Austria to contribute in resolution to protect civilians amid conflict.

VIENNA, Nov 2 (KUNA) -- On November 1, Austria assumed presidency over the

United Nations Security Council (UNSC) which is expected to approve a

resolution on the protection of civilians during armed clashes. Der Standard Austrian paper quoted Austria's Ambassador to the United

Nations (UN) Thomas Mayr-Harting as saying that the draft resolution calls for

complying with international law during clashes, specifying the

responsibilities of peace-keeping forces, and improving communication between

the forces and the UNSC and UN Secretariat. Diplomats expect that some UNSC members, like China, Vietnam, and Libya,

would show reservations or opposition to some of the draft resolution

articles, the paper quoted diplomats as saying. Meanwhile, Mexico, Costa Rica, and the permanent members France and Britain

will support it, they added. Austria presided over the UNSC when it was elected a non-permanent member

in March 1991. At that time, the council was preoccupied with the Iraqi occupation of

Kuwait and the liberation of the state and related issues. The paper said that former Austrian ambassador to the UN Peter Hohenfellner

contributed in writing resolution 687, which was one of the longest and most

complicated UNSC resolutions. The resolution, issued on April 3, 1991, imposed sanctions on Iraq for

invading Kuwait. During its presidency in May 1992, Austria also played a major role in

imposing sanctions on Serbia and Montenegro during the war in Bosnia. In the same month, international peace-keeping forces were sent to Somalia

during the conflict in the African country.

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