were transmitted by Turkey. tracted conflicts in the guam area and their impli- In communications dated between 10 January cations for international peace, security and devel- and 12 December, Cyprus reported violations of its opment would remain for consideration during its national airspace and unauthorized intrusion into resumed sixty-fist (2007)session. the Nicosia flight information region by Turkish military jets and civilian aircraft. [A/60/648-S/2006/16, A/60/729-S/2006/177, A/60/894-S/2006/416, A/60/991- Cyprus S/2006/691, A/61/542-S/2006/847, A/61/634-S/2006/979]. The “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” refuted those allegations, claiming the exist- During 2006, progress in resolving the Cyprus ence of two independent States on the island problem remained elusive, despite renewed calls of Cyprus and stating that the flights men- by both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot tioned took place within the sovereign airspace Europe and the Mediterranean 487 of the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” plained of maltreatment of Turkish Cypriots visit- [A/60/656-S/2006/47, A/60/740-S/2006/198, A/60/908- ing the southern part of the island by Greek Cypriot S/2006/439, A/61/336-S/2006/731, A/61/560-S/2006/864, authorities and civilians. A/61/676-S/2006/1025]. On 28 December [A/61/686-S/2006/1037], the On 24 January [A/60/657-S/2006/48], Turkey in- “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” reported formed the Secretary-General that it had prepared that the Cypriot administration was speeding up a detailed action plan for a transitional process until rearmament efforts. a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem could be found. The “Turkish Republic of Northern Good offices mission Cyprus”, on 2 February [A/60/663-S/2006/72], ex- pressed its full support for Turkey’s action plan. By During 2006, both the Greek Cypriot and a 31 January letter [A/60/671-S/2006/82], Cyprus ex- Turkish Cypriot leaders renewed their calls for a pressed its dissatisfaction with the Turkish propos- resumption of the Secretary-General’s mission of als, stating that they did not contribute to creating good offices. However, the Secretary-General and the appropriate conditions for resuming negotia- the Security Council were of the view that the time tions and that their effect would be to widen the was not ripe to renew the mission, which had been gap between the respective positions of the Cypriot discontinued following the April 2004 referenda and Turkish Governments. In further commu- [YUN 2004, p. 440] on the “Comprehensive Settlement nications [A/60/841-S/2006/286, A/60/943-S/2006/533, of the Cyprus Problem” [ibid., p. 438]. Nevertheless, A/61/559-S/2006/863], the “Turkish Republic of the Secretary-General met with both leaders during Northern Cyprus” reiterated its support for the the year and his Special Representative in Cyprus 2004 “Comprehensive Settlement of the Cyprus continued to engage with representatives of both Problem” document [YUN 2004, p. 438] and proposed sides. confidence-building measures. In July, the UN Under-Secretary-General for On 15 May [A/60/850-S/2006/300], Cyprus, refer- Political Affairs, Ibrahim Gambari, undertook an ring to a communication from the “Turkish Republic overview mission to the region. During a meeting of Northern Cyprus” [A/60/841-S/2006/286], clarified with him, the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot that Cyprus remained committed to a fair and sus- leaders signed a Set of Principles and a Decision tainable resolution of the Cyprus problem. [S/2006/572], in which they agreed, as a contribution On 10 October [A/61/511-S/2006/800], the “Turkish to a comprehensive settlement, to begin immedi- Republic of Northern Cyprus” took issue with some ately a two-track process involving discussions by of the remarks made by the President of Cyprus, technical committees of issues affecting the day- Tassos Papadopoulus, during his statement to the to-day life of the Cypriot people and, concurrently, General Assembly on 19 September [A /61/ PV.11]. consideration by working groups of substantive On 14 November [A/61/579-S/2006/896], Cyprus issues. cited an article in the Turkish Cypriot news­paper Following the emergence of differences be- Kibris, which reported that Turkey was ­going to tween the two sides regarding implementation of finance a project to restore and reorganize the the agreement, the Under-Secretary-General, in Apostolos Andreas Monastery, including the November, wrote to the two leaders suggesting a transformation of the Monastery’s annexes into way forward. Both sides formally accepted his sug- a 120-room hotel. Cyprus strongly protested the gestions on 18 November. project, which would destroy the character of a highly important religious and cultural land­mark UNFICYP of Cyprus and would constitute a violation of in- ternational humanitarian law and the law of armed In 2006, the United Nations Peacekeeping Force conflict with regard to an occupying power’s obli- in Cyprus (unficyp), established in 1964 [YUN 1964, gations in the field of property rights. In response p. 165], continued to monitor the ceasefire lines be- [A/61/677-S/2006/1026], the “Turkish Republic of tween the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot forces on Northern Cyprus” refuted those allegations, stat- the northern side and the Cypriot National Guard ing that it had no intention to convert the annexes on the southern side of the island; to maintain the into a hotel nor to plan any construction on those military status quo and prevent a recurrence of premises affecting their historical and religious fighting; and to undertake humanitarian and eco- status. nomic activities. On 29 November [A/61/602-S/2006/929], the On 1 January, Michael Møller (Denmark) re- “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” com- placed Zbigniew Wlosowicz (Poland) as the 488 Political and security questions

Secretary-General’s Special Representative in two projects: Action for Cooperation and Trust; Cyprus and Chief of Mission. On 6 February and Partnership for the Future. The former project [S/2006/91], the Secretary-General informed the contributed to joint activities between the north and Security Council of his intention to appoint Major south to promote hiv/aids awareness and the latter, General Rafael José Barni (Argentina) as Force which focused on the rehabilitation of old Nicosia, Commander of unficyp, replacing Major General provided support to small businesses on both sides Herbert Figoli (Uruguay). The Council took note of the island. The unficyp Mine Action Centre of his intention on 9 February [S/2006/92]. Major continued to demine the Nicosia area and consulta- General Barni began his tour of duty on 6 March. tions began in February on extending its activities As at 15 November, unficyp comprised 853 to the rest of the buffer zone. troops and 60 civilian police. Unficyp observed an emerging trend of increased unauthorized construction of buildings for personal Activities and commercial use and utilization of land outside Report of Secretary-General (May). In a 23 the areas designated for civilian use in the buffer May report on unficyp [S/2006/315], covering ac- zone. It initiated discussions with the relevant au- tivities from 25 November 2005 to 17 May 2006, thorities to establish practical procedures to ensure the Secretary-General stated that the military and that civilian use of the buffer zone did not com- security situation along the ceasefire lines in Cyprus promise the security situation or hamper unficyp remained generally stable. Although incidents in- ability to carry out its mandate. creased during the reporting period, they were During the reporting period, unficyp facilitated minor