Peacewatch.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

The President of the Security Council, James Cunningham of the United States, on 2 May said members hoped that the perpetrators of the murder a week earlier of six relief workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo would be caught and brought to justice. The workers from the International Committee of the Red Cross were killed on 26 April while on their way to deliver medicines to a health centre in the northeast of the country.

"This is a subject of great interest to the Council and it has obvious connections to what we are trying to achieve in the Congo", Ambassador Cunningham said. "We'll keep this on our agenda and, as I told the Secretariat and the Council members, it's something that we should not forget. We should try to follow this up and see that some measure of justice is done." Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the tragic incident "underscores the dangers facing relief organizations, whose operating principles of humanity, neutrality and impartiality are once again being so wilfully flouted".

Ethiopia and Eritrea

The establishment of the Temporary Security Zone on 18 April marked the formal separation of the forces of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Its creation allows the restoration of Eritrean civilian administration and preparations for the return of approximately 300,000 internally displaced persons to the Zone within the next six to eight weeks. The United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) had made clear to Eritrean authorities that a precipitous return could put returnees in a dire humanitarian situation. With the Mission's deployment nearly complete, the strength of its military component stood at 4,360 personnel, including 218 military observers.

Abkhazia

The continued lack of progress on key issues concerning a comprehensive settlement of the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia, was unacceptable, the Security Council said on 24 April. In a statement read by Council President Sir Jeremy Greenstock of the United Kingdom, it underlined the importance of early negotiations on the core political questions relating to the conflict. The Secretary-General's Special Representative was also asked to submit a paper containing proposals on the distribution of constitutional competences between Tbilisi and Sukhumi as a starting point for negotiations, and the parties were called upon to accept the paper and work towards a mutually acceptable settlement.

UN Interim Force in Lebanon

Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 2 May submitted recommendations to the Security Council for reconfig uring the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), in light of prevailing conditions and to allow for greater mobility. He noted that UNIFIL had essentially completed two main tasks: confirming Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon, and assisting the Lebanese authorities, to the extent possible, in returning to the areas vacated by Israel.

Pending a comprehensive peace, UNIFIL will concentrate on maintaining the ceasefire along the line of withdrawal, known as the Blue Line, including through close contact with the parties, aimed at correcting violations and preventing any escalation. In view of the conditions in the region, Mr. Annan recommended that the Force function with a combination of armed infantry and unarmed observers. According to the report, UNIFIL would, after a gradual reduction, eventually comprise 2,000 all ranks. The demining unit would be maintained "since mines will remain a serious hazard for the Force for the time being". As of 3 March, it comprised over 5,700 troops.

East Timor

Civil disturbances in East Timor, the forthcoming elections and the resignation of Xanana Gusmao as President of the National Council dominated the discussions in the Security Council on 5 April as members heard a briefing by a top United Nations peacekeeping official. Describing East Timor's internal security situation as the territory prepares for independence, Assistant Secretary-General Hedi Annabi called attention to the recent disruption of a rally held by the Popular Council for the Defence of the Democratic Republic of East Timor, as well as a riot in Baucau District that led to the burning of some 40 houses.

Regarding security on the border with West Timor, smuggling was continuing; an incident on 3 April had resulted in the shooting death of a young woman, and a clash on 5 April had brought Fijian UN peacekeepers under fire. There has been an increase in the number of East Timorese returning home from West Timor, with more than 180,000 refugees having already returned and an estimated 100,000 still in West Timor. Those remaining reportedly continued to face intimidation.

Approving a one-year extension of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) through 3l January 2002, the Council requested the head of UNTAET to continue delegating responsibilities within the East Timor Transitional Administration until authority is fully transferred to the Government of an independent State of East Timor.

The 31 January resolution also called upon international financial institutions, UN funds and programmes, and bilateral donors that have committed resources to East Timor to fulfil their pledges and accelerate disbursements, particularly in areas relevant to peace-building and development assistance. In terms of security, the Council said UNTAET was to respond "robustly" to militia threats in East Timor, consistent with Council resolutions, and stressed the need for a comprehensive solution to the problem caused by militia activity in West Timor refugee camps.

The Council also emphasized the need for measures to address shortcomings in the administration of justice in East Timor, particularly to prosecute those responsible for serious crimes committed in the aftermath of the territory's vote for independence in 1999.

Kosovo

Following a meeting attended by Yugoslav Prime Minister Zoran Zizic, the Security Council on 6 March welcomed the "continued improvement of relations" between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the international security force (KFOR).

In a statement to the press by its President, Volodymyr Yu. Yel'chenko of Ukraine, the Council reiterated its condemnation of violent actions by ethnic Albanian extremist groups in southern Serbia and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for dialogue, fully respecting the territorial integrity of Yugoslavia. Commending the "continued restraint" shown by the Yugoslav authorities, it welcomed the plan presented by Yugoslavia, aimed at achieving a political solution through dialogue and confidence-building measures. The Council also welcomed the efforts by UNMIK to develop a legal institutional framework for the provisional self-governing institutions of Kosovo.

