UN Security Council Resolution 1239 | |
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![]() Aid distribution in Kosovo (1999) | |
Date | 14 May 1999 |
Meeting no. | 4,003 |
Code | S/RES/1239 (Document) |
Subject | The situation in Kosovo |
Voting summary |
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Result | Adopted |
Security Council composition | |
Permanent members | |
Non-permanent members |
United Nations Security Council resolution 1239, adopted on 14 May 1999, after recalling resolutions 1160 (1998), 1199 (1998) and 1203 (1998), the Council called for access for the United Nations and other humanitarian personnel operating in Kosovo to other parts of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). [1]
The Security Council recalled the United Nations Charter, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, international agreements and conventions on human rights, the Conventions and Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and other instruments of international humanitarian law. It expressed concern at the humanitarian catastrophe occurring in and around Kosovo as a result of the continuing crisis. Furthermore, there was concern for the influx of Kosovan refugees into Albania, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other countries. In this regard it noted the intention of the Secretary-General Kofi Annan to send a mission to Kosovo to assess humanitarian needs.
The resolution commended efforts already undertaken by Member States, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian relief organisations. They were asked to extend assistance to the internally displaced persons in Kosovo, Montenegro and other parts of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Security Council called for access for United Nations and all humanitarian personnel operating in Kosovo and other parts of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, reaffirming the right of refugees to return home safely. It emphasised that, without a political solution, the humanitarian solution would continue to deteriorate consistent with principles adopted by the G8. [2]
Resolution 1239 was adopted by 13 votes to none against and two abstentions from China and Russia, which argued that the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, without authorisation of the Security Council, had contributed towards the crisis and regretted that this was not mentioned in the resolution. [1]
United Nations Security Council resolution 1244, adopted on 10 June 1999, after recalling resolutions 1160 (1998), 1199 (1998), 1203 (1998) and 1239 (1999), authorised an international civil and military presence in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and established the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). It followed an agreement by Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević to terms proposed by President of Finland Martti Ahtisaari and former Prime Minister of Russia Viktor Chernomyrdin on 8 June, involving withdrawal of all Yugoslav state forces from Kosovo.
The political status of Kosovo, also known as the Kosovo question is the subject of a long-running political and territorial dispute between the Serbian government and the Kosovar leadership in the Assembly of Kosovo, stemming from the breakup of Yugoslavia (1991–92) and the ensuing Kosovo War (1998–99). In 1999 the administration of the province was handed on an interim basis to the United Nations under the terms of UNSCR 1244 which ended the Kosovo conflict of that year. That resolution reaffirmed the sovereignty of Serbia over Kosovo but required the UN administration to promote the establishment of 'substantial autonomy and self-government' for Kosovo pending a 'final settlement' for negotiation between the parties.
United Nations Security Council resolution 787, adopted on 16 November 1992, after reaffirming Resolution 713 (1991) and all subsequent resolutions on the topic, the Council called upon the parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina to consider the draft outline constitution as a basis for negotiating a political settlement of the conflict in the country, and went on to impose further international sanctions on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
United Nations Security Council resolution 820, adopted on 17 April 1993, after reaffirming all previous resolutions on the topic for a lasting peace settlement in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region, the Council discussed the peace plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina and comprehensive steps to ensure its implementation.
United Nations Security Council resolution 855, adopted on 9 August 1993, after reaffirming resolutions at putting an end to the conflict in the former Yugoslavia and hearing representations from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the Council called upon Serbia and Montenegro to reconsider its refusal to allow OSCE missions in its territory.
United Nations Security Council resolution 970, adopted on 12 January 1995, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina in particular Resolution 943 (1994) concerning the border closure between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Council decided that measures in that resolution would be suspended for a further period of 100 days.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1010, adopted unanimously on 10 August 1995, after recalling all resolutions on the situation in the former Yugoslavia and reaffirming Resolution 1004 (1995), the Council demanded that the Bosnian Serbs release all detained persons and permit access to them by international humanitarian organisations.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1119, adopted unanimously on 14 July 1997, after recalling previous resolutions on Croatia including resolutions 779 (1992), 981 (1995), 1025 (1995), 1038 (1996), 1066 (1996) and 1093 (1997), the Council authorised the United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP) to continue monitoring the demilitarisation in the Prevlaka peninsula area of Croatia until 15 January 1998.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1160, adopted on 31 March 1998, after noting the situation in Kosovo, the Council, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, imposed an arms embargo and economic sanctions on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, hoping to end the use of excessive force by the government.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1174, adopted unanimously on 15 June 1998, after recalling resolutions 1031 (1995), 1035 (1995), 1088 (1996), 1103 (1997), 1107 (1997), 1144 (1997) and 1168 (1998), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) for a period terminating on 21 June 1999 and authorised states participating in the NATO led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) to continue to do so for a further twelve months.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1183, adopted unanimously on 15 July 1998, after recalling previous resolutions on Croatia including resolutions 779 (1992), 981 (1995) and 1147 (1998), the Council authorised the United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP) to continue monitoring the demilitarisation in the Prevlaka peninsula area of Croatia until 15 January 1999.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1186, adopted unanimously on 21 July 1998, after recalling resolutions 1105 (1997) and 1110 (1997), the Council extended and strengthened the mandate of the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) in Macedonia until 28 February 1999.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1199, adopted on 23 September 1998, after recalling Resolution 1160 (1998), the Council demanded that the Albanian and Yugoslav parties in Kosovo end hostilities and observe a ceasefire.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1203, adopted on 24 October 1998, after recalling resolutions 1160 (1998) and 1199 (1998) on Kosovo, the Council demanded that 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 (OSCE) verification missions in Kosovo.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1207, adopted on 17 November 1998, after recalling all resolutions concerning the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, in particular Resolution 827 (1993), the Council condemned the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for its failure to execute arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1923 was adopted unanimously on 25 May 2010, after recalling resolutions 1769 (2007), 1778 (2007), 1834 (2008), 1861 (2009), 1913 (2010) and 1922 (2010). The Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) for a final time until 31 December 2010, with a complete withdrawal by that date.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1345, adopted unanimously on 21 March 2001, after reaffirming resolutions 1160 (1998), 1199 (1998), 1203 (2000), 1239 (1999) and 1244 (1999) on the situation in the former Yugoslavia, the council condemned extremist violence and terrorist activities in parts of Macedonia and southern Serbia and called upon Kosovo Albanian leaders to condemn the violence.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1367, adopted unanimously on 10 September 2001, after recalling resolutions 1160 (1998), 1199 (1998), 1203 (1998) and reaffirming resolutions 1244 (1999) and 1345 (2001) in particular, the Council terminated the arms embargo against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia after it had satisfied Council demands to withdraw from Kosovo and allow a political dialogue to begin.
United Nations Security Council resolution 1387, adopted unanimously on 15 January 2002, after recalling previous resolutions on Croatia, including resolutions 779 (1992), 981 (1995), 1088 (1996), 1147 (1998), 1183 (1998), 1222 (1999), 1252 (1999), 1285 (2000), 1307 (2000), 1357 (2001) and 1362 (2001), the Council authorised the United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP) to continue monitoring the demilitarisation in the Prevlaka peninsula area of Croatia for six months until 15 July 2002. It was the first Security Council resolution adopted in 2002.
Yugoslavia was a charter member of the United Nations from its establishment in 1945 as the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia until 1992 during the Yugoslav Wars. It rejoined the UN under the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 2000 as a new member. Its seat was transferred to Serbia in 2006.