Yugoslavia Recommended for U.N. Membership
By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent
United Nations - The Security Council October 31 accepted the
application of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) for membership
in the United Nations. The council passed the recommendation on to the
General Assembly, which is expected to act within the next few days to
complete the process.
A request by the Kostunica Government for U.N. membership on October
27 ended what has been a major point of disagreement between the
international community and Belgrade since the breakup of the Yugoslav
republics. The Security Council and General Assembly determined that
each of the former Yugoslav republics had to apply for membership and
that no country had the right to take the former Socialist Republic's
seat.
In 1992 and 1993 Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, and the Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia all applied for and became U.N.
members. The Milosevic regime refused to apply. As a result, the
Yugoslav seat remained empty and the country had no say in the work of
the United Nations.
During a very brief Security Council meeting October 31, President
Martin Andjaba of Namibia read a statement on behalf of its 15 members
recommending Yugoslavia's membership.
"On behalf of the members of the Security Council, I wish to extend my
congratulations to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on this historic
occasion," Andjaba said. "The council notes with great satisfaction
the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia's solemn commitment to uphold the
purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and to
fulfil all the obligations contained therein."
"We look forward to the day in the near future when the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia will join us as a member of the United Nations
and to working closely with its representatives," the president said.
U.S. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke said "this is a great day for
democracy in the Balkans, in Europe, and a great day for the United
Nations."
Talking with journalists outside the council chambers, Holbrooke, who
was the chief negotiator of the Dayton peace accords, said that "eight
years of sterile, stupid argument over Yugoslavia's membership in the
United Nations is over."
"Today and tomorrow Yugoslavia joins the United Nations in accordance
with resolutions passed in 1992 (and) 1993. They accept the
obligations of membership. They come in under equal basis with the
other republics of the former Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia. That
terrible flag of Tito's flying at First Avenue comes down. It's a
tremendous day," the ambassador said.
"I am deeply, deeply pleased to witness this historic event today," he
said.
Holbrooke just returned from a visit to the Balkans. The ambassador
noted that he spent over two hours with Yugoslav President Vojislav
Kostunica. Belgrade's U.N. membership "was a major topic of
discussion," he said.
Holbrooke also reaffirmed the U.S. position that the International War
Crimes Tribunal for the Former Yugoslav Republics should be respected
and suggested that the tribunal's Belgrade office - which was closed
in 1998 - be reopened.
Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic has been indicted by the
tribunal for war crimes, as have Bosnian Serb commanders in Bosnia who
had been protected by the Milosevic regime and are at large in Serbia.
Kostunica acknowledged that such cooperation was part of the Dayton
Agreement which ended the war in Bosnia and, Holbrooke noted, "that
was an important acknowledgment."
The ambassador said that the dialogue "between Belgrade and the
outside world" will be "complicated" for some time. "But President
Kostunica made clear that he wants to cooperate with international
organizations and tribunals of all sorts," he said.
Holbrooke stressed that Kostunica is "a very strongly committed
advocate of the rule of law."
"He is a Serb nationalist and he is a proponent of the rule of law,"
the ambassador said. "In his application to the United Nations that
came in Friday and in the move today you have seen the triumph of a
man who is committed to the rule of law. He has acted in accordance
with the will of the General Assembly and the Security Council, and he
did it in a matter of days. That's what you ought to focus on when you
try to analyze this very important new figure on the world scene."
The ambassador said that the major aim of his visit was to discuss the
effect of the "democratic movement in Belgrade on the rest of the
region."
"It was our impression that the earthquake in September is only now
beginning to be felt throughout the region. People still haven't
absorbed it," Holbrooke said.
He said that many wanted to discuss the region's past history, but he
pressed those in the region to explore what the change in Belgrade
means for them.
"Some think it's bad news; some think it's good news," he said.
"The United States thinks it's very good news," the ambassador said.
"It ends the regime of terror, intimidation, use of military and
paramilitary forces, murder backed by Belgrade on all the
neighborhoods. It's a tremendous opportunity."
Bosnia's U.N. Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey also called the approval of
Yugoslavia's U.N. membership "a momentous occasion and a good
occasion."
"It resolves at least one outstanding thorn between all of us and it
is indeed the intention of Bosnia-Herzegovina to co-sponsor the
General Assembly resolution that will admit the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia to the United Nations," Sacirbey said.
"At the same time we must be cognizant of the fact that the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia just now is getting to the point of being a
real partner at the United Nations...and this means obeying and
complying with all the various regulations, resolutions, and
obligations, including cooperating with the War Crimes Tribunal," the
Bosnian ambassador said.
While the other former republics still want to see other successor
issues such as finances and the ownership of embassies resolved,
Sacirbey said, "this is certainly a positive step and a new page being
turned."
No Yugoslav diplomat was on hand to comment. The Milosevic regime's
charge d'affaires Vladislav Jovanovic has been recalled to Belgrade.
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