in nature and included overmanning, en- 43 bicommunal events with the participation of hancements to military positions, stone-throwing, 1,340 people. Regular monthly meetings between weapon-pointing, and incursions into the buffer the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders zone. Disputes over the demarcation of ceasefire continued under the auspices of the Embassy of lines and the authority of unficyp in the buffer zone Slovakia. increased and a confrontation over the opening of The Secretary-General recommended that the a new crossing point at Ledra Street in old Nicosia Council extend the unficyp mandate until 15 heightened tensions in the early weeks of the report- December 2006. ing period. Two violations of the status quo, related Communication. On 14 June [A/60/892-S/2006/410], to the improvement of one of the Cypriot National the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” submit- Guard’s observation posts and the subsequent erec- ted comments on the Secretary-General’s report. tion of a new observation post by the Turkish Forces SECURITY COUNCIL ACTION in the same vicinity, had raised tensions in and along the buffer zone. Turkish Forces also continued to On 15 June [meeting 5465], the Security Council man a checkpoint at the Louroujina pocket, despite unanimously adopted resolution 1687(2006). The repeated protests by unficyp. draft [S/2006/393] was submitted by China, France, Unficyp continued to cooperate with its UN the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and partners and both sides to facilitate projects of com- the United States. mon benefit for both Greek and Turkish Cypriots The Security Council, in the buffer zone and promote confidence-building Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General of measures between them. A bicommunal road con- 23 May 2006 on the United Nations operation in struction project in the buffer zone, funded by Cyprus, the eu and implemented by the United Nations Reiterating its call to the parties to assess and address Development Programme (undp) and the United the humanitarian issue of missing persons with due ur- Nations Office for Project Services, was completed. gency and seriousness, and welcoming in this regard the The Mission continued to work with both sides on resumption of the activities of the Committee on Missing enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement and Persons in Cyprus since August 2004, as well as the ap- maintaining law and order in and around the buffer pointment by the Secretary-General of a third member, who will assume his duties in July 2006, zone; it conducted 64 humanitarian convoys, money Noting that the Government of Cyprus has agreed deliveries and humanitarian visits in support of the that, in view of the prevailing conditions on the island, 385 Greek Cypriots and 132 Maronites living in it is necessary to keep the United Nations Peacekeeping the north. It continued to assist Turkish Cypriots Force in Cyprus beyond 15 June 2006, living in the south to obtain identity documents, Taking note of the assessment of the Secretary-General housing, welfare services, medical care, employ- that the security situation on the island continues to be ment and education. It coordinated with undp on stable and that the situation along the Green Line re- Europe and the Mediterranean 489 mains calm, and expressing the hope that there will be vention and control of hiv/aids and other communicable a decrease in the overall number of incidents involving diseases in all its peacekeeping operations, the two sides, 1. Reaffirms all its relevant resolutions on Cyprus, Urging both sides to avoid any action which could in particular resolution 1251(1999) of 29 June 1999 and lead to an increase in tension, and, in this context, not- subsequent resolutions; ing with concern sequential developments in the vicinity 2. Expresses its full support for the United Nations of Dherinia, the increase in unauthorized construction of Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, including its mandate in buildings for personal and commercial use in the buffer the buffer zone, and decides to extend its mandate for a zone, and developments at certain checkpoints in sec- further period ending 15 December 2006; tor 4, including new restrictions on the freedom of move- 3. Calls upon the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkish ment of the Force, and encouraging both sides to engage forces to restore in Strovilia the military status quo which in consultations with the Force on the demarcation of the existed there prior to 30 June 2000; buffer zone and to respect the mandate and operations of 4. Encourages active participation in bicommunal the Force in the buffer zone, discussions at the technical level, under the leadership Regretting that the gap between words and deeds re- of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General mains too great for the Secretary-General to resume fully for Cyprus, and expresses its full support for the Special his mission of good offices and urging progress towards Representative; the resumption of negotiations for a comprehensive set- 5. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a re- tlement, and, in this context, welcoming the efforts of port on the implementation of the present resolution by the Secretary-General to encourage renewed bicommu- 1 December 2006; nal contacts, and the agreement to a proposal to establish 6. Welcomes the efforts being undertaken by the Force a mechanism for bicommunal discussions at the technical to implement the Secretary-General’s zero-tolerance level, as well as the agreement of both leaders to meet on policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and to ensure full the occasion of the installation of the third member of the compliance of its personnel with the United Nations code Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus, of conduct, requests the Secretary-General to continue to Welcoming progress in demining, particularly in the take all necessary action in this regard and to keep the Nicosia area, and expressing strong support for the efforts Security Council informed, and urges troop-contributing of the Force to extend demining operations to Turkish countries to take appropriate preventive action, includ- Forces minefields in the rest of the buffer zone, ing conducting predeployment awareness training, and Welcoming also the fact that over 10 million crossings to take disciplinary action and other action to ensure full by Greek Cypriots to the north and Turkish Cypriots to accountability in cases of such conduct involving their the south have taken place peacefully, and encouraging personnel; the opening of additional crossing points, 7. Decides to remain seized of the matter. Expressing its concern at continued disagreement over construction activity relating to the proposed additional Report of Secretary-General (December). On crossing point at Ledra Street, and urging both sides to 1 December [S/2006/931], the Secretary-General re- cooperate with the Force to resolve this issue, ported to the Security Council on unficyp activi- Welcoming the emphasis of the Special Representative ties between 18 May and 27 November. He stated of the Secretary-General for Cyprus on greater cohe- that, despite an overall reduction in the number of siveness in the efforts of the United Nations family in incidents along the ceasefire lines, the Mission’s Cyprus, as well as the intention of the Secretary-General to keep the operations of the Force under close review mandate continued to be challenged by both op- while continuing to take into account developments on posing forces. Significant violations by the Cypriot the ground and the views of the parties, and to revert National Guard