United Nations Security Council Resolution 781
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
781, adopted on October 9, 1992, after reaffirming Resolution 713
(1991) and all subsequent resolutions on the situation in the former Yugoslavia
, the Council decided to impose a ban on military flights in the airspace over Bosnia and Herzegovina
, acting in accordance with the provisions set out in Resolution 770
(1992).
The Council noted that the ban did not apply on flights relating to the United Nations Protection Force
(UNPROFOR) or other United Nations operations and humanitarian aid
flights. It requested UNPROFOR to monitor the compliance with the ban, including the possibility of placing observers at airfields in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, and to ensure that the purpose of flights to Bosnia and Herzegovina is consistent with Security Council resolutions.
The resolution then called on Member States to take all measures necessary to assist the Protection Force based on technical monitoring and other capabilities. It also requested the Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
to report to the Security Council on a periodic basis on the implementation of the current resolution and any violations of it. The Council then stated it would undertake to examine the information regarding the implementation of Resolution 781 and any such violations, including the prospect of introducing further measures to enforce the ban. The current resolution only stated that "regional agencies" could monitor the ban, however Resolution 816
(1993) authorised NATO forces to shoot down violators. There were several violations of the ban, particularly by Bosnian Serb air force against military and civilian targets in Muslim
enclaves.
Resolution 781 was adopted by 14 votes to none against, with one abstention
from China
, in protest at text in the resolution hinting that force may be used if the ban was not enforced.
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"....
781, adopted on October 9, 1992, after reaffirming Resolution 713
United Nations Security Council Resolution 713
United Nations Security Council Resolution 713, adopted unanimously on September 25, 1991, after receiving representations from a number of Member States and commending the efforts of the European Community in the region, the Council decided to impose, under Chapter VII, an arms embargo on the...
(1991) and all subsequent resolutions on the situation in the former Yugoslavia
Former Yugoslavia
The former Yugoslavia is a term used to describe the present day states which succeeded the collapse of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia....
, the Council decided to impose a ban on military flights in the airspace over Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
, acting in accordance with the provisions set out in Resolution 770
United Nations Security Council Resolution 770
United Nations Security Council Resolution 770, adopted on August 13, 1992, after reaffirming previous resolutions on the topic, including Resolution 743 , Resolution 749 , Resolution 761 and Resolution 764 , the Council recognised the humanitarian situation in Sarajevo and other areas in Bosnia...
(1992).
The Council noted that the ban did not apply on flights relating to the United Nations Protection Force
United Nations Protection Force
The United Nations Protection Force ', was the first United Nations peacekeeping force in Croatia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Yugoslav wars. It existed between the beginning of UN involvement in February 1992, and its restructuring into other forces in March 1995...
(UNPROFOR) or other United Nations operations and humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
flights. It requested UNPROFOR to monitor the compliance with the ban, including the possibility of placing observers at airfields in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, and to ensure that the purpose of flights to Bosnia and Herzegovina is consistent with Security Council resolutions.
The resolution then called on Member States to take all measures necessary to assist the Protection Force based on technical monitoring and other capabilities. It also requested the Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Boutros Boutros-Ghali is an Egyptian politician and diplomat who was the sixth Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1992 to December 1996...
to report to the Security Council on a periodic basis on the implementation of the current resolution and any violations of it. The Council then stated it would undertake to examine the information regarding the implementation of Resolution 781 and any such violations, including the prospect of introducing further measures to enforce the ban. The current resolution only stated that "regional agencies" could monitor the ban, however Resolution 816
United Nations Security Council Resolution 816
United Nations Security Council Resolution 816, adopted on March 31, 1993, after reaffirming resolutions 781 , 786 concerning a ban on military flights over Bosnia and Herzegovina and recognising the current situation in the region, the Council, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations...
(1993) authorised NATO forces to shoot down violators. There were several violations of the ban, particularly by Bosnian Serb air force against military and civilian targets in Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
enclaves.
Resolution 781 was adopted by 14 votes to none against, with one 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...
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...
, in protest at text in the resolution hinting that force may be used if the ban was not enforced.
See also
- Breakup of Yugoslavia
- Bosnian WarBosnian WarThe Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 701 to 800 (1991 – 1993)
- 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...