Security Council resolution 2450 (2018) [on extension of the mandate of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) until 30 June 2019]
Symbol: S/RES/2450 (2018)
Date: 2018-12-21
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/73 [55] UN DISENGAGEMENT OBSERVER FORCE
S/73 [54] MIDDLE EAST SITUATION
S/ X The situation in the Middle East.
Subjects: UN Disengagement Observer Force|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|TRUCE SUPERVISION|GOLAN HEIGHTS|ISRAEL|SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC|MIDDLE EAST SITUATION
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: BOLIVIA (PLURINATIONAL STATE OF)
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: CÔTE D'IVOIRE
vote: yes
country: EQUATORIAL GUINEA
vote: yes
country: ETHIOPIA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: KAZAKHSTAN
vote: yes
country: KUWAIT
vote: yes
country: NETHERLANDS
vote: yes
country: PERU
vote: yes
country: POLAND
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SWEDEN
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                    S/RES/2450 (2018)
               Security Council                                                  Distr.: General
                                                                                 21 December 2018




               Resolution 2450 (2018)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 8436th meeting, on
               21 December 2018

                    The Security Council,
                     Noting with concern that the situation in the Middle East is tense and is likely
               to remain so, unless and until a comprehensive settlement covering all aspects of the
               Middle East problem can be reached,
                     Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations
               Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) of 6 December 2018 ( S/2018/1088) and
               also reaffirming its resolution 1308 (2000) of 17 July 2000,
                    Stressing that both parties must abide by the terms of the 1974 Disengagement
               of Forces Agreement between Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic and scrupulously
               observe the ceasefire,
                     Concurring with the Secretary-General’s findings that the ongoing military
               activities conducted by any actor in the area of separation continue to have the
               potential to escalate tensions between Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic, jeopardize
               the ceasefire between the two countries, and pose a risk to the local civilian population
               and United Nations personnel on the ground,
                    Expressing alarm that violence in the Syrian Arab Republic risks a serious
               conflagration of the conflict in the region,
                   Expressing grave concern at all violations of the Disengagement of Forces
               Agreement,
                    Noting the Secretary-General’s latest report on the situation in the area of
               operations of UNDOF, including findings about weapons fire across the ceasefire line
               as well as ongoing military activity on the Bravo side of the area of separation, and
               in this regard underscoring that there should be no military forces, military
               equipment, or personnel in the area of separation other than those of UNDOF,
                     Underlining the need for all parties to the Syrian domestic conflict to cease
               military actions in the UNDOF area of operations and to respect international
               humanitarian law,
                     Echoing the Secretary-General’s call upon all parties to the Syrian domestic
               conflict to cease military actions throughout the country, including in the UNDOF
               area of operations,




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                    Noting the significant threat to the UN personnel in the UNDOF area of
               operation from unexploded ordnance, explosive remnants of war and mines, and
               emphasizing in this regard the need for demining and clearance operations in strict
               compliance with the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement,
                     Reaffirming its readiness to consider listing individuals, groups, undertakings,
               and entities providing support to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also
               known as Da’esh) or to the Al-Nusra Front (also known as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham or
               Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham), including those who are financing, arming, planning, or
               recruiting for ISIL or the Al-Nusra Front and all other individuals, groups,
               undertakings, and entities associated with ISIL and Al-Qaida as listed on the ISIL
               (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List, including those participating in or otherwise
               supporting attacks against UNDOF peacekeepers,
                     Recognizing the necessity of efforts to flexibly adjust UNDOF’s posture to
               minimize the security risk to UNDOF personnel as UNDOF continues to implement
               its mandate, while emphasizing that the ultimate goal is for the peacekeepers to return
               to their positions in UNDOF’s area of operations as soon as practicable,
                    Emphasizing the importance of Security Council and troop-contributing
               countries having access to reports and information related to UNDOF ’s redeployment
               configuration, and reinforcing that such information assists the Security Council with
               evaluating, mandating, and reviewing UNDOF and with effective consultation with
               troop-contributing countries,
                     Underscoring the need for UNDOF to have at its disposal all necessary means
               and resources to carry out its mandate safely and securely, including technology and
               equipment to enhance its observation of the area of separation and the ceasefire line,
               and to improve force protection, as appropriate, and recalling that the theft of United
               Nations weapons and ammunition, vehicles and other assets, and the looting and
               destruction of United Nations facilities, are unacceptable,
                     Expressing its profound appreciation to UNDOF’s military and civilian
               personnel, including those from Observer Group Golan, for their service in an
               ongoing, challenging operating environment, underscoring the important
               contribution UNDOF’s continued presence makes to peace and security in the Middle
               East, welcoming steps taken to enhance the safety and security of UNDOF, including
               Observer Group Golan, personnel, and stressing the need for continued vigilance to
               ensure the safety and security of UNDOF and Observer Group Golan personnel,
                    Strongly condemning incidents threatening the safety and security of United
               Nations personnel,
                    Expressing its appreciation to UNDOF, including Observer Group Golan, for
               the ongoing efforts to consolidate its presence at Camp Faouar and further progress
               towards expanding its presence in its area of operations through patrols and
               rehabilitation of positions on the Bravo side,
                     Taking note of the Secretary-General’s plan for UNDOF to return to vacated
               positions on the Bravo side based on a continuous assessment of security in the area
               of separation and its surroundings, and continued discussion and coordination with
               the parties,
                    Recalls that UNDOF’s deployment and the 1974 Disengagement of Forces
               Agreement are steps toward a just and durable peace on the basis of Security Council
               Resolution 338 (1973),
                     Recalling its request of the Secretary-General to ensure that data related to the
               effectiveness of peacekeeping operations, including peacekeeping performance data,


