Embargo against Federal Republic of Yugoslavia tightened; war crimes investigative body created.

With no end in sight to the virtual state of war in the former Yugoslavia and amidst widespread reports of "unspeakable brutality", the United Nations continued its efforts to prevent further atrocities, alleviate human suffering, expedite delivery of humanitarian assistance, tighten existing embargoes and curtail military activities.

"It is an unacceptable nightmare", said Sadako Ogata, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, on 13 November in reporting that in the former Yugoslav republics there were 3 million refugees, displaced persons and others trapped in besieged cities and regions. "The numbers are rising daily in a horrendous spiral."

During the last three months of 1992, UN bodies addressed the deteriorating situation of the region: the Security Council met on 11 occasions, adopting seven resolutions and issuing three statements; the General Assembly and its President voiced their concerns and the plenary adopted a comprehensive resolution; the Commission on Human Rights held a two-day extraordinary session; UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali oversaw a new round of peace discussions involving officials of the countries involved, as well as the Co-Chairmen of the international Conference on the Former Yugoslavia, and visited the area.

Among the actions: the wide-ranging embargo against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) was tightened: a ban on military flights over Bosnia and Herzegovina was imposed; a war crimes investigative body set to work; and what was described as massive violations of human rights, including killings, torture, disappearances, mass rapes and other acts or threats of violence, were strongly condemned.

On 18 December, the Assembly called on the Council to consider urgent measures to exempt Bosnia and Herzegovina from the arms embargo imposed on the former Yugoslavia. In the event that Serbian and Montenegrin forces failed to comply fully with all relevant Council resolutions, the Council was urged to authorize Member States to use "all necessary means" to restore Bosnia and Herzegovina's sovereignty. The Assembly also called for consideration of an ad hoc international war crimes tribunal to try and punish those who had committed such crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On 31 December, Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali arrived in Sarajevo, where he held meetings with high-ranking officials of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bosnian Serb leaders. He also toured a hospital and visited troops at the military barracks of the UN Protection Force (UNPROFOR). Mr. Boutros-Ghali had told reporters that his trip was to "express my solidarity with UN troops and other personnel".

Resolution 787: Sanctions widened

The Council on 16 November, in adopting resolution 787 (1992) by a vote of 13 to none, with 2 abstentions (China, Zimbabwe), widened existing sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to include "all inward and outward maritime shipping". Expressing deep concern over threats to Bosnia and Herzegovina's territorial integrity, it asked States to act "nationally or through regional agencies or arrangements" to ensure strict implementation of wide-ranging sanctions already in place following the adoption of Council resolution 757 (1992) on 30 May. (A general and complete arms embargo had been put in place on 2 5 September 1991 under Council resolution 713 (1991).)

Acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, the Council decided that any vessel in which a majority or controlling interest was held by a person or undertaking in, or operating from, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia would be considered a vessel of that country, regardless of the flag under which it sailed.

To ensure that commodities and products transshipped through the Federal Republic were not diverted in violation of resolution 757, the Council banned the transshipment of crude oil, petroleum products, coal, energy-related equipment, iron, steel, other metals, chemicals, rubber, tyres, vehicles, aircraft and motors of all types, unless such transshipment was specifically authorized on a case-by-case basis by the committee established on 15 December 1991, pursuant to resolution 724 (1991), to monitor the arms embargo. States were also asked to ensure that none of their exports were diverted in violation of those sanctions.

The Council condemned the refusal of all parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in particular the Bosnian Serb paramilitary forces. to comply with its previous resolutions and demanded that all concerned parties immediately fulfil those obligations.

All forms of interference from outside Bosnia and Herzegovina, including infiltration of irregular units and personnel, should cease immediately Observers should be deployed on the borders to ensure implementation of Council resolutions.

Constitutional arrangements sought

The parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina were called on to continue negotiations for constitutional arrangements based on the draft outline constitution as a basis for negotiating a political settlement of the conflict in that country, under the auspices of the Co-Chairmen of the Steering Committee of the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia held in London on 26 and 27 August.

The Council also asked for an immediate cessation of hostilities, an end to the blockades of Sarajevo and other towns, and the launching of a demilitarization process, with heavy weapons under international supervision.

