Primary Sources
United Nation's Evaluation of the Peacekeeping Process in Yugoslavia
Description
In 1990, the Yugoslav Communist Party divided into several separate parties, one for each of the six Yugoslav Republics. Tensions among the ethnic groups of Yugoslavia, divided among the republics, led to an outbreak of a civil war by 1991. In order to prevent a general escalation of the violence throughout the Balkan Region, the United Nations' Security Council committed its resources to limiting the violence both within the country and outside of it. This was part of a multi-step response to the escalating violence, including the earlier adoption of Resolution 721, which called for the deployment of UN peacekeeping forces in the former Yugoslav territories. This report is an evaluation of the success of the arrival of the peacekeeping forces.
Source
UN Security Council, "Report of the Secretary-General Pursuant to Security Council Resolutions," December 15, 1991, Cold War International History Project, Virtual Archive, CWIHP (accessed May 14, 2008).
Primary Source—Excerpt
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL PURSUANT TO SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 721 (1991)
Decision
...
2. Endorses in particular the views expressed in paragraph 21 of that report that the conditions for establishing a peace-keeping operation in Yugoslavia still do not exist and in paragraph 24 that full compliance with the agreement signed in Geneva on 23 November 1991 would permit accelerated consideration of the question of establishing a United Nations peace-keeping operation in Yugoslavia;
3. Concurs in particular with the Secretary-General's observation that the international community is prepared to assist the Yugoslav peoples, if the conditions described in his report are met, and in that context endorses his offer to send to Yugoslavia a small group of personnel, including military personnel, as part of the continuing mission of his Personal Envoy, to carry forward preparations for possible deployment of a peace-keeping operation;
...
7. Strongly urges all States and parties to refrain from any action which might contribute to increasing tension, to inhibiting the establishment of an effective cease-fire and to impeding or delaying a peaceful and negotiated outcome to the conflict in Yugoslavia which would permit all the peoples of Yugoslavia to decide upon and to construct their future in peace;
8. Encourages the Secretary-General to pursue his humanitarian efforts in Yugoslavia, in liaison with the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Children's Fund and other appropriate humanitarian organizations, to take urgent practical steps to tackle the critical needs of the people of Yugoslavia, including displaced persons and the most vulnerable groups affected by the conflict, to assist in the voluntary return of displaced persons to their homes;