United Nations Security Council Resolution 724

by the United Nations

The Security Council,

Reaffirming its resolutions 713 (1991) of 25 September 1991, and 721 (1991) of 27 November (1991),

Noting the report of the Secretary-General of 11 December 1991 (S/23280) submitted pursuant to resolution 721 (1991),

Recalling its primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security,

Recalling also the provisions of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations,

Determined to ensure that the general and complete embargo on all deliveries of weapons and military equipment to Yugoslavia imposed by resolution 713 (1991) is effectively applied,

Commending the initiatives taken by the Secretary-General in the humanitarian field,

Approves the report of the Secretary-General of 11 December 1991(S/23280) and expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for it;

Endorses in particular the views expressed in paragraph 21 of the Secretary-General's report that the conditions for establishing a peace-keeping operation in Yugoslavia still do not exist and in paragraph 24 that full compliance with the Geneva Agreement of 23 November 1991 would permit accelerated consideration of the question of establishing a United Nations peace-keeping operation in Yugoslavia;

Concurs in particular with the Secretary-General's observation that the international community is prepared to assist the Yugoslav peoples, if the conditions described in his report are met and, in that context, endorses his offer to send to Yugoslavia a small group of personnel, including military personnel, as part of the continuing mission of his Personal Envoy, to carry forward preparations for possible deployment of a peace-keeping operation;

Underlines the view that the purpose of the deployment of any United Nations peace-keeping operation in Yugoslavia would be to enable all parties to settle their disputes peacefully, including through the processes of the Conference on Yugoslavia;

Acting under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations:

Requests all States to report to the Secretary-General within 20 days on the measures they have instituted for meeting the obligations set out in paragraph 6 of resolution 713 (1991) to implement a general and complete embargo on all deliveries of weapons and military equipment to Yugoslavia;

Decides to establish, in accordance with rule 28 of its Provisional Rules of Procedure, a Committee of the Security Council consisting of all the members of the Council, to undertake the following tasks and to report on its work to the Council with its observations and recommendations:

To examine the reports submitted pursuant to sub-paragraph (a) above;

To seek from all States further information regarding the action taken by them concerning the effective implementation of the embargo imposed by paragraph 6 of resolution 713 (1991); To consider any information brought to its attention by States concerning violations of the embargo, and in that context to make recommendations to the Council on ways of increasing the effectiveness of the embargo; To recommend appropriate measures in response to violations of the general and complete embargo on all deliveries of weapons and military equipment to Yugoslavia and provide information on a regular basis to the Secretary-General for general distribution to Member States;

Calls upon all States to cooperate fully with the Committee in the fulfilment of its tasks concerning the effective implementation of the provisions of paragraph 6 of resolution 713 (1991);

Requests the Secretary-General to provide all necessary assistance to the Committee and to make the necessary arrangements in the Secretariat for this purpose;

Undertakes to consider ways by which compliance with the commitments entered into by the parties may be achieved;

Strongly urges all States and parties to refrain from any action which might contribute to increasing tension, to inhibiting the establishment of an effective cease-fire and to impeding or delaying a peaceful and negotiated outcome to the conflict in Yugoslavia, which would permit all the peoples ofYugoslavia to decide upon and to construct their future Yugoslavia, in liaison with the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNICEF and other appropriate humanitarian organizations, to take urgent practical steps to tackle the critical needs of people of Yugoslavia, including displaced persons and the most vulnerable groups affected by the conflict, to assist in the voluntary return of displaced persons to their homes;

Decides to remain actively seized of the matter until a peaceful solution is achieved.