The Council condemned all violations of international humanitarian law, including in particular the practice of ethnic cleansing"--elimination by the ethnic group controlling a given territory of members of other ethnic groups--and the deliberate impeding of the delivery of food and medical supplies to the civilian population of Bosnia and Herzegovina. it reaffirmed that those who committed or ordered the commission of such acts would be held individually responsible in respect of such acts.

The Commission of Experts--a war crimes investigative body established under Council resolution 780 (1992)--was asked to pursue actively its investigations into grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions and other violations of international humanitarian law in the former Yugoslavia.

Study on |safe areas' asked

Efforts by riparian States acting to ensure compliance with sanctions regarding shipments on the River Danube were commended. Further contributions to humanitarian relief efforts were sought, including support for the UN Consolidated inter-agency Programme of Action and Appeal for the former Yugoslavia. Cooperation to ensure speedy and safe delivery of aid was asked. A UN study of the requirements for the promotion of safe areas for humanitarian purposes was invited.

The Security Council's Committee monitoring sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) reported (S/25027) on 30 December its disappointment at the lack of information on sanctions violations, noting that the international press had been "replete with reports" of "biatant" breaches of sanctions, including the arms embargo.

On 31 December, Committee Chairman Jose Ayala Lasso of Ecuador charged that UN "documentary communications" were being falsified to facilitate the illicit import into the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia of banned goods, including large quantities of oil and petroleum products. The Committee wanted immediate action to identify the perpetrators and the extent of the reported fraud, which included using UN letterhead stationery and reusing documents originally signed by authorized UN officials for a legitimate purpose, with the intent of deceiving customs officials.

Resolution 47/121: Exemption asked

On 18 December, the Assembly, calling for an exemption for Bosnia and Herzegovina from the Council arms embargo and for consideration to use "all necessary means" to restore Bosnia and Herzegovina's sovereignty, political independence, territorial integrity and unity, urged the Council to consider those measures no later than 15 January 1993.

The Assembly acted by adopting resolution 47/121 by a vote of 102 to none, with 57 abstentions. It strongly condemned Serbia, Montenegro, and Serbian forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina for violating the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina and for non-compliance with existing Council resolutions. It also demanded that they immediately cease their "aggressive acts and hostility", and comply fully and unconditionally with relevant resolutions.

The Assembly further demanded the immediate withdrawal from Bosnia and Herzegovina of all elements of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) and of the Croatian Army "not operating in accord with the authority" of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Government. Otherwise, they would be subject to the authority of that Government or be disbanded and disarmed with their weapons placed under effective UN control. The Assembly also supported consideration of immediate enforcement of the Council ban on all military flights over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Council was urged to open more airports for international humanitarian relief flights, pursue emergency air drops and study the possibility of promoting safe areas for humanitarian purposes.

Resolution 781: Flights banned

The Council on 9 October, in adopting resolution 781 (1992) by a vote of 14 to none, with 1 abstention (China), banned all military flights in the airspace of Bosnia and Herzegovina, except for flights of and other flights in support of UN operations, including humanitarian assistance.

UNPROFOR was asked to monitor compliance with the ban and to place observers, where necessary, at airfields in the former Yugoslavia. It was also asked to employ "an appropriate mechanism for approval and inspection" to ensure that flights exempted from the ban were legitimate. States were asked to provide technical monitoring assistance to UNPROFOR.

Resolution 786: More military observers

On 10 November, the Council approved an additional 75 military observers to enable UNPROFOR to implement the ban on military flights. Unanimously adopting resolution 786 (1992), it also called on all parties, including all Governments operating aircraft in the area, to cooperate fully with UNPROFOR in its implementation.

The Council also welcomed the advance deployment of military observers of UNPROFOR and the European Community Monitoring Mission (ECMM) at airfields in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

The Secretary-General on 5 November reported (S/24767) that the ban was being implemented to a limited extent as of 31 October 1992. There were some apparent violations of the ban. UNPROFOR was deploying military observers at 13 airfields in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. All flights were to obtain approval before taking off and those headed to Bosnia and Herzegovina must leave from Belgrade, Zagreb or Split, where they would be inspected.