included overmanning of an ob- to the Security Council with recommendations, as ap- servation post and conducting a military exercise at propriate, for further adjustments to the mandate, force platoon strength with mortars behind one of their levels and concept of operation of the Force as soon as observation posts. Violations by Turkish Forces/ warranted, Turkish Cypriot Security Forces included the con- Welcoming also all efforts to promote bicommunal con- tinued manning of an unauthorized checkpoint, the tacts and events, including, inter alia, on the part of the patrolling of the vicinity of the Laroujina pocket United Nations, and urging the two sides to promote fur- and overmanning of a nearby observation post. ther bicommunal contacts and to remove any obstacles to Attempts to restore the status quo in the area had such contacts, not progressed. In response, unficyp employed Echoing the Secretary-General’s gratitude to the Government of Cyprus and the Government of Greece standing patrols and, on occasion, reoccupied some for their voluntary contributions to the funding of the of its static observation towers. In June, unficyp in- Force, and his request for further voluntary contributions vited the Cypriot National Guard and the Turkish from other countries and organizations, Forces/Turkish Cypriot Security Forces to submit Welcoming and encouraging efforts by the United proposals for unmanning/deconfrontation meas- Nations to sensitize peacekeeping personnel in the pre- ures. The opposing forces expressed support for the 490 Political and security questions

Mission’s suggestions and agreed to submit a list of The Security Council, deconfrontation measures, but no proposals had yet Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General of been received. 1 December 2006 on the United Nations operation in Unficyp continued to work with its UN partners Cyprus, and local actors to facilitate projects of common ben- Noting that the Government of Cyprus has agreed efit for Greek and Turkish Cypriots in and outside that, in view of the prevailing conditions on the island, the buffer zone and to promote confidence-building it is necessary to keep the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus beyond 15 December 2006, measures between them, with the goal of restor- ing normal conditions and humanitarian functions Taking note of the assessment of the Secretary-General that the security situation on the island continues to be in Cyprus. The Mission facilitated 10 bicommunal generally stable and that the situation along the Green events in the buffer zone with the participation of Line remains calm, and welcoming the decrease in the approximately 500 people from both sides. It con- overall number of incidents involving the two sides, ducted 62 humanitarian convoys and humanitarian Urging both sides to avoid any action which could lead visits in support of Greek Cypriots and Maronites to an increase in tension, such as military exercises, and, living in the north and continued to assist Turkish in this context, noting with concern that disagreements Cypriots living in the south. The unficyp Mine have arisen over civilian activities in the buffer zone, in- Action Centre also continued its demining of the cluding farming and construction, and encouraging both region, clearing 12 of the 13 Turkish Forces mine- sides to engage in consultations with the Force on the fields during the reporting period. It was expected demarcation of the buffer zone, respecting the mandate that the last would be cleared before the end of the of the Force, and to reach an agreed approach to the op- year. erations of the Force in the buffer zone on the basis of the During the reporting period, there was an in- United Nations 1989 aide-memoire, crease in farming activities, mainly in the area Expressing its strong appreciation for the work of the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, around Nicosia, by farmers wishing to cultivate Mr. Ibrahim Gambari, in achieving the agreement of land beyond the farming security line established 8 July 2006, and welcoming the principles and decisions by ­unficyp to prevent tension arising from such enshrined therein, including recognition that the status activities in the buffer zone, as had happened on quo is unacceptable and that a comprehensive settlement several occasions in the past. Unficyp tightened its based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation and politi- procedures for issuing farming permits in order to cal equality, as set out in the relevant Security Council safeguard property rights and maintain security in resolutions, is both desirable and possible and should not the area. be further delayed, but noting, with regret, the assess- The Mission continued to facilitate the exchange ment by the Secretary-General that continued lack of of information on criminal matters between the two trust between the parties has so far prevented the imple- communities; liaise with both sides on the preserva- mentation of any of those decisions, underlining the need tion and restoration of cultural and religious sites to implement the agreement of 8 July without further delay, and expressing the hope that the recent positive on the island; and coordinate gender-related activi- reaction of the leaders of both communities to sugges- ties. Significant progress was achieved during the tions by the United Nations will result in the finalization reporting period on the issue of missing persons. of the preparatory phase as soon as possible in order to At the onset of the crisis in Lebanon (see p. 574), prepare the ground for fully-fledged negotiations leading unficyp assisted in moving UN personnel and their to a comprehensive and durable settlement, dependents from Lebanon and supported UN hu- Welcoming continued progress in demining, express- manitarian and other activities in the region. ing strong support for the efforts of the Force to extend The Secretary-General noted with concern the demining operations to Turkish Forces minefields in the hampering of undp activities intended to reduce rest of the buffer zone, and welcoming the prospect that the socio-economic disparities between the two it could be declared free of mines within two years, Cypriot communities. He recommended that the Reiterating its call to the parties to assess and address Council extend the unficyp mandate until 15 June the humanitarian issue of missing persons with due ur- 2007. gency and seriousness, and welcoming in this regard the resumption of the activities of the Committee on Missing SECURITY COUNCIL ACTION Persons in Cyprus since August 2004, and the progress which has since been made, as well as the appointment On 15 December [meeting 5593], the Security by the Secretary-General of a third member, Council unanimously adopted resolution Welcoming the continuing crossings by Greek Cypriots 1728(2006). The draft[S/2006/978] was submitted by to the north and Turkish Cypriots to the south which China, France, the Russian Federation, the United have taken place peacefully, and encouraging early Kingdom and the United States. progress on other confidence-building measures, such as Europe and the Mediterranean 491 the opening of additional crossing points, including at 6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report Ledra Street, on the implementation of the present resolution by 1 June Welcoming also all efforts to promote bicommunal 2007; contacts and events, including on the part of the United 7. Welcomes the efforts being undertaken by the Force Nations, and urging the two sides to promote further to implement the Secretary-General’s zero-tolerance bicommunal contacts and to remove any obstacles to such policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and to ensure