S/2000/690
Letter dated 13 July 2000 from the
Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council
I have the honour to convey the attached communication, dated 11 July 2000, which I have received from the Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (see annex).
I should be grateful if you would bring it to the attention of the members of the Security Council.
(Signed) Kofi A. Annan
Annex
Letter dated 11 July 2000 from the Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization addressed to the Secretary-General
In accordance with Security Council resolution 1088 (1996), I attach the monthly report on operations of the Stabilization Force (SFOR) (see appendix). I would appreciate your making this report available to the Security Council.
(Signed) Lord Robertson of Port Ellen
Appendix
Monthly report to the Security Council on operations of the Stabilization Force
1. During the reporting period (13 May-12 June 2000) there were approximately 22,900 troops deployed in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, with contributions from all the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies and from 15 non-NATO countries. Troops of the Stabilization Force (SFOR) continued to conduct reconnaissance and surveillance operations in the theatre by means of ground and air patrols. Operations across the SFOR area included area security, monitoring the border with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, monitoring the entity armed forces, conducting weapons storage site inspections, providing support to the international organizations in theatre and collecting weapons and ammunition within the framework of Operation Harvest 99. In addition, in the light of the recent elections in Montenegro, SFOR troops significantly increased their monitoring of the border with Montenegro.
2. SFOR troops continued to monitor compliance with the provisions of Security Council resolution 1160 (1998), which prohibits the transport of weapons into the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, by providing an intensified presence on the ground in order to enforce the embargo. No violations were reported.
3. During the reporting period, SFOR also continued to monitor the movement of controlled petroleum products in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia by establishing traffic control points. No violations were reported.
Cooperation and compliance by the parties
4. The situation in theatre remained calm and stable during the reporting period, with the entities in substantial compliance with the military provisions of the Peace Agreement. There were several isolated violent incidents, the most significant of which were an explosion in the Banja Luka apartment of the Minister of Health of the Republika Srpska on 24 May and the launch of an anti-tank rocket against a house in a resettlement site near Pocitelj, near Caplijna (Multinational Division South-East) on 29 May.
5. There were two significant demonstrations during the reporting period. In the first, which took place on 1 June, approximately 100 Bosniac women demonstrated along the Zavidovici-Tuzla road with the aim of preventing a visit by Bosnian Serbs to Vozuca. This was in retaliation for the Bosnian Serb reaction to Bosniac visits to Srebrenica earlier this year. As a result of the demonstration, the Bosnian Serb visit was cancelled. In the second demonstration, which was held on 12 June, a large group of Bosniacs, insisting on the reconstruction of their homes, blocked roads leading to the SFOR military training range in the municipality of Glamoc (Multinational Division South-West). Both demonstrations ended peacefully.
6. During the reporting period, SFOR troops conducted 359 military weapons storage site inspections. No violations were reported.
7. SFOR troops monitored 1,021 training and movement activities: 298 Bosniac; 89 Bosnian Croat; 546 Bosnian Serb; and 88 Federation. The training and movement ban on the Republika Srpska Police Anti-Terrorist Brigade remains in force, as does the live firing ban imposed on the Pelican Range in Glamoc. The training and movement ban imposed on elements of the Bosniac Army at Rastanica (Multinational Division North) on 28 April (see S/2000/555, appendix, para. 9) was lifted on 15 May.
8. One unauthorized checkpoint was set up by local police near Pale on 14 April and was subsequently dismantled by the United Nations International Police Task Force (IPTF).
9. The summer demining season continued over the reporting period.
Cooperation with international organizations
10. Within its capabilities and in accordance with its mandate, SFOR continues to provide assistance to the international organizations in theatre, including the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, IPTF, the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the Office of the High Representative, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
11. SFOR continued to support minority returnees and refugees by delivering basic supplies over the period. During the month of May, there were 3,113 returns of displaced persons and refugees.
12. The Standing Committee on Military Matters met on 17 May, when the Presidency recognized the importance of meeting regularly and committed the Committee to meeting once a month as foreseen.
13. In preparation for the 11 November general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFOR will assist OSCE by providing an enhanced security environment, a rapid response capability, limited equipment support, an exchange of liaison officers and 24-hour joint operational centre staffing.
Outlook
14. Isolated incidents of violence can be expected to continue, related to the return of refugees and displaced persons.