Resolution 780: investigate war crimes

Alarmed by reports of mass killings and "ethnic cleansing" in the former Yugoslavia, the Council on 6 October asked the Secretary-General to establish an impartial Commission of Experts to examine information and reports of what many described as "war crimes". Unanimously adopting resolution 780 (1992), the Council also asked States, relevant UN bodies and other organizations to provide within 30 days any substantiated information concerning violations of humanitarian law.

Two months before, on 13 August, in resolution 771 (1992), the Council had asked States and international humanitarian organizations for such information on the former Yugoslavia.

Prof. Frits Kalshoven of the Netherlands was named Chairman of the five-member Commission on 26 October. Other members are Prof. Cherif Bassiouni of Egypt, William J. Fenrick of Canada, Judge Keba Mbaye of Senegal and Prof. Torkel Opsahl of Norway.

The Commission was to work closely with Tadeusz Mazowiecki, the Commission on Human Rights Special Rapporteur, appointed on 14 August to investigate the situation in the former Yugoslavia.

The Commission of Experts met in Geneva from 14 16 December. It reported that it had asked the Physicians for Human Rights to investigate a mass grave near Vukovar. It had begun to review reports from Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other sources and would submit an interim report by the end of january 1993.

On 30 October, the Council, "appalled" by reports that the Serb militia in Bosnia and Herzegovina was attacking civilians fleeing from the city of Jajce, strongly condemned such attacks as grave violations of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions, and demanded that those attacks cease immediately. In a statement by Council President Jean-Bernard Merimee of France, it reaffirmed that persons who commit or order the commission of grave breaches of those Conventions were individually responsible.

The Council said it remained concerned by the continuing conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina "with its resultant loss of life and material damage, which threaten international peace and security, and by reports of egregious violations of international humanitarian law by whomsoever committed".

Resolution 798: Unspeakable acts'

The Council, "appalled by reports of the massive, organized and systematic detention and rape of women, in particular Muslim women, in Bosnia and Herzegovina", on 18 December condemned those "acts of unspeakable brutality". In unanimously adopting resolution 798 (1992), it demanded that all detention camps, particularly for women, be closed immediately.

Support for a European Community delegation to investigate the alleged acts was expressed and the Secretary-General was asked to help the mission gain free and secure access to places of detention.

Paul Noterdaeme of Belgium, speaking on behalf of the European Community, told the Council: "We thought we had reached the limits of excess in this horrible civil war; but we were wrong. On top of the barbaric acts that inevitably go with any civil war, there are massive numbers of organized, systematic rapes of women, particularly Muslim women, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We find that words could not express our indignation." The European Community would strive to "bring a definitive end to the monstrous conduct of the self-proclaimed Serb warriors".

Human Rights Commission: Extraordinary session

The UN Commission on Human Rights on 1 December condemned in the strongest terms all human rights violations in the former Yugoslavia at a two-day extraordinary session--its second in 1992 to consider the situation in the former Yugoslav territory--called at the request of Turkey and the United States.

The Commission categorically condemned the ethnic cleansing being carried out, particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, recognizing that the "Serbian leadership in territories under their control in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Yugoslav army and the political leadership of the Republic of Serbia bear primary responsibility for this reprehensible practice"

The Commission demanded an immediate end to ethnic cleansing and in particular demanded that "the Republic of Serbia" use its influence with "the self-proclaimed Serbian authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia" to bring that practice to an immediate end and reverse its effects.

The Commission affirmed that States were to be held accountable for human rights violations, which their agents committed upon the territory of another State. it condemned in particular violations in connection with detention, torture and rape, and called upon all parties in the former Yugoslavia to close immediately all detention centres not authorized by, and in compliance with, the 1949 Geneva Conventions and to release immediately in conditions of safety all persons arbitrarily or illegally detained.

Systematic terrorization'

The Commission also condemned the "indiscriminate shelling of cities and civilian areas, the systematic terrorization and murder of non-combatants, the destruction of vital services, the besieging of cities, and the use of military force against civilian populations and relief operations by all sides, recognizing that the main responsibility lies with Serbian forces".

