Monthly Report on the work of the Security Council February 2001

MONTHLY REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL

FEBRUARY 2001

Overview of Security Council work in February 2001

The Security Council has consulted, debated and/or taken decisions on the following matters in February:

DR Congo-MONUC, meeting with the parties to the conflict

Ethiopia/Eritrea – Presidential Statement on the peace process

The situation in the Great Lakes area

The situation in Afghanistan

The situation in Haiti

The situation in Sierra Leone – UNAMSIL

ECOWAS – meeting with the delegation of ministers

Libya – sanctions

Liberia – sanctions

Lebanon

Kosovo

Angola – the monitoring mechanism

West Sahara – MINURSO

Iraq – the Sanctions Committee and the meeting of the Council

Open meeting on peace-building – Presidential Statement

Report from the working group on sanctions

The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia

High-level United Nations-Regional Organizations meeting

In the Sanctions Committee for Iraq, Norway analyzed each individual application for import to Iraq, together with the various reasons for withholding permission. Norway is of the opinion that as far as possible, applications should only be placed on hold in cases where there is a direct risk that imported goods may be used to produce weapons of mass destruction.

Norwegian priorities

Conflict-prevention and peace-building

An open debate of the Security Council was held in February on the topic of peace-building in connection with a meeting in New York between the UN Secretary-General and leaders of regional organizations. Peace-building involves various measures for preventing conflicts and ensuring long-term peace after conflicts have been settled. In Norway’s contribution to the debate, we strongly supported increased cooperation between the UN and regional organizations as a means of strengthening the overall peace-building effort. We also took active part in formulating a Presidential Statement on peace-building which was adopted on 17 February, and which, in keeping with Norwegian views, emphasizes an approach that addresses the root causes of conflict.

Peacekeeping operations

One of Norway’s priority objectives is the strengthening of the UN’s capacity to plan and carry out peace operations, and following up the recommendations of the Brahimi Report is important in this context. Norway has on many occasions supported measures to strengthen cooperation between the Security Council and countries contributing troops to UN peace operations. The Security Council established a working group in February to follow up the Brahimi Report. This working group will function as a link to troop-contributing countries. It will also consider proposals on how this cooperation may be further developed.

Africa

The situation in the DR Congo held a prominent place on the Security Council’s agenda in February, with a number of meetings taking place between the UN and the parties to the conflict. In the presence and with the consent of the warring parties, the Security Council adopted a resolution providing for the deployment of UN observers to monitor a security zone between the parties. In the initial phase, the security zone will be established when the parties pull back. The parties also undertook to formulate a plan for further troop withdrawals by 15 May. Norway provides extensive humanitarian aid to the region, and supports mediation aimed at establishing a political dialogue on further developments in the DR Congo.

With the assistance of the UN, agreement was reached between Ethiopia and Eritrea on 6 February on a Temporary Security Zone to be monitored by a UN contingent (UNMEE). Norway will contribute personnel to this operation. Norway was in charge of the work of negotiating a Presidential Statement on the further follow-up of the peace agreement between the two countries.

After having led the effort up to a vote in January on the assessment of a peace-building UN presence in Somalia, a Norwegian delegation was recently in the country for talks on the issue. The UN Secretariat has received the delegation’s report with great interest as an important element in further preparations.

Based especially on the difficult situation of the refugees in the border areas between Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, the Council and its bodies devoted some time to West Africa in February. When a delegation of ministers from ECOWAS visited the Council, the deployment of an ECOWAS contingent in Guinea and the implementation of sanctions against Liberia were the most important topics of discussion. Norway has taken active part in the effort to implement sanctions as a means of getting Liberian president Charles Taylor to discontinue his support for the RUF rebel movement which is fighting the governments of Sierra Leone and Guinea. A resolution to this effect is expected to come up for a vote in March. Norway has signalled its willingness to consider financial assistance for the deployment of an ECOWAS contingent if there is any way to carry out this action properly.

Sanctions policy

A special working group appointed by the Security Council issued a preliminary report in February, with recommendations on how to make sanctions more effective. The working group has reached agreement on a number of recommendations, and Norway will work for their implementation. From the Norwegian side a strategy has been developed ,incorporating specific measures and initiatives, for our efforts within the Council to target sanctions and make them more effective.

With judgment in the Lockerbie case having been handed down and subsequently appealed, Norway supported, together with the other members of the Council, the wishes of the US and the UK to be allowed time to discuss directly with Libya conditions for lifting sanctions. Norway emphasized that the lifting of sanctions must be considered on the basis of relevant resolutions, that the decision should be by consensus, and that the negotiations between the parties should not be prolonged excessively.

In an open meeting on Angola, Norway expressed its satisfaction with the report issued on the sanctions against UNITA, and underscored the conclusion that sanctions actually do limit UNITA’s ability to wage war. Support was expressed for proposals to create a system for certifying diamonds and to step up controls on the arms trade, among other things. It was pointed out that Jonas Savimbi and UNITA must take the blame for the fact that the war continues, and support was expressed for the Government’s initiatives for the reintegration of UNITA soldiers and for civil society peace initiatives.

Human rights and humanitarian issues

The civilian population, refugees and internally displaced persons are commonly the real victims of armed conflicts. In the decision (Presidential Statement) on the peace process between Ethiopia and Eritrea, Norway proposed a provision calling on the governments of both countries to ensure the safe and dignified return of refugees. Norway also proposed establishing references to human rights and humanitarian issues with respect to the Council’s decisions regarding conflicts in the border regions in Guinea, the DR Congo, Afghanistan and Haiti.

Sanctions Committee for Iraq

The UN Secretary-General briefed the Security Council on his meetings with the Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs. It is encouraging that further talks have been scheduled. In the course of this period, Norway has analyzed each individual application for import to Iraq, along with the various reasons why 15 – 20 per cent of all applications have been placed on hold. Norway seeks to promote the view that as far as possible, applications should only be placed on hold in cases where there is a direct risk that imported goods may be used to produce weapons of mass destruction.

The Sanctions Committee has approved expanded lists for goods which may be imported without committee approval in the areas of food, education, agriculture, water and sanitation. Norway deems this an essential measure for ensuring that goods can reach the civilian population as quickly as possible. A review of the list of goods requiring special attention because of the danger than they may be diverted to military uses has also been initiated. Norway attaches a great deal of importance to this work.

Norway was elected president of the UN Compensation Commission (UNCC) on 15 February. Norway will work for consensus within the Governing Council and for proper and effective claims settlements.