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           is used to improve analytics and the evaluation of mission operations, based on clear
           and well identified benchmarks,
               Recalling resolution 2242 (2015) and its aspiration to increase the number of
           women in military and police contingents of United Nations peacekeeping operations,
                1.   Calls upon the parties concerned to implement immediately its resolution
           338 (1973) of 22 October 1973;
                 2.   Stresses the obligation on both parties to scrupulously and fully respect
           the terms of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement, calls on the parties to
           exercise maximum restraint and prevent any breaches of the ceasefire and t he area of
           separation, encourages the parties to take advantage of UNDOF’s liaison function
           regularly to address issues of mutual concern, as appropriate, and underscores that
           there should be no military activity of any kind in the area of separation, incl uding
           military operations by the Syrian Arab Armed Forces;
                 3.   Underlines that there should be no military activity of the armed
           opposition groups in the area of separation, and urges Member States to convey
           strongly to the Syrian armed opposition groups in UNDOF ’s area of operations that
           UNDOF remains an impartial entity and to halt all activities that endanger United
           Nations peacekeepers on the ground and to accord the United Nations personnel on
           the ground the freedom to carry out their mandate safely and securely;
                4.    Calls on all groups other than UNDOF to abandon all UNDOF positions,
           and return the peacekeepers’ vehicles, weapons, and other equipment;
                5.     Calls on all parties to cooperate fully with the operations of UNDOF, to
           respect its privileges and immunities and to ensure its freedom of movement, as well
           as the security of and unhindered and immediate access for the United Nations
           personnel carrying out their mandate, including the unimpeded delivery of UNDOF
           equipment and the temporary use of alternative ports of entry and departure, as
           required, to ensure safe and secure troop rotation and resupply activities, in
           conformity with existing agreements, and urges prompt reporting by the Secretary -
           General to the Security Council and troop-contributing countries of any actions that
           impede UNDOF’s ability to fulfil its mandate;
                 6.    Welcomes the reopening of the Quneitra crossing point and encourages the
           parties to provide all the necessary support to allow full utilization of the crossing by
           UNDOF in line with established procedures to allow UNDOF to increase it s
           operations on the Bravo side to facilitate effective and efficient mandate
           implementation;
                 7.    Welcomes UNDOF’s ongoing efforts to consolidate its presence at Camp
           Faouar and its efforts to intensify its operations in the area of separation, as well as
           the cooperation of the parties to facilitate this return, together with continued efforts
           to plan for UNDOF’s expeditious return to vacated positions in the area of separation,
           including the provision of adequate force protection, based on a continuous
           assessment of security in the area and encourages the mission to resume its
           responsibilities in the areas of limitation on the Bravo side as soon as practicable;
                 8.   Underscores the importance of progress in the deployment of appropriate
           technology, including counter-improvised explosive device (IED) capabilities and a
           sense and warn system, as well as in addressing civilian staffing needs, to ensure the
           safety and security of UNDOF personnel and equipment, following appropriate
           consultations with the parties, and notes in this regard that the Secretary-General’s
           proposal for such technologies has been delivered to the parties for approval;




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                     9.   Encourages the parties to the Disengagement Agreement to engage
               constructively to facilitate necessary arrangements with UNDOF for the force’s return
               to vacated positions, taking into account existing agreements;
                    10. Notes the recent conduct of an independent review and encourages the
               Department of Peacekeeping Operations, UNDOF, and the UN Truce Supervision
               Organization to continue relevant discussions on the panel’s recommendations to
               improve mission performance and implementation of UNDOF’s mandate;
                    11. Reaffirms its support for the development of an integrated performance
               policy framework that identifies clear standards of performance for evaluating all
               United Nations civilian and uniformed personnel working in and supporting
               peacekeeping operations, and calls on the United Nations to apply this framework to
               UNDOF, and requests the Secretary-General seek to increase the number of women
               in UNDOF, as well as to ensure the meaningful participation of women in all aspects
               of operations;
                     12. Welcomes the efforts being undertaken by UNDOF to implement the
               Secretary-General’s zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and to
               ensure full compliance of its personnel with the United Nations code of conduct,
               requests the Secretary-General to continue to take all necessary action in this regard
               and to keep the Security Council informed, and urges troop-contributing countries to
               take preventive and disciplinary action to ensure that such acts are properly
               investigated and punished in cases involving their personnel;
                     13. Decides to renew the mandate of UNDOF for a period of six months, that
               is, until 30 June 2019, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that UNDOF has
               the required capacity and resources to fulfil the mandate in a safe and secure way;
                     14. Requests the Secretary-General to report every 90 days on developments
               in the situation and the measures taken to implement resolution 338 (1973).




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