It called upon all parties in the former Yugoslavia, "especially those most responsible", to cease violations of human rights and international humanitarian law immediately and take steps to apprehend and punish those guilty of perpetrating or authorizing them.

The Commission, concerned at the number of disappearances and missing persons in the former Yugoslavia, called for all parties' efforts to account for those missing.

Grave concern was expressed at the dangerous situation in Kosovo, Sandzak and Vojvodina. All parties in those areas were urged to engage in a meaningful dialogue under the auspices of the international Conference on the Former Yugoslavia, to act with utmost restraint and to settle disputes in full compliance with human rights and freedoms.

Serbian authorities were called on to refrain from the use of force, immediately stop the practice of ethnic cleansing and respect fully the rights of persons belonging to ethnic communities or minorities, in order to prevent the extension of conflict to other parts of the former Yugoslavia.

The Commission asserted that the international community must not acquiesce in demographic changes caused by ethnic cleansing.

The Commission also affirmed that all parties in the former Yugoslavia shared the responsibility for finding peaceful solutions through negotiations and welcomed acceptance by the Bosnia and Herzegovina Government of constitutional proposals of the Co-Chairmen of the Conference's Steering Committee as a basis for negotiations.

Find safe havens 

On 6 November, Commission Special Rapporteur Mazowiecki reported (A/47/635-S/24766) that the situation in the former Yugoslavia required emergency action by the international community. Safe havens abroad must be found for those whose lives were in acute danger. The argument that providing refuge for such people was to conform to the policy of ethnic cleansing could not override the imperative of saving their lives. Thus far, European countries had agreed to provide refuge to only a small percentage of those whose lives were at stake.

Pursue security zones

He also stressed that a large number of displaced persons would not have to seek refuge abroad if guarantees existed for personal security and access to food and medical care. In that context, the concept of security zones within the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina should be actively pursued. Opening humanitarian relief corridors to all besieged areas should be given priority attention.

In a 17 November report (A/47/666-S/24809), the Special Rapporteur said ethnic cleansing was the direct cause of the vast majority of human rights violations which had occurred in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The methods used to accomplish that end included, among other things, forced relocation of populations, summary executions and the commission of atrocities, such as torture, rape and mutilation of corpses, all calculated to instil terror. The greater prevalence of ethnic cleansing in Serbian-occupied territories was "undoubtedly related to the political objectives" pursued by Serbian nationalists.

Resolution 779: Withdrawal plan

On 6 October, the Council authorized UNPROFOR to assume responsibility for monitoring the complete withdrawal of JNA from Croatia, demilitarization of the Prevlaka peninsula and removal of heavy weapons from neighbouring areas of Croatia and Montenegro. Unanimously adopting resolution 779 (1992), the Council approved the withdrawal plan as outlined in the Secretary-General's 28 September report (S/24600).

In a joint declaration signed in Geneva on 30 September, President Franjo Tudiman of Croatia and President Dobrica Cosic of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia had fixed 20 October as the date for JNA's withdrawal from the Previaka peninsula, a significant step towards improving security in the regions of Dubrovnik and Kotor Bay. They also agreed to establish a joint committee to help normalize relations between the two States.

The Secretary-General on 21 October informed (S/24710) the Council that JNA had withdrawn from Croatia, with the last units leaving Prevlaka on 20 October. UN military observers, in cooperation with the ECCM, were patrolling the area. A crucial element in the UN peace-keeping plan had been fulfilled, he said.

In resolution 779, the Council also endorsed the principles agreed to by the two Presidents that all statements or commitments made under duress, particularly those relating to land and property, were wholly null and void and that all displaced persons had the right to return in peace to their former homes. The voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons was a central element in the UN plan in Croatia, the Secretary-General had stated, but had been hindered by the deteriorating security situation and the creation of paramilitary forces in the UN Protected Areas (UNPAs).

The Council also expressed strong support for the efforts of the Co-Chairmen of the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia to ensure the restoration of power and water supplies before the coming winter.

The Secretary-General said that so far it had not been possible for LINPROFOR in Croatia to achieve the plan's goals for the three UNPAs or to restore a degree of normality and inter-ethnic tolerance there before the winter set in.

