United Nations Security Council Resolution 1222 – Croatia
Resolution 1222 (1999)
The Security Council,
Recalling all its earlier relevant resolutions, in particular itsresolutions 779 (1992) of 6 October 1992, 981 (1995) of 31 March 1995,1147 (1998) of 13 January 1998, and 1183 (1998) of 15 July 1998,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 6 January 1999(S/1999/16) on the United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP),
Recalling also the letters of the Prime Minister of the Federal Republic ofYugoslavia of 24 December 1998 (S/1998/1225) and of the Permanent Representativeof Croatia of 7 January 1999 (S/1999/19), concerning the disputed issue ofPrevlaka,
Reaffirming once again its commitment to the independence, sovereignty andterritorial integrity of the Republic of Croatia within its internationallyrecognized borders,
Noting once again the Joint Declaration signed at Geneva on30 September 1992 by the Presidents of the Republic of Croatia and the FederalRepublic of Yugoslavia, in particular Articles 1 and 3, the latter reaffirmingtheir agreement concerning the demilitarization of the Prevlaka peninsula,
Noting with concern, however, that long-standing violations of thedemilitarization regime by both parties continue, including the standingpresence of Yugoslav military personnel and the occasional presence of Croatianmilitary elements in the demilitarized zone, and limitations placed on the freemovement of United Nations military observers by both parties,
Welcoming in this regard the recent lifting of certain restrictions onaccess for UNMOP by Croatia as well as the recent steps taken by the Croatianauthorities to improve communication and coordination with UNMOP to allow themission to monitor more effectively the situation in its area of responsibility,
Welcoming also the Croatian willingness to open crossing points betweenCroatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Montenegro) in the demilitarizedzone, which has led to considerable civilian traffic in both directions andwhich represents a significant confidence-building measure in the normalizationof relations between the two parties, and expressing the hope that further suchopenings will help to increase such civilian traffic,
Noting with approval the continuing bilateral negotiations between theparties pursuant to the Agreement on Normalization of Relations between theRepublic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia of 23 August 1996(S/1996/706, annex), but expressing serious concern that such negotiations havenot yet resulted in any substantive progress towards a settlement of thedisputed issue of Prevlaka,
Reiterating its call upon the parties urgently to put in place acomprehensive demining programme,
Noting that the presence of the United Nations military observers continuesto be essential to maintain conditions that are conducive to a negotiated settlement of the disputed issue of Prevlaka,
- Authorizes the United Nations military observers to continuemonitoring the demilitarization of the Prevlaka peninsula, in accordance withresolutions 779 (1992) and 981 (1995) and paragraphs 19 and 20 of the report ofthe Secretary-General of 13 December 1995 (S/1995/1028*), until 15 July 1999;
2. Welcomes the improvement in cooperation between the Republic ofCroatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the United Nations militaryobservers and the decrease in the number of serious incidents, and reiteratesits calls upon the parties to cease all violations of the demilitarizationregime in the United Nations designated zones, to take steps further to reducetension and improve safety and security in the area, to cooperate fully with theUnited Nations military observers and to ensure their safety and full andunrestricted freedom of movement;
3. Requests the Secretary-General, in the light of the improvedcooperation and reduction in tensions in Prevlaka as described in his report, toconsider possible reductions, without prejudice to the main operationalactivities of UNMOP, focusing on the possibility of reducing the number ofmilitary observers to as few as 22, in line with the reconsideration of theconcept of operations of UNMOP and the existing security regime and thedesirability of closing the mission when appropriate;
4. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit a report by15 April 1999 on the progress of bilateral negotiations between the parties, aswell as on possible ways to facilitate a negotiated settlement, should theparties require such assistance, and to this end requests the parties to reportat least bi-monthly to the Secretary-General on the status of the negotiations;
5. Urges once again that the parties abide by their mutual commitments and implement fully the Agreement on Normalization of Relations, and stresses in particular the urgent need for them to fulfil rapidly and in good faith their commitment to reach a negotiated resolution of the disputed issue of Prevlaka inaccordance with article 4 of the Agreement;
6. Requests the United Nations military observers and the multinationalstabilization force authorized by the Council in resolution 1088 (1996) of12 December 1996 and extended by resolution 1174 (1998) of 15 June 1998 tocooperate fully with each other;
7. Decides to remain seized of the matter.
Adopted by the Security Council at its 3966th meeting,on 15 January 1999.