full contacts, compliance of its personnel with the United Nations code Expressing concern, in this respect, that opportunities of conduct, requests the Secretary-General to continue to for constructive public debate about the future of the is- take all necessary action in this regard and to keep the land, within and between the communities, are becom- Security Council informed, and urges troop-contributing ing fewer, and that this atmosphere is hampering, in par- countries to take appropriate preventive action, includ- ticular, efforts to foster bicommunal activities intended ing conducting predeployment awareness training, and to benefit Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, and to to take disciplinary action and other action to ensure full promote reconciliation and build trust in order to facili- accountability in cases of such conduct involving their tate a comprehensive settlement, personnel; Noting the primary role of the United Nations in as- 8. Decides to remain seized of the matter. sisting the parties to bring the Cyprus conflict and divi- sion of the island to a comprehensive and durable set- On 22 December, the Assembly decided that the tlement, agenda item on the question of Cyprus would re- Reaffirming the importance of the Secretary-General main for consideration during its resumed sixty-first continuing to keep the operations of the Force under (2007) session (decision 61/552). close review while continuing to take into account de- velopments on the ground and the views of the parties, Financing and reverting to the Council with recommendations, as appropriate, for further adjustments to the mandate, On 30 June [meeting 92], the General Assembly, force levels and concept of operation of the Force as soon having considered the financial performance report as warranted, on the unficyp budget for 1 July 2004 to 30 June Echoing the Secretary-General’s gratitude to the 2005 [A/60/584], the unficyp budget for 1 July 2006 Government of Cyprus and the Government of Greece for their voluntary contributions to the funding of the to 30 June 2007 [A/60/592] and acabq related com- Force, and his request for further voluntary contributions ments and recommendations [A/60/785], adopted, from other countries and organizations, on the recommendation of the Fifth Committee Welcoming and encouraging efforts by the United [A/60/918], resolution 60/270 without vote [agenda Nations to sensitize peacekeeping personnel in the pre- item 139]. vention and control of hiv/aids and other communicable diseases in all its peacekeeping operations, Financing of the United Nations 1. Welcomes the observations contained in the report Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus of the Secretary-General on progress since June 2006, and in particular on developments since 8 July, and ex- The General Assembly, presses its appreciation for his personal efforts over the Having considered the reports of the Secretary- last ten years, and those of his staff, aimed at achieving a General on the financing of the United Nations comprehensive solution; Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus and the related report 2. Reaffirms all its relevant resolutions on Cyprus, of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and in particular resolution 1251(1999) of 29 June 1999 and Budgetary ­Questions, subsequent resolutions; Recalling Security Council resolution 186(1964) of 3. Expresses its full support for the United Nations 4 March 1964, regarding the establishment of the United Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, including its mandate in Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, and the subse- the buffer zone, and decides to extend its mandate for a quent resolutions by which the Council extended the further period ending 15 June 2007; mandate of the Force, the latest of which was resolution 4. Calls upon the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkish 1642(2005) of 14 December 2005, forces to restore in Strovilia the military status quo which Recalling also its resolution 47/236 of 14 September existed there prior to 30 June 2000; 1993 on the financing of the Force for the period begin- 5. Expresses its full support for the process agreed by ning 16 June 1993, and its subsequent resolutions and the leaders, encourages active participation in bicommu- decisions thereon, the latest of which was resolution nal discussions as described in Under-Secretary-General 59/284 B of 22 June 2005, Gambari’s letter of 15 November 2006, under the aus- Reaffirming the general principles underlying the fi- pices of the Special Representative of the Secretary- nancing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as General for Cyprus, and calls for the early completion of stated in General Assembly resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of the preparatory phase so that a fully-fledged good offices 27 June 1963, 3101(XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and process may resume as soon as possible; 55/235 of 23 December 2000, 492 Political and security questions

Noting with appreciation that voluntary contributions 10. Recalls its request as contained in section XIV, have been made to the Force by certain Governments, paragraph 4, of resolution 59/296; Noting that voluntary contributions were insufficient 11. Decides to finance resources for conduct and to cover all the costs of the Force, including those in- discipline capacity equivalent to 253,900 dollars under curred by troop-contributing Governments prior to general temporary assistance; 16 June 1993, and regretting the absence of an adequate 12. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the full response to appeals for voluntary contributions, including implementation of the relevant provisions of its resolu- that contained in the letter dated 17 May 1994 from the tions 59/296 and 60/266; Secretary-General to all Member States, 13. Also requests the Secretary-General to take all Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the necessary action to ensure that the Force is administered Force with the necessary financial resources to enable it with a maximum of efficiency and economy; to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions 14. Further requests the Secretary-General, in order of the Security Council, to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to 1. Requests the Secretary-General to entrust the continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Force against Head of Mission with the task of formulating future General Service posts, commensurate with the require- budget proposals in full accordance with the provisions ments of the Force; of General Assembly resolutions 59/296 of 22 June 2005 15. Requests the Secretary-General, in view of the and 60/266 of 30 June 2006, as well as other relevant recent amendment of the concept of operations and force resolutions; level of the Force, to conduct a review of the number 2. Takes note of the status of contributions to the and grade levels of support staff, including the possibil- United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus as at ity of utilizing United Nations Volunteers, and to report 30 April 2006, including the contributions outstanding thereon to the General Assembly in the context of the in the amount of 16.9 million United States dollars, rep- next budget submission for the Force; resenting some 6 per cent of the total assessed contribu- Financial performance report for the tions, notes with concern that only forty-eight Member period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005 States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and 16. