United Nations Security Council Resolution 1199

UN Security Council
Resolution 1199
UN Security Council; Resolution 1199
	Kosovo-Serbia border
Date	23 September 1998
Meeting no.	3,930
Code	S/RES/1199 (Document)
Subject	The situation in Kosovo (FRY)
Voting summary	14 voted for; None voted against; 1 abstained;
Result	Adopted
Security Council composition
Permanent members	China; France; Russia; United Kingdom; United States;
Non-permanent members	Bahrain; Brazil; Costa Rica; Gabon; Gambia; Japan; Kenya; Portugal; Slovenia; Sweden;

United Nations Security Council resolution 1199, adopted on 23 September 1998, after recalling Resolution 1160 (1998), the Council demanded that the Albanian and Yugoslav parties in Kosovo end hostilities and observe a ceasefire.^[1]

Background

The Security Council convened to discuss the fighting in Kosovo and in particular the indiscriminate use of force by the Serbian security forces and Yugoslav Army, which resulted in the displacement of 230,000 according to the Secretary-General Kofi Annan.^[2] The refugees had fled to northern Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other European countries and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had estimated that 50,000 were without basic amenities. It reaffirmed the right of all refugees to return and noted that there was a humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Kosovo and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.^[3] At the same time, acts of violence by any party were condemned and acts of terrorism to further goals, and the Council reaffirmed that the status of Kosovo should include autonomy and self-administration.

Proposal

Acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the resolution demanded that all parties cease hostilities and maintain a ceasefire. Both the FR Yugoslavian government and the Kosovo Albanian leadership were urged to take immediate steps to improve the humanitarian situation and begin talks to resolve the crisis. The Council then demanded that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia:^[4]

(a) end action by security forces that affected the civilian population;

(b) allow the presence of international monitors and guarantee their freedom of movement;

(c) facilitate the return of refugees with the UNHCR and International Committee of the Red Cross and allow humanitarian aid to reach Kosovo;

(d) make rapid progress towards finding a political solution to the situation in Kosovo.

It noted a commitment made by Serbian President Slobodan Milošević to use political means to solve the conflict, avoid repressive actions against the civilian population, guarantee freedom of movement for international humanitarian organisations and observers and to ensure the safe return of refugees. Meanwhile, the Kosovo Albanian leadership had to condemn terrorism.

The council welcomed the establishment of the Kosovo Diplomatic Observer Mission and urged states and organisations represented in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to carry out continuous monitoring of the situation in Kosovo.^[5] The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was reminded that it was responsible for the safety of diplomatic, international and non-governmental humanitarian personnel. Both parties were called upon to co-operate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for possible violations and for the need to bring those responsible for the mistreatment of civilians and deliberate destruction of property to justice.

Finally, the secretary-general was requested to report regularly to the council on developments in the region and stated that if the current resolution was not complied with, further measures would be taken to restore peace and security.^[6]

Vote

Resolution 1199 was approved by 14 members of the council. China abstained from the vote, citing that the conflict was an internal matter for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and it was acting within its rights.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b "Security Council demands all parties end hostilities and maintain a ceasefire in Kosovo". United Nations. 23 September 1998.
^ Kritsiotis, Dino (2000). "The Kosovo Crisis and Nato's Application of Armed Force Against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia". International and Comparative Law Quarterly. 49 (2). Cambridge University Press: 330–359. doi:10.1017/S0020589300064186. S2CID 146464767.
^ Lellio, Anna Di (2006). The case for Kosova: passage to independence. Anthem Press. p. 123. ISBN 978-1-84331-229-1.
^ Paul Latawski; Martin A. Smith (2003). The Kosovo Crisis: The Evolution of Post Cold War European Security. Manchester University Press. p. 94. ISBN 978-0-7190-5980-3.
^ Crossette, Barbara (24 September 1998). "Security Council Tells Serbs To Stop Kosovo Offensive". The New York Times.
^ "World at a glance". The Indian Express. 24 September 1998.^{[permanent dead link‍]}