Former Yugoslavia: 'many positive developments.' (includes related article on education on human rights)

The peace process in Bosnia and Herzegovina is in a stage of consolidation in which the assistance of the international community for the tasks of economic reconstruction is vital. We observe with satisfaction the renewed commitment by the international community to contribute substantially to that goal by providing the necessary human and financial resources. At the same time, however, we recognize that these efforts could be in vain if the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina do not respond appropriately by fulfilling their obligations under the Peace Agreement and adopting the measures needed for serious economic reform.

- Ambassador Rendon Barnica of Honduras, speaking in the Security Council on 12 December 1996

One year after the signature of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (the Peace Agreement), "many positive developments" had occurred, but much remained to be done, Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali reported (S/1996/1017) on 9 December.

The massive presence of the Implementation Force (IFOR), led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), had ended the fighting, armies had been disengaged, and "not a single casualty resulting from direct military action" had been recorded, he stated. The 14 September 1996 elections, with 2.4 million people casting their votes, had been certified by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the joint institutions foreseen in the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina had "begun to be set up", the Secretary-General said.

However, Bosnia and Herzegovina was "still very far from the unified society in which all peoples would enjoy the widespread freedoms envisaged in the Peace Agreement", he observed. The parties had "failed to implement in good faith those aspects of the Peace Agreement which would bind together the communities in the country", Mr. Boutros-Ghali stressed. Freedom of movement and the return of refugees and displaced persons to their homes of origin were far from being secured, harassment of minorities persisted, and nationalist leaders of the Republika Srpska, as well as some Bosnian Croat leaders, had "continued to advocate the complete separation of their territories" from Bosnia, he added.

"Unless these nationalist aspirations are abandoned soon, the prospect of restoring a united Bosnia and Herzegovina, for which the international community has made such an enormous effort, will fade", the Secretary-General warned.

Multinational Stabilization Force

On 12 December, the Security Council authorized Member States, acting through or in cooperation with NATO, to establish for 18 months a multinational Stabilization Force (SFOR) to succeed IFOR in Bosnia under unified command and control.

As it unanimously adopted resolution 1088 (1996), the Council also extended the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH), which included the United Nations civilian police task force - known as IPTF - until 21 December 1997.

Determining that the situation in the region "continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security", the Council authorized the Member States concerned with SFOR's establishment to effect the implementation of, and to ensure compliance with, Annex 1-A of the Bosnian Peace Agreement, which spells out the military aspects of the peace settlement. The Council also stressed that the parties should continue to be held responsible for compliance with the Annex, and be subject to enforcement by SFOR to ensure implementation, as well as the protection of SFOR.

The Member States involved were also authorized to take "all necessary measures, at the request of SFOR, either in defence of SFOR or to assist the force in carrying out its mission"; and to ensure compliance with the rules and procedures established by SFOR "governing command and control of airspace over Bosnia and Herzegovina with respect to all...