( Editorial: --> 4053 )
ZAGREB, 13 Jan (Hina) - The success of the U.N. Transitional
Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium
(UNTAES) is a "positive precedent for peace in the whole territory
of the former Yugoslavia", UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said in
his latest report on UNTAES on 4 December, 1997.
On the basis of this report and this estimation, the United Nations
Security Council has confirmed that the U.N. mandate in Eastern
Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium ends on 15 January 1998.
UNTAES was established as a U.N. mission on 15 January 1996 with a
one-year mandate with a possibility of extension for another year.
Its task was to actively support the implementation of the Basic
Agreement on Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium, which
was signed by representatives of the Croatian Government and local
Serbs from the Croatian Danube River region on 12 November 1995 in
Erdut and Zagreb.
We are issuing a chronology of the most important decisions of the
international community on the peaceful reintegration of the
Croatian Danube River region, which provides an insight into the
course and results of the two-year mandate of UNTAES.
Year 1995
----------
22 November
- The U.N. Security Council in New York adopts Resolution 1023 which
welcomes the Basic Agreement on Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and
Western Sirmium, which was signed in Erdut and Zagreb on 12 November
by representatives of the Croatian Government and local Serbs from
the Croatian Danube River region. The Security Council commits to
urgently decide on the establishment of a transitional
administration and international force in that region in
accordance with a request contained in the Basic Agreement. The
Resolution also confirms Croatia's independence, sovereignty and
territorial integrity, and emphasises "in this regard that the
territories of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium...are
integral parts of the Republic of Croatia".
Year 1996
----------
15 January
- The U.N. Security Council in New York adopted Resolution 1037,
which establishes the U.N. Transitional Administration for Eastern
Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (UNTAES). The initial, 12-
month mandate envisages two components. The military component is
aimed at demilitarising the region, controlling the safe return of
displaced people and refugees and maintaining peace and security in
the region. The civil component is aimed at forming and training a
temporary police force, establishing administration and public
services, and organising elections, following the implementation
of commitments assumed by the sides involved and stimulating the
restoration of trust among the local population. The civil part
also includes cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal
for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
7 January
- Retired US General Jacques Paul Klein was appointed U.N.
Transitional Administrator for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and
Western Sirmium.
31 January
- The U.N. Security Council in New York adopts Resolution 1043 and
decides to send 100 military observers for a period of six months to
Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium, following a letter
by the U.N. Secretary General on 26 January 1996 to the Security
Council President.
February
- Demilitarisation of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western
Sirmium begins, in line with Resolution 1037 of the U.N. Security
Council.
30 June
- With Resolution 1069, the U.N. Security Council in New York
extends the mandate of UN military observers in the Croatian Danube
River region for another six months.
4 August
- The European Union grants 5.29 million ECU for the reconstruction
of infrastructure in the Croatian Danube River region.
15 November
- With Resolution 1079, the U.N. Security Council in New York adopts
the first report by the U.N. Secretary General and extends the
UNTAES mandate for another six months, until 15 January 1997.
Year 1997
---------
7 March
- The U.N. Security Council Presidential Statement calls for the
completion of preparations for local elections in Eastern Slavonia
on 13 April.
8 May
- The Security Council calls for immediate establishment of newly-
elected bodies of authority in the Croatian Danube River region.
26 June
- The OSCE Permanent Council adopts decision Nr 176, establishing a
permanent mission for Croatia with a special task of monitoring the
peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube River region. For its
new role the OSCE will increase the number of its representatives
from 14 to 250 at the most until the expiry of the UNTAES mandate on
15 January 1998.
The decision extends the mandate of the OSCE Mission in Croatia
until 31 December 1998, and envisages assistance and monitoring in
the application of Croatian laws, agreements and commitments
assumed by the Croatian authorities in relation to the two-way
return of all displaced people and refugees, protection of their
rights and rights and protection of members of national
minorities.
According to its mandate, the OSCE Mission is to provide special
recommendations to the Croatian authorities and in case of urgent
matters consults the Permanent Council.
14 July
- With Resolution 1120 the U.N. Security Council extends the UNTAES
mandate for another six months, until 15 January 1998.
25 July
- U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan appoints William Walker to the
post of UN Transitional Administrator for the Croatian Danube River
region following the appointment of Jacques Paul Klein to the post
of Deputy High Representative of the international community in
Bosnia-Herzegovina.
1 August
- US diplomat William Walker takes over the office of UN
Transitional Administrator in the Croatian Danube River region
from Jacques Paul Klein.
18 September
- The U.N. Security Council calls on the Croatian Government to meet
important preconditions for the take-over of executive authority
in the Croatian Danube River region. With a Presidential Statement
the Croatian Government is called to fulfill the obligations it had
taken over and remove administrative and legal obstacles to the
two-way return of displaced people and refugees, take action to
establish effective bodies of local authority and secure the
payment of pension allowances to all users.
The Security Council calls on Croatia to start a program of national
reconciliation throughout the country, prevent media attacks on
ethnic groups, completely implement the Amnesty Law and cooperate
with the ICTY.
15 October
- The withdrawal of the majority of UNTAES military forces starts in
line with a decision of the U.N. Security Council.
19 December
- With Resolution 1145 the U.N. Security Council confirms the end of
the UNTAES mandate as of 15 January 1998 and entrusts a group of 180
civil police observers in the Croatian Danube River region with a
nine-month mandate, starting on 16 January.
The police observers are to monitor the work of the Croatian police,
especially in relation to the return of displaced people, following
a recommendation by the U.N. Secretary General and a request by the
Croatian Government.
The Croatian Government, police and judiciary are considered
responsible for security and respect of civic rights; Croatia is
called to implement the obligations it had taken over: economic
reconstruction of the region, two-way return of displaced people,
implementation of the Amnesty Law.
The Serb community is called to cooperate and actively participate
in the process of reintegration and national reconciliation - the
key role of the OSCE is welcomed.
Croatia and other countries in the region are called to fully
cooperate with the ICTY, and the Republic of Croatia and the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia to normalise their relations.
(hina) rm ha mb lm
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