From: barnhart@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS:SOMALIA: Security Council approves use of force resolution
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 07:36:22 GMT
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: SOMALIA: Security Council approves use of force resolution


new york, dec 3 (ips) -- the u.n. security council voted
unanimously thursday to sanction the use of force in somalia,
where thousands are dying of starvation in a crisis exacerbated by
a two-year-old civil war.

the council adopted a resolution authorising ''the secretary-
general and member-states...to use all necessary means to
establish, as soon as possible, a secure environment for
humanitarian relief operations in somalia.''

this, in effect, means that the united nations has accepted the
united states' offer to send troops to somalia on its behalf. u.s.
marines would then disarm or neutralise the warring groups
preventing humanitarian relief supplies from reaching the
estimated two million somalis threatened with starvation.

the sensitive question of who would be in charge of the
operation seems to have been resolved, with the united states
accepting a formal role for the secretary-general.

the resolution says that member-states (mainly the united
states) and the secretary-general have been authorised ''to make
the necessary arrangements for the unified command and control of
the foreces involved''.

although the united states would want to see the secretary-
general play a largely symbolic role in the enforcement action,
the non-aligned nations and the african group at the united
nations interpret the resolution as making an important political
point.

''since the action is essentially an humanitarian operation,
the political direction must come from the united nations. we are
satisfied that the secretary-general is in the centre stage of the
whole operation,'' simbarashe mumbengegwi of zimbabwe told
reporters before the final vote.

several measures in the resolution have, in fact, given the
united nations a role far beyond what it had during the 1991 gulf
war against iraq. (more/ips)

somalia: security council approves use of force resolution(2-e)

somalia: security council (2)

for instance, an ad hoc commission composed of members of the
security council will report to the council on the implementation
of the resolution on a regular basis.  the secretary-general has
also been asked to attach a small liaison staff to the field
headquarters of the u.n. operation in somalia (unosom).

china, which normally abstains on resolutions calling for the
use of force, voted in favour of thursday's resolution. but it
expressed reservations on the fact that ''authorising certain
countries to take military actions may bring adverse effects to
the collective role of the united nations''.

u.s. ambassador edward perkins, however, made it clear in
remarks after the vote that ''u.s. military forces will remain in
somalia no longer than is necessary. we look forward to the early
transition to an effective united nations peacekeeping force''.

although he did not refer to it, perkins gave the impression
that halting the military operation in somali would mainly be a
u.s. decision. but in remarks to reporters earlier in the day, he
indicated that that he expected the u.s. force commander to be one
among those consulted in the decision related to the halting of
the military action.

he said such a decision would be ''crafted by the secretary-
general, the force commander and a recommendation of the security
council''.

asked whether u.s. marines would disarm the armed irregulars in
somalia, perkins said they would take measures which ''will make
it possible for humanitarian aid to reach the people as soon as
possible.'' (end/ips/am/yjc/92)