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General urges all other Member States, in particular those in ar- on the financial performance of the Force for the period rears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005; contributions; 3. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States Budget estimates for the that have paid their assessed contributions in full, and period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 urges all other Member States to make every possible 17. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus the to the Force in full; amount of 46,770,000 dollars for the period from 1 July 4. Expresses concern at the financial situation with re- 2006 to 30 June 2007, inclusive of 44,831,400 dollars for gard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the maintenance of the Force, 1,601,200 dollars for the the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear ad- support account for peacekeeping operations and 337,400 ditional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member dollars for the United Nations Logistics Base; States of their assessments; Financing of the appropriation for the 5. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 the Secretary-General in deploying and providing ad- 18. Notes with appreciation that a one-third share of equate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, the net appropriation, equivalent to 14,915,300 dollars, in particular those in Africa; will be funded through voluntary contributions from the 6. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeep- Government of Cyprus and the amount of 6.5 million ing missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory dollars from the Government of Greece; treatment in respect of financial and administrative ar- 19. Decides to apportion among Member States rangements; the amount of 25,354,700 dollars at a monthly rate of 7. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions 2,112,891 dollars, in accordance with the levels updated shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective in its resolution 58/256 of 23 December 2003, and tak- and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; ing into account the scale of assessments for 2006, as 8. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to set out in its resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003, make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment and the scale of assessments for 2007, subject to a deci- at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, sion of the Security Council to extend the mandate of in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the the Force; Force; 20. Decides also that, in accordance with the pro- 9. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations visions of its resolution 973(X) of 15 December 1955, contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on there shall be set off against the apportionment among Administrative and Budgetary Questions, subject to the Member States, as provided for in paragraph 19 above, provisions of the present resolution, and requests the their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation; 2,024,100 dollars, comprising the estimated staff assess- Europe and the Mediterranean 493 ment income of 1,818,500 dollars approved for the Force, 30. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of the prorated share of 180,100 dollars of the estimated its sixty-first session the item entitled “Financing of the staff assessment income approved for the support account United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus”. and the prorated share of 25,500 dollars of the estimated staff assessment income approved for the United Nations On 22 December [meeting 84], the Assembly Logistics Base; decided that the agenda item on the financing of 21. Decides further that, for Member States that have ­unficyp would remain for consideration during fulfilled their financial obligations to the Force, there its resumed sixty-first (2007) session decision ( shall be set off against their apportionment, as provided 61/552). for in paragraph 19 above, their respective share of the unencumbered balance and other income in the total amount of 870,911 dollars for the financial period ended Other issues 30 June 2005, in accordance with the levels updated in its resolution 58/256, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2005, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B; Strengthening of security and cooperation 22. Decides that, for Member States that have not fulfilled their financial obligations to the Force, there in the Mediterranean shall be set off against their outstanding obligations their respective share of the unencumbered balance and other In response to General Assembly resolution income in the total amount of 870,911 dollars in respect 60/94 [YUN 2005, p. 500], the Secretary-General of the financial period ended 30 June 2005, in accordance submitted a July report and a December adden- with the scheme set out in paragraph 21 above; dum [A/61/123 & Add.1] containing replies received 23. Decides also that the decrease in the estimated from Algeria, Bolivia, Morocco, Spain and the staff assessment income of 339,100 dollars in respect of United Arab Emirates to his 28 February note ver- the financial period ended 30 June 2005 shall be set off bale requesting the views of all Member States on against the credits from the amount of 870,911 dollars ways to strengthen security and cooperation in the referred to in paragraphs 21 and 22 above; Mediterranean region. 24. Decides further, taking into account its voluntary contribution for the financial period ended 30 June 2005, GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION that one third of the net unencumbered balance and other income in the amount of 331,400 dollars in respect of the On 6 December [meeting 67], the General Assembly, financial period ended 30 June 2005 shall be returned to on the recommendation of the First (Disarmament the Government of Cyprus; and International Security) Committee [A/61/399], 25. Decides, taking into account its voluntary con- adopted resolution 61/101 without vote [agenda item tribution for the financial period ended 30 June 2005, 95]. that the prorated share of the net unencumbered balance and other income in the amount of 130,989 dollars in Strengthening of security and cooperation respect of the financial period ended 30 June 2005 shall in the Mediterranean region be returned to the Government of Greece; The General Assembly, 26. Decides also to continue to maintain as separate Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, in- the account established for the Force for the period prior cluding resolution 60/94 of 8 December 2005, to 16 June 1993, invites Member States to make voluntary Reaffirming the primary role of the Mediterranean contributions to that account, and requests the Secretary- countries in strengthening and promoting peace, security General to continue his efforts in appealing for voluntary and cooperation in the Mediterranean region, contributions to the account; Welcoming the efforts deployed by the Euro- 27. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall Mediterranean countries to strengthen their cooperation be financed by borrowing funds from other active peace- in combating terrorism, in particular by the adoption of keeping missions; the Euro-Mediterranean Code of Conduct on Countering 28. