Peacemaking efforts 'must continue' despite persistent problems.

To evaluate UN activities in that regard, a "comprehensive approach" was needed, Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali told the press at Headquarter's on 25 May. "Bosnia is only one of the elements. You also have Krajina, between Croatia and Serbia; you have Macedonia; you have the problem of Kosovo. You have a group of problems. You have the problems of the embargo, and the problem of 2 million refugees and displaced persons."

This complex fabric of problems also included those surrounding safe areas and the humanitarian assistance, "which we are still able to provide in different cities" in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Secretary-General said.

"So if you take all of these problems, we have been successful in certain elements of the solution, and we have not been successful in certain other elements", he stated.

But setbacks, he said, "were not a reason not to continue". Although a final settlement would take time, "we must continue in spite of all the difficulties, in spite of all the criticisms. We have no choice but to continue on the diplomatic level to provide a framework for negotiation, to continue the negotiations until we find a solution" "He stressed: "I believe that we will be able to find a solution."

The international community had never focused more attention and energy on the Yugoslav crisis than now, and that concerted effort had produced substantial gains, the Secretary-General stated on 26 April. "Sarajevo, the worldwide symbol of this conflict, is peaceful. Central Bosnia, where much of the fiercest fighting of the past year has been waged, is calm. All the elements of a peace agreement are on the table, waiting to be assembled according to a formula agreeable to all", he said. The situation in the former Yugoslavia remained under constant review by the Security Council. During April, May and June, the Council met, either formally or in consultations, on nine occasions, adopting two resolutions--on strengthening the UN Protection Force (UNPROFOR) and on attacks against Gorazde. It also issued six formal statements.

Cease-fire violated

A one-month cease-fire agreement between the Bosnian Government and the Bosnian Serbs--negotiated on 8 June in Geneva by Yasushi Akashi, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Yugoslavia and Chief of UNPROFOR--was broken over the 18-19 June weekend.

In meeting top officials of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on 29 June in Brussels, Mr. Akashi discussed efforts to regain a cease-fire. Although offensive military incidents had increased, there were "no large-scale offensives underway from either party", and active fighting continued "only in some local areas", he said.

On 30 June, the parties to the Bosnian conflict were called upon by the Security Council to "stop all offensive military operations and other provocative actions, as well as all cease-fire violations and ethnic cleansing", and cooperate with the Special Representative and UNPROFOR.

In a statement by Council President Salim Bin Mohammed Al-Khussaiby of Oman, the parties were also called upon to resume negotiations on a "comprehensive cessation of hostilities for the entire territory of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a view to reaching agreement before the expiration of the 8 June Agreement on 10 July 1994, while continuing negotiations to achieve a just and comprehensive peace agreement".

In expressing grave concern over the parties' failure to comply with the Agreement, the Council deplored all attacks on UN personnel and called on those responsible to "ensure that such attacks do not take place".

On 1 June, the Council had "strongly encouraged" the parties to "negotiate in good faith, so that a cessation of hostilities can be agreed to as quickly as possible".

In a 4 May statement by Council President Ibrahim A. Gambari of Nigeria, it warned the parties of the "serious...