On 13 March, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), addressing the environmental impact of depleted uranium [DU] ammunition used in Kosovo in 1999, said the risks associated with the substance were "no cause for alarm", but recommended precautionary measures to guarantee that the areas affected remain risk-free. "These scientific findings should alleviate any immediate anxiety that people living or working in Kosovo may have been experiencing", said UNEP Executive Director Klaus Toepfer. In the final report on the impact of DU in Kosovo, UNEP describes situations where risks could be significant and notes that there were also scientific uncertainties relating to the longer-term behaviour of the substance in the environment. One area of concern has been the effect of DU on water supplies.

RELATED ARTICLE: Fact Sheet: Current Operations as of 1 March 2001

UNTSO

Since June 1948

United Nations Truce Supervision Organization 

Strength: military 142; international civilian 100; local civilian 114

Fatalities: 38

Appropriation for year 2001: $22.8 million

UNMOGIP 

Since January 1949

United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan

Strength: military 46; international civilian 27; local civilian 44

Fatalities: 9

Appropriation for year 2001: $7.3 million

UNFICYP 

Since March 1964

United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus 

Strength: military 1,222; civilian police 35; international civilian 40; local civilian 143

Fatalities: 170

Appropriation 07/00-06/01: $43.4 million (gross) UN assessment, $23.1 million; voluntary contributions by Cyprus, $13.8 million and Greece, $6.5 million

UNDOF

Since June 1974

United Nations Disengagement Observer Force

Strength: military 1,035; international civilian 34; local civilian 89

Fatalities: 40

Appropriation 07/00-06/01: $37.0 million (gross)

UNIFIL

Since March 1978

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon

Strength: military 5,716; international civilian 135; local civilian 349

Fatalities: 240

Revised budget recommendation for the period 07/00 to 06/01: $207.0 million (gross)

UNIKOM 

Since April 1991

United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission 

Strength: military 1,096; international civilian 53; local civilian 152

Fatalities: 13

Appropriation 07/00-06/01: $52.7 million (gross) $33.5 million paid by Kuwait

MINURSO 

Since April 1991

United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara 

Strength: military 229; civilian police 37; international civilian 242; local civilian 115

Fatalities: 10

Appropriation 07/00-06/01: $49.3 million (gross)

UNOMIG 

Since August 1993

United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia 

Strength: military 104; international civilian 84 local civilian 154

Fatalities: 3

Appropriation 07/00-06/01: $30.0 million (gross)

UNMIBH 

Since December 1995

United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina 

Strength: civilian police 1,820; military 5; international civilian 319; local civilian 1,427

Fatalities: 8

Appropriation 07/00-06/01: $158.7 million (gross) Budget figures include UNMIBH, UNMOP, and United Nations liaison offices at Belgrade and Zagreb

UNMOP

Since January 1996

United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka 

Strength: military 27; international civilian 3 local civilian 6

Appropriation included in UNMIBH

UNMIK

Since June 1999

United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo 

Strength: civilian police 4,364; military 38; international civilian 1,452; local civilian 2,996

Fatalities: 13

Appropriation 07/00-06/01: $450.0 million (gross)

UNAMSIL 

Since October 1999

United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone 

Strength: military 9,555; civilian police 33; international civilian 242; local civilian 298

Fatalities: 25

Revised budget recommendation for the period 07/00 to 06/01: $589.7 million (gross)

UNTAET

Since October 1999

United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor

Strength: military 8,067; civilian police 1,532; international civilian 925; local civilian 1,493

Fatalities: 15

Appropriation 07/00-06/01: $563.0 million (gross)

MONUC

Since December 1999

United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Authorized strength: military 5,537

Strength on 28 February 2001: military 231 international civilian 190; local civilian 143

Commitment authority 07/00-06/01: $141.3 million (gross) Budget for expanded mission in preparation

UNMEE

Since July 2000

United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea

Authorized strength: military 4,200

Revised budget recommendation for the period 07/00 to 06/01: $180.0 million (gross)

Strength on 28 February 2001: military 3,571; international civilian 202; local civilian 64

Source: United Nations Department of Public Information, Peace and Security Section, in consultation with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Peacekeeping Financing Division, Office of Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts.

Lennart Bage of Sweden on 1 April took up his duties as President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). In addition to 25 years' experience in development cooperation, Mr. Bage has for the past 10 years been actively engaged with the Fund, focusing on policy development and resource mobilization.

Milosevic Indictment

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has called for the immediate transfer of Slobodan Milosevic to the Court's facilities at The Hague. The indictment charges Mr. Milosevic and four others with crimes against humanity and violations of laws or customs of war.