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to Terrorism by the Euro-Mediterranean Summit, held in take additional measures to ensure the safety and security Barcelona, Spain, on 27 and 28 November 2005, of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations Bearing in mind all the previous declarations and com- participating in the Force, bearing in mind paragraphs 5 mitments, as well as all the initiatives taken by the ripar- and 6 of Security Council resolution 1502(2003) of ian countries at the recent summits, ministerial meet- 26 August 2003; ings and various forums concerning the question of the 29. Invites voluntary contributions to the Force in Mediterranean region, cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable Recognizing the indivisible character of security in the to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appro- Mediterranean and that the enhancement of cooperation priate, in accordance with the procedure and practices among Mediterranean countries with a view to promot- established by the General Assembly; ing the economic and social development of all peoples of 494 Political and security questions the region will contribute significantly to stability, peace and recognizes the role of the United Nations in promot- and security in the region, ing regional and international peace and security; Recognizing also the efforts made so far and the de- 4. Recognizes that the elimination of the economic termination of the Mediterranean countries to intensify and social disparities in levels of development and other the process of dialogue and consultations with a view to obstacles as well as respect and greater understanding resolving the problems existing in the Mediterranean among cultures in the Mediterranean area will contrib- region and to eliminating the causes of tension and the ute to enhancing peace, security and cooperation among consequent threat to peace and security, and their grow- Mediterranean countries through the existing forums; ing awareness of the need for further joint efforts to 5. Calls upon all States of the Mediterranean region strengthen economic, social, cultural and environmental that have not yet done so to adhere to all the multilater- cooperation in the region, ally negotiated legal instruments related to the field of Recognizing further that prospects for closer Euro- disarmament and non-proliferation, thus creating the Mediterranean cooperation in all spheres can be en- necessary conditions for strengthening peace and coop- hanced by positive developments worldwide, in particu- eration in the region; lar in Europe, in the Maghreb and in the Middle East, 6. Encourages all States of the region to favour the necessary conditions for strengthening the confidence- Reaffirming the responsibility of all States to contrib- building measures among them by promoting genuine ute to the stability and prosperity of the Mediterranean openness and transparency on all military matters, by region and their commitment to respecting the purposes participating, inter alia, in the United Nations system for and principles of the Charter of the United Nations as the standardized reporting of military expenditures and well as the provisions of the Declaration on Principles by providing accurate data and information to the United of International Law concerning Friendly Relations Nations Register of Conventional Arms; and Cooperation among States in accordance with the 7. Encourages the Mediterranean countries to Charter of the United Nations, strengthen further their cooperation in combating ter- Noting the peace negotiations in the Middle East, rorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the which should be of a comprehensive nature and represent possible resort by terrorists to weapons of mass destruc- an appropriate framework for the peaceful settlement of tion, taking into account the relevant resolutions of the contentious issues in the region, United Nations, and in combating international crime Expressing its concern at the persistent tension and con- and illicit arms transfers and illicit drug production, con- tinuing military activities in parts of the Mediterranean sumption and trafficking, which pose a serious threat to that hinder efforts to strengthen security and cooperation peace, security and stability in the region and therefore in the region, to the improvement of the current political, economic Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General, and social situation and which jeopardize friendly rela- 1. Reaffirms that security in the Mediterranean is tions among States, hinder the development of interna- closely linked to European security as well as to interna- tional cooperation and result in the destruction of human tional peace and security; rights, fundamental freedoms and the democratic basis 2. Expresses its satisfaction at the continuing efforts of pluralistic society; by Mediterranean countries to contribute actively to 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report the elimination of all causes of tension in the region on means to strengthen security and cooperation in the and to the promotion of just and lasting solutions to Mediterranean region; the persistent problems of the region through peace- 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its ful means, thus ensuring the withdrawal of foreign sixty-second session the item entitled “Strengthening of forces of occupation and respecting the sovereignty, security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region”. independence and territorial integrity of all countries of the Mediterranean and the right of peoples to self- Stability and development determination, and therefore calls for full adherence to in South-Eastern Europe the principles of non-interference, non-intervention, non-use of force or threat of use of force and the inad- On 24 July [A/61/183], Croatia and Serbia drew missibility of the acquisition of territory by force, in ac- the Secretary-General’s attention to the joint state- cordance with the Charter and the relevant resolutions ment made by their Presidents on the occasion of of the United Nations;­ the official visit of Serbia’s President, Boris Tadić, 3. Commends the Mediterranean countries for their to Croatia. On 26 July [A/61/190], Croatia and efforts in meeting common challenges through coordi- nated overall responses, based on a spirit of multilateral Montenegro forwarded to the Secretary-General partnership, towards the general objective of turning the joint statement made by their Presidents on the Mediterranean basin into an area of dialogue, ex- the occasion of the official visit of Montenegro’s changes and cooperation, guaranteeing peace, stability President, Filip Vujanović, to Croatia. In both and prosperity, encourages them to strengthen such ef- statements, the Presidents announced their com- forts through, inter alia, a lasting multilateral and action- mitment to peace, stability and security in South- oriented cooperative dialogue among States of the region, Eastern Europe. Europe and the Mediterranean 495

