United Nations Security Council Resolution 1203
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1203, adopted on October 24, 1998, after recalling resolutions 1160
(1998) and 1199
(1998) on Kosovo
, the Council demanded that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro
) comply with previous Security Council resolutions and co-operate with the NATO and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
(OSCE) verification missions in Kosovo.
On October 16, 1998 an agreement was signed in Belgrade
between Serbia and Montenegro and the OSCE providing for the establishment of a verification mission in Kosovo, with aerial verifications over Kosovo agreed the previous day. The Secretary-General Kofi Annan
was to send a mission to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to assess the situation on the ground in Kosovo.
The Security Council stated that the conflict in Kosovo should be resolved peacefully and that the territory be given greater autonomy
and meaningful self-administration. Meanwhile, violence, terror and the supply of arms and training to terrorists in Kosovo in pursuit of political goals was condemned. There was concern that independent media
outlets in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia had been closed in addition to the impending humanitarian catastrophe in Kosovo.
Viewing the conflict as a threat to international peace and security and acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter
, the resolution demanded that Serbia and Montenegro immediately and fully comply with the agreements with NATO and the OSCE. The Kosovo Albanian leadership also had to comply with the agreements and previous Security Council resolutions. Both parties were also urged to engage in dialogue to resolve the crisis and co-operate with international efforts to improve the humanitarian situation. The Kosovo-Albanians had to renounce terror and pursue their goals peacefully and it was reaffirmed that all refugee
s had the right to return home.
Finally, it was stated that any crimes committed against the population were to be investigated by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
and international assistance to this end was requested.
Resolution 1203 was adopted by 13 votes to none against, with two abstention
s from China
and Russia
who opposed the use of force. China was also against a resolution that would pressure the internal affairs of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Russia stated that the resolution had not taken into account positive developments in Belgrade.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1203, adopted on October 24, 1998, after recalling resolutions 1160
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1160
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1160, adopted on March 31, 1998, after noting the situation in Kosovo, the Council, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, imposed an arms embargo on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia .Some countries had suggested a comprehensive arms...
(1998) and 1199
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1199
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1199, adopted on September 23, 1998, after recalling Resolution 1160 , the Council demanded that the Albanian and Yugoslav parties in Kosovo end hostilities and observe a ceasefire....
(1998) on Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
, the Council demanded that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro was a country in southeastern Europe, formed from two former republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia : Serbia and Montenegro. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was established in 1992 as a federation called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
) comply with previous Security Council resolutions and co-operate with the NATO and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, human rights, freedom of the press and fair elections...
(OSCE) verification missions in Kosovo.
On October 16, 1998 an agreement was signed in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
between Serbia and Montenegro and the OSCE providing for the establishment of a verification mission in Kosovo, with aerial verifications over Kosovo agreed the previous day. The Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
was to send a mission to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to assess the situation on the ground in Kosovo.
The Security Council stated that the conflict in Kosovo should be resolved peacefully and that the territory be given greater autonomy
Autonomy
Autonomy is a concept found in moral, political and bioethical philosophy. Within these contexts, it is the capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, un-coerced decision...
and meaningful self-administration. Meanwhile, violence, terror and the supply of arms and training to terrorists in Kosovo in pursuit of political goals was condemned. There was concern that independent media
Independent media
Independent media refers to any form of media, such as radio, television, newspapers or the Internet, that is free of influence by government or corporate interests. The term has varied applications...
outlets in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia had been closed in addition to the impending humanitarian catastrophe in Kosovo.
Viewing the conflict as a threat to international peace and security and acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter
Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter
Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter sets out the UN Security Council's powers to maintain peace. It allows the Council to "determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression" and to take military and nonmilitary action to "restore international peace...
, the resolution demanded that Serbia and Montenegro immediately and fully comply with the agreements with NATO and the OSCE. The Kosovo Albanian leadership also had to comply with the agreements and previous Security Council resolutions. Both parties were also urged to engage in dialogue to resolve the crisis and co-operate with international efforts to improve the humanitarian situation. The Kosovo-Albanians had to renounce terror and pursue their goals peacefully and it was reaffirmed that all refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s had the right to return home.
Finally, it was stated that any crimes committed against the population were to be investigated by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
The International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, more commonly referred to as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia or ICTY, is a...
and international assistance to this end was requested.
Resolution 1203 was adopted by 13 votes to none against, with two abstention
Abstention
Abstention is a term in election procedure for when a participant in a vote either does not go to vote or, in parliamentary procedure, is present during the vote, but does not cast a ballot. Abstention must be contrasted with "blank vote", in which a voter casts a ballot willfully made invalid by...
s from China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
who opposed the use of force. China was also against a resolution that would pressure the internal affairs of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Russia stated that the resolution had not taken into account positive developments in Belgrade.
See also
- Kosovo WarKosovo WarThe term Kosovo War or Kosovo conflict was two sequential, and at times parallel, armed conflicts in Kosovo province, then part of FR Yugoslav Republic of Serbia; from early 1998 to 1999, there was an armed conflict initiated by the ethnic Albanian "Kosovo Liberation Army" , who sought independence...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1201 to 1300 (1998 – 2000)
- Yugoslav WarsYugoslav warsThe Yugoslav Wars were a series of wars, fought throughout the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 1995. The wars were complex: characterized by bitter ethnic conflicts among the peoples of the former Yugoslavia, mostly between Serbs on the one side and Croats and Bosniaks on the other; but also...