United Nations Security Council Resolution 819 – Bosnia and Herzegovina

Resolution 819 (1993) of 16 Aprll 1993

The Security Council,

Reaffirming its resolution 713 (1991 ) of 25 September 1991 and all its subsequent relevant resolutions,

Noting that the International Court of Justice in its Order of8 April 1993 in the case concerning application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Bosnia and Herzegovina v. Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro))25 unanimously indicated as a provisional measure that the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) should immediately, in pursuance of its undertaking in the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of 9 December 1948, take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of the crime of genocide,

Reaffirming the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

Reaffirming also its call on the parties and others concerned to observe immediately the cease-fire throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina,

Reaffirming further its condemnation of all violations of international humanitarian law, including, in particular, the practice of”ethnic cleansing”,

Concerned by the pattern of hostilities by Bosnian Serb paramilitary units against towns and villages in eastern Bosnia, and in this regard reaffirming that any taking or acquisition of territory by the threat or use of force, including through the practice of “ethnic cleansing”, is unlawful and unacceptable,

Deeply alarmed at the information provided by the Secretary-General to the Security Council on 16 April 1993 on the rapid deterioration of the situation in Srebrenica and its surrounding areas, as a result of the continued deliberate armed attacks and shelling of the innocent civilian population by Bosnian Serb paramilitary units,

Strongly condemning the deliberate interdiction by Bosnian Serb paramilitary units of humanitarian assistance convoys,

Also strongly condemning the actions taken by Bosnian Serb paramilitary units against the United Nations Protection Force, in particular, their refusal to guarantee the safety and freedom of move-ment of Force personnel,

Aware that a tragic humanitarian emergency has already developed in Srebrenica and its surrounding areas as a direct consequence of the brutal actions of Bosnian Serb paramilitary units, forcing the large-scale displacement of civilians, in particular women, children and the elderly,

Recalling the provisions of resolution 815 (1993) of 30 March 1993 on the mandate of the Force, and in that context acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

1. Demands that all parties and others concerned treat Srebrenica and its surroundings as a safe area which should be free from any armed attack or any other hostile act;

2. Demands also to that effect the immediate cessation of armed attacks by Bosnian Serb paramilitary units against Srebrenica and their immediate withdrawal from the areas surrounding Srebrenica;

3. Demands further that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) immediately cease the supply of military arms, equipment and services to the Bosnian Serb paramilitary units in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

4. Requests the Secretary-General, with a view to monitoring the humanitarian situation in the safe area, to take immediate steps to increase the presence of the United Nations Protection Force in Srebrenica and its surroundings, demands that all parties and others concerned cooperate fully and promptly with the Force towards that end, and requests the Secretary-General to report urgently thereon to the Security Council;

5. Reaffirms that any taking or acquisition of territory by the threat or use of force, including through the practice of”ethnic cleansing”, is unlawful and unacceptable;

6. Condemns and rejects the deliberate actions of the Bosnian Serb party to force the evacuation of the civilian population from Srebrenica and its surrounding areas as well as from other parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of its overall abhorrent campaign of “ethnic cleansing”-;

7. Reaffirms its condemnation of all violations of international humanitarian law, in particular the practice of”ethnic cleansing”, and reaffirms that those who commit or order the commission of such acts shall be held individually responsible in respect of such acts;

8. Demands the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance to all parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in particular to the civilian population of Srebrenica and its surrounding areas, and recalls that such impediments to the delivery of humanitarian assistance constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law,

9. Urges the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to use all the resources at their disposal within the scope of the relevant resolutions of the Council to reinforce the existing humanitarian operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in particular Srebrenica and its surroundings;

10. Also demands that all parties guarantee the safety and full freedom of movement of the United Nations Protection Force and of all other United Nations personnel as well as members of humanitarian organizations;

11. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the High Commissioner and the Force, to arrange for the safe transfer of the wounded and ill civilians from Srebrenica and its surrounding areas and urgently to report thereon to the Council;

12. Decides to send, as soon as possible, a mission of members of the Council to Bosnia and Herzegovina to ascertain the situation and report thereon to the Council;

13. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter and to consider further steps to achieve a solution in conformity with its relevant resolutions.

Adopted unanimously at the 3199th meeting.