The "sad fact", he stated, was that the parties, and especially the Serb militia forces, known as "Knin authorities" (of the so-called Republic of Serbia Krajina), had, not given the UN Force the full and sustained cooperation necessary for it to carry out its various mandates. The Knin forces totalled 16,000 armed men, variously designated as "special police" or "border police". According to the UNPROFOR Commander, their almost total ignorance of police work showed that, in reality, they were Serbian paramilitary forces.

Facing the dilemma

In a 24 November report (S/24848) on progress made by UNPROFOR in general, the Secretary-General stated that, unless a way was found to obtain the cooperation of the Knin authorities in Croatia, the UNPROFOR operation in that country would confront the Council with the same dilemma as had other UN operations, which had been met with non-cooperation by the parties.

The situation in the four UNPAs and in the so-called "pink zones" had not improved since September, even though UN peace-keepers had succeeded in controlling the level of hostilities in those areas. In such situations, the Council had to make the difficult choice between withdrawing the operation, thus facing a resumption of fighting, or keeping it in place in the knowledge that it might involve the Council in a "large and expensive commitment for an indefinite period of time".

The root cause of UNPROFOR's inability to make further progress in Croatia, the Secretary-General said, was the refusal of the Knin authorities to accept the demilitarization of the UNPAs and the return of refugees and displaced persons. They had "exploited the presence of UNPROFOR and the resulting cessation of hostilities to assert their pretensions to sovereignty and statehood", instead of cooperating with UNPROFOR to create conditions for negotiations of their legitimate concerns. The situation with regard to Bosnia and Herzegovina was "also disquieting", but UNPROFOR's mandate in that country was "more practicable than in Croatia".

In a 2 December statement by Council President Chinmaya R. Gharekhan of India following consultations, Council members expressed their outrage and condemned the increasing attacks against UN personnel serving in various peace-keeping operations. UNPROFOR had already suffered over 300 casualties, 20 of them fatal.

In a statement on 15 October by Council President Merimee, members expressed grave concern over the continued hostile actions against UNPROFOR personnel.

On 9 December, the Council expressed alarm at reports that the Serb militia in Bosnia and Herzegovina had renewed its offensive in that country, in particular against Sarajevo.

In a statement by Council President Gharekhan following a meeting. the Council warned that actions aimed at impeding the distribution of humanitarian assistance and at forcing Sarajevo inhabitants to leave the city, including the possibility of ethnic cleansing, would have grave consequences for the overall situation in that country. It condemned the attacks as violations of relevant resolutions and of commitments regarding cessation of hostilities, ban on military flights, safety of humanitarian assistance to the civilian population and restoration of power and water supplies.

If such attacks continued, the Council would consider, at the earliest, further measures against those who committed or supported them, to ensure the security of UNPROFOR and of international relief workers, UNPROFOR's ability to fulfil its mandate and compliance with relevant Council resolutions.

Bosnia and Herzegovina on 7 December asked (S/24916) for an emergency Council meeting, stating there had been a "dramatic increase in aggression against Sarajevo and Bihac and cities in central Bosnia", including intensified shelling and closing of the airport.

Resolution 795: Macedonia operation

On 11 December, the Council authorized the immediate establishment of an UNPROFOR presence in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to monitor its borders with Albania and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and report any developments in the border areas, which could undermine confidence and stability in Macedonia and threaten its territory.

Acting on the Secretary-General's recommendations contained in his 9 December report (S/24923), the Council expanded UNPROFOR by an infantry battalionan estimated 700 persons--along with 35 UN military observers who would operate under a "Macedonia Command", with headquarters in Skopie, the capital of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. It also authorized the deployment of 26 civilian police to monitor the Macedonian border police.

Unanimously adopting resolution 795 (1992), the Council urged UNPROFOR's presence in Macedonia to coordinate closely with the mission of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), which was also in the area.

An UNPROFOR exploratory mission visited Macedonia from 28 November to 3 December. It was reported that the authorities of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia were concerned that, if fighting spilled into the province of Kosovo where conflict was possible between ethnic Albanians and Serbian authorities, it could also affect Macedonia.