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia On 6 December [meeting 67], the General since 1991, Assembly, on the recommendation of the First Stressing the role and responsibility of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, sup- Committee [A/61/387], adopted resolution 61/53 ported by the Organization for Security and Cooperation [agenda item 83] without vote . in Europe and the European Union, and of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and its Kosovo Force for Maintenance of international security— further promotion of stability in the region, and noting good-neighbourliness, stability and development in the Council of the European Union’s joint action estab- South-Eastern Europe lishing a European Union planning team, The General Assembly, Reaffirming the validity of the Agreement for the de- Recalling the purposes and principles of the Charter of lineation of the borderline between the former Yugoslav the United Nations and the Final Act of the Conference Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro, on Security and Cooperation in Europe, signed in signed in Skopje on 23 February 2001, and encouraging Helsinki on 1 August 1975, the parties to the Agreement and inviting all the parties involved in the process of settlement of the future status Recalling also the United Nations Millennium of Kosovo to respect the Agreement, to cooperate fully Declaration and the 2005 World Summit Outcome, and to prepare for its timely implementation, Recalling further its previous resolutions on the subject, Emphasizing the crucial importance of strengthening including resolution 59/59 of 3 December 2004, regional efforts in South-Eastern Europe on arms con- Welcoming with appreciation the continuing cooperation trol, demining, disarmament and confidence-building among countries in the region of South-Eastern Europe measures and non-proliferation of weapons of mass de- on issues related to security, economy, trade, transport, struction, and noting that, in spite of ongoing efforts, energy, cross-border cooperation, human rights and jus- the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its tice and home affairs, aspects persists in some parts of the region, Welcoming the Republic of Montenegro as the one Reaffirming its support for all regional initiatives on hundred and ninety-second State Member of the United combating the illicit proliferation of small arms and light Nations, weapons, including the activities undertaken at the na- Reiterating the importance of the South-East European tional level for their collection and destruction, Cooperation Process for further enhancing regional co- Mindful of the importance of national, regional and operation and stability, which constitutes one of the main international activities aimed at the creation of peace, elements of the Stabilization and Association Process, security, stability, democracy, cooperation and economic and welcoming the positive results of the South-East development and the observance of human rights and European Cooperation Process summit meeting, held in good-neighbourliness in South-Eastern Europe, Thessaloniki, Greece, on 4 May 2006, Reaffirming its determination that all nations should Recalling the conclusions reached at the Summit of the live together in peace with one another as good neigh- European Council, held in Thessaloniki, Greece, on 19 bours, and 20 June 2003, the decisions of the European Council 1. Reaffirms the need for full observance of the on the principles, priorities and conditions contained Charter of the United Nations; in the European Partnerships with all countries of the 2. Calls upon all States, the relevant international Stabilization and Association Process and the outcome organizations and the appropriate organs of the United of the meeting held in Salzburg, Austria, of Ministers Nations to respect and support all the principles of the for Foreign Affairs on the European Union Stabilization Charter and the commitments of the Organization for and Association Process, confirming that the future of Security and Cooperation in Europe and through further the Western Balkans lies in the European Union, development of regional arrangements, as appropriate, Noting the progress made by the countries of the re- to eliminate threats to international peace and security gion, including those of the Stabilization and Association and to help to prevent conflicts in South-Eastern Europe, Process, in fulfilling the criteria for membership in the which can lead to the violent disintegration of States; European Union and, in this context, the start of the 3. Acknowledges the positive results achieved so far accession negotiations of Croatia and Turkey, the former by the countries of the region, urges them to invest fur- Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia becoming a candidate ther efforts in consolidating South-Eastern Europe as a country for membership in the European Union, the region of peace, security, stability, democracy, the rule of signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement law, cooperation and economic development and for the with Albania and the opening of the negotiations for a promotion of good-neighbourliness and the observance stabilization and association agreement with Bosnia and of human rights, thus contributing to the maintenance Herzegovina and Montenegro, as well as resuming sta- of international peace and security and enhancing the bilization and association agreement negotiations with prospects for sustained development and prosperity for Serbia, pending full cooperation with the International all peoples in the region as an integral part of Europe, Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for and recognizes the role of the United Nations, the Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe 496 Political and security questions and the European Union in successfully promoting re- 13. Emphasizes the importance of continuous re- gional disarmament; gional efforts and intensified dialogue in South-Eastern 4. Supports the countries of the region in their deter- Europe aimed at arms control, disarmament and mination to gradually take over ownership and respon- confidence-building measures, as well as strengthening sibility for regional cooperation by a phased evolution of cooperation and undertaking appropriate measures at the the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe into a more national, subregional and regional levels against the pro- regionally owned, streamlined and effective regional liferation of weapons of mass destruction and to prevent cooperation framework as set out at the Stability Pact’s all acts of terrorism; Regional Table meeting on 30 May 2006 in Belgrade; 14. Recognizes the seriousness of the problem of anti- 5. Stresses that every effort should be made to achieve personnel mines and explosive remnants of war in some a negotiated settlement in line with Security Council parts of South-Eastern Europe, welcomes in this context resolution 1244(1999) of 10 June 1999 and the contact the efforts of the countries in the region and of the in- group guiding principles; emphasizes the importance of ternational community in support of mine action, and the implementation of the standards for Kosovo; and fully encourages States to join and support these efforts; supports the work of the Special Envoy of the Secretary- 15. Urges all States to take effective measures against General and his team on the Kosovo status talks; the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its 6. Rejects the use of violence in pursuit of political aspects and to help programmes and projects aimed at the aims, and stresses that only peaceful political solutions collection and safe destruction of surplus stocks of small can assure a stable and democratic future for South- arms and light weapons, and stresses the importance of Eastern Europe; closer cooperation among States, inter alia, in crime pre- 7. Stresses the importance of good-neighbourliness vention and combating terrorism, trafficking in human and the development of friendly relations among States, beings, organized crime and corruption, drug trafficking and calls upon all States to resolve their disputes with and money-laundering; other States by peaceful means, in accordance with the 16. Calls upon all States and the relevant international Charter; organizations to communicate to the Secretary-General 8. Urges the strengthening of relations among the their views on the subject of the present resolution; States of South-Eastern Europe on the basis of respect 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of for international law and agreements, in accordance with its sixty-third session the item entitled “Maintenance of the principles of good-neighbourliness and mutual re- iternational security—good-neighbourliness, sability and spect; development n South-Eastern Europe. 