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...