The Council, in a 25 November letter (S/24852) to the Secretary-General, agreed to the dispatch of a group of military, police and civilian personnel.

Ministers meet

A ministerial-level meeting of the Steering Committee of the international Conference on the Former Yugoslavia was held in Geneva on 16 December. On 24 December, the Secretary-General reported (S/25015) that there had been an "in-depth discussion" of the situation in the former Yugoslavia, particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina. "The current situation demands statesmanship of the highest order", Mr. Boutros-Ghali told the Committee. "Understandable emotion must be balanced by a sober appreciation of risks and benefits." He favoured "continuous negotiations in good faith".

Martti Ahtisaari, Chairman of the Working Group on Bosnia and Herzegovina, reported on discussions regarding a new institutional structure for Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly on constitutional principles and delimitation of provincial boundaries.

Emergency airlift resumed

The emergency airlift to provide humanitarian assistance to Saravejo and other cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina through Sarajevo airport, suspended in the first week of September, was resumed on 10 October. It was again suspended on 21 October due to increased fighting and was resumed the next day.

High Commissioner for Refugees Ogata on 20 October said that in the winter of 1992-1993, some 1.6 million people in Bosnia and Herzegovina would need 9,226 metric tons of emergency supplies each week. Transportation of relief supplies by road had come to a virtual halt due to fighting and attacks on aid convoys. She expressed anger and frustration over "the deliberate shelling and harassment" of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) trucks.

In an effort to build up relief supplies in Sarajevo, UNHCR stepped up land and air deliveries to the city in the week beginning 26 October. UNHCR's mandate in the former Yugoslavia included not only the supply of food, but also protection of those people who wanted to stay.

The World Food Programme announced in Rome on 5 November that it would supply 201,000 metric tons of emergency food aid to feed more than 3 million people in the former Yugoslavia-2,405,000 refugees or internally displaced persons and 650,000 war-affected people. The cost of the operation, which had begun on 1 November and would last until 31 March 1993, would be $145 million.

International Committee of the Red Cross President Cornelio Somaruga said the creation of large protection zones, secured by the international community, would greatly improve the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Pointing out that "release without refuge was a cruel half-measure", UNHCR on 26 October appealed to the international community to open its doors to the thousands of detainees awaiting evacuation from camps in the former Yugoslavia.

In a letter to Governments, Deputy High Commissioner Douglas Stafford noted that temporary safe haven must be found in third countries for the ex-prisoners, many of whom had been subjected to horrendous abuses and torture. Croatia, already burdened with a huge refugee population, had agreed to provide temporary transit facilities for the ex-detainees on condition that they eventually be moved on to third countries. Montenegro had also taken in some of the ex-detainees.

Ongoing talks

On 26 and 27 December, Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali met in Geneva with the International Conference Co-Chairmen, Mr. Cyrus Vance and Lord Owen, as well as with the Presidents of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A UN official said on 29 December that the on-going talks aimed at finding a negotiated political solution for all of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The free movement of citizens from besieged towns and cities and of humanitarian aid was also under discussion. A framework for a settlement had been established by Mr. Vance and Lord Owen.

The Secretary-General told the press in Geneva on 30 December that his contacts with the three leaders from the former Yugoslavia had been quite constructive, in spite of different points of view. His discussions with Mr. Vance and Lord Owen had been very positive. "They believe that we have a chance of finding a solution to the problem", the Secretary-General stated. They had a map "which will be the expression of the constitutional compromise in Bosnia, and we must do our best to maintain this new momentum which has been created in favour of a peaceful solution".

Mr. Vance and Lord Owen had told the press in Geneva on 23 October that the international community would not tolerate the taking of territory by force, nor acquiesce in ethnic cleansing. Responding to reports that Bosnia and Herzegovina had in fact been carved up by Serbian and Croatian forces, they said the status quo on the ground was not acceptable and that international recognition and the lifting of sanctions would not take place until a political solution had been found.

Spain and the United States were added to the list of Member States contributing military personnel to UNPROFOR which included: Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Ghana, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Luxembourg, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Ukraine and Venezuela.