9. Recognizes the efforts of the international com- munity, and in particular those of the European Union, Cooperation with the Council of Europe the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe and other contributors, as well as of the South-East European In a consolidated report on cooperation between Cooperation Process as an authentic voice of the region, the United Nations and regional and other organi- in promoting the long-term process of democratic and zations [A/61/256 & Add.1], submitted in response to economic development of the region; General Assembly resolution 57/337 [YUN 2003, 10. Calls upon all States to intensify cooperation with p. 50] and Security Council resolution 1631(2005) and render all necessary assistance to the International [YUN 2005, p. 97] Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for , the Secretary-General described Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law strengthened cooperation with the Council of Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia Europe. since 1991 to bring all at-large indictees to surrender GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION to the Tribunal in line with Security Council resolu- tions 1503(2003) of 28 August 2003 and 1534(2004) of On 13 November [meeting 52], the General 26 March 2004; Assembly adopted resolution 61/13 [draft: A/61/L.14 11. Stresses the importance of enhanced regional & Add.1] without vote [agenda item 108 (g)]. cooperation for the development of the South-Eastern European States in the priority areas of infrastructure, transport, trade, energy and environment, as well as in Cooperation between the United Nations other areas of common interest, and welcomes the Treaty and the Council of Europe establishing the Energy Community, the establishment The General Assembly, of the Regional Cooperation Council and the negotia- Recalling the Agreement between the Council of tions for the simultaneous enlargement and amendment Europe and the Secretariat of the United Nations of the Central European Free Trade Agreement; signed on 15 December 1951 and the Arrangement 12. Also stresses that the further rapprochement of the on Cooperation and Liaison between the Secretariats South-Eastern European States with the Euro-Atlantic of the United Nations and the Council of Europe of institutions will favourably influence the security, politi- 19 November 1971, cal and economic situation in the region, as well as good- Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome, ap- neighbourly relations among the States; proved at the United Nations summit held in New York Europe and the Mediterranean 497 from 14 to 16 September 2005, including the section on mentation of Security Council resolutions 1373(2001) regional organizations, which provides an incentive to of 28 September 2001 and 1624(2005) of 14 September reinforce links between the United Nations and regional 2005, and calls for the deepening of cooperation in the organizations such as the Council of Europe, fight against terrorism, while protecting human rights; Welcoming the outcome of the Third Summit of the 6. Encourages cooperation between the two organiza- Council of Europe, held in Warsaw on 16 and 17 May tions regarding the fight against transnational organized 2005, and the fact that on this occasion the Heads of crime, cybercrime, corruption and money-laundering, as State and Government encouraged cooperation with well as concerning the promotion of human rights and the United Nations and the specialized agencies, and the rule of law in the information society; committed themselves to achieving the Millennium 7. Reiterates its support for cooperation between the Developments Goals in Europe, including environmen- two organizations in the social field, in particular con- tal development, cerning the protection and promotion of the rights and Welcoming also the increasingly close relations between dignity of persons with disabilities, combating poverty the United Nations and the Council of Europe, and social exclusion and ensuring equal access to social Welcoming further the report of the Secretary-General rights for all; on cooperation between the United Nations and the 8. Welcomes the joint initiatives of the United Nations Council of Europe, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and 1. Considers that cooperation with the Council of the Council of Europe for the promotion of intercultural Europe regarding the protection of human rights, the dialogue, especially the creation of the Faro Platform fight against racism, discrimination, xenophobia and in- of inter-institutional cooperation in 2005, and encour- tolerance, the protection of the rights of persons belong- ages the continuation of such cooperation, in particular ing to minorities, the prevention of torture and inhuman through the European Centre for Global Interdependence or degrading treatment or punishment, the fight against and Solidarity of the Council of Europe, and also as re- trafficking in human beings and violence against women, gards the promotion of cultural diversity; as well as the protection and promotion of the rights of 9. Notes the constructive interest of the Parliamentary the child should be reinforced; Assembly of the Council of Europe in the reform process 2. Takes note of the important role of the European of the United Nations, and welcomes its proposals for a Court of Human Rights, and invites the Human Rights closer involvement of parliamentarians in the work of the Council and the Office of the United Nations High United Nations; Commissioner for Human Rights to work closely with the Council of Europe, and in particular its Commissioner 10. Requests the Secretaries-General of the United for Human Rights, in promoting respect for human Nations and the Council of Europe to combine their ef- rights; forts in seeking answers to global challenges, within their 3. Notes the contribution of the Council of Europe respective mandates, and calls upon all relevant United to the protection and strengthening of democracy, inter Nations bodies to support the enhancement of coopera- alia, through the Forum for the Future of Democracy, tion with the Council of Europe in the areas mentioned and welcomes fruitful cooperation between the United above; Nations and the Council of Europe in the area of de- 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of mocracy, good governance and education for democratic its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled “Cooperation citizenship and human rights, in particular through between the United Nations and the Council of Europe”, the strengthening of links between the United Nations and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on and the Council of Europe Project on Education for cooperation between the United Nations and the Council Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights; of Europe in implementation of the present resolution. 4. Encourages the development of cooperation, where appropriate, between the United Nations Peacebuilding Cooperation with the Organization for Commission and the Council of Europe, with a view to promoting post-conflict re-establishment and consoli- Security and Cooperation in Europe dation of peace in Europe, with full respect for human rights and the rule of law; On 22 December, the General Assembly decided 5. Commends the ongoing cooperation between that the agenda item on cooperation between the the Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Executive United Nations and osce would remain for consid- Directorate and the Council of Europe, as well as the eration during its resumed sixty-first (2007) session contribution of the Council of Europe to the imple- (decision 61/552).