Secretary-General recommends establishment of UN Advance Mission in Cambodia (UNAMIC).

• Position: Javier Perez de Cuellar

Negotiations on the draft Agreement had reached an advanced stage. The draft Agreement was reported in a 26 November 1990 communique of the five permanent members of the Security Council--China, France, USSR, United Kingdom, United States--and the two Co-Chairmen of the Paris Conference on Cambodia (PCC). The text was communicated to the Secretary-General by the Co-Chairmen on 8 January 1991.

The agreed draft text included an agreement with annexes dealing with: a proposed mandate for an UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC); withdrawal, cease-fire, and related measures; elections; repatriation of refugees and displaced persons; and principles for a new constitution, an agreement on international guarantees, and a declaration on the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Cambodia.

The Secretary-General also reported that encouraging progress had been made in negotiations on a comprehensive political settlement to "the long and cruel conflict in Cambodia".

To maintain momentum

UNAMIC's deployment, he said, would help maintain the momentum and reduce the risk of the process being disturbed by "untoward developments" in Cambodia. It would also demonstrate the UN's determination to "help the Cambodian parties and people resolve their differences in a peaceful and democratic manner".

The Secretary-General stated at consultations in New York on 20 and 21 September with the PCC Co-Chairmen and the Council's permanent members that an advance mission could be envisaged as the first stage of the good offices mechanism foreseen in the draft Agreements.

UNAMIC would consist of civilian liaison staff, military liaison officers, a military mine-awareness unit and the necessary support personnel. Member States would provide the military personnel.

The Mission, Mr. Perez de Cuellar said, under the command of the UN, would be led in the field by a civilian Chief Liaison Officer, appointed by the Secretary-General, who would exercise authority over all UNAMIC elements.

The military elements would be commanded by a Senior Military Liaison Officer, designated by the Secretary-General with Council consent. The Senior Military Liaison Officer would report to the Secretary-General through the Chief Liaison Officer.

The Mission's mandate would extend from the signing of the Comprehensive Political Settlement Agreements until the establishment of UNTAC by the Security Council and the adoption of its budget by the General Assembly.

Then, UNAMIC would be absorbed into UNTAC and its good offices functions would be expanded by UNTAC during the first phase of the cease-fire.

The Chief Liaison Officer, assisted by the civilian staff, would also be responsible for liaison with the Supreme National Council (SNC) of Cambodia on preparations for UNTAC Deployment and on other matters related to the UN role in implementing the Agreement.

The SNC is described in the draft Agreements as the "unique legitimate body and source of authority"...