The Security Council,

Reaffirming its resolutions 1125 (1997) of 6 August 1997, 1136 (1997) of 6 November 1997, 1152 (1998) of 5 February 1998, and 1155 (1998) of 16 March 1998,

Recalling the report dated 10 March 1998 (S/1998/221) to the Security Council by the International Committee for the follow-up of the Bangui Agreements pursuant to resolution 1152 (1998),

Recalling also the letter dated 11 March 1998 from the President of the Central African Republic to the President of the Security Council (S/1998/219, annex) and the letter dated 13 March 1998 to the President of the Security Council from the President of Gabon, on behalf of the members of the International Committee for the follow-up of the Bangui Agreements (S/1998/233, annex),

Having further considered the report of the Secretary-General of 23 February 1998 (S/1998/148) submitted to the Council in accordance with resolution 1152 (1998),

Reiterating its appreciation for the neutral and impartial way in which the Inter-African Mission to Monitor the Implementation of the Bangui Agreements (MISAB) has carried out its mandate, in close cooperation with the Central African authorities and noting with satisfaction that MISAB has contributed significantly to stabilizing the situation in the Central African Republic, in particular through the supervision of the surrendering of arms,

Recognizing that the States participating in MISAB and the Central African Republic extended the mandate of MISAB until 15 April 1998 in order to ensure a smooth transition to the deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping operation,

Stressing the importance of regional stability and the need to consolidate the progress achieved by MISAB, and in particular to assist the people of the Central African Republic to consolidate the process of national reconciliation and help to sustain a secure and stable environment conducive to the holding of free and fair elections,

Stressing also the need for all signatories to the Bangui Agreements to continue to implement these Agreements, and for the authorities of the Central African Republic to take concrete steps to implement political, economic, social and security reforms as referred to in the report of the Secretary-General of 23 February 1998 including the establishment of an electoral code and preparations for legislative elections scheduled for August/September 1998,

Recognizing the link between peace and development and that a sustained commitment by the international community to assist and support the economic, social, and institutional development of the Central African Republic is indispensable for long-term peace and stability in the country, and in that regard welcoming the cooperation between the Government of the Central African Republic and the international financial institutions in developing an economic reform programme,

Determining that the situation in the Central African Republic continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region,

1. Welcomes the progress made by the Central African authorities and parties towards the achievement of national reconciliation and sustainable stability in the Central African Republic;

2. Urges the Government of the Central African Republic to continue to fulfil the commitments expressed in the letter of 8 January 1998 to the Secretary-General from the President of the Central African Republic (S/1998/61, annex) and calls upon the parties in the Central African Republic to complete the implementation of the provisions of the Bangui Agreements and to implement the National Reconciliation Pact (S/1998/219, annex);

3. Reiterates its call to all States, international organizations and financial institutions to assist in post-conflict development in the Central African Republic;

4. Welcomes the efforts made by the Member States participating in MISAB and by those States providing support to them, and their readiness to maintain these efforts;

5. Approves the continued conduct by the Member States participating in MISAB of the operation in a neutral and impartial way to achieve its objective as set out in paragraph 2 of resolution 1125 (1997);

6. Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, authorizes the Member States participating in MISAB and those States providing logistical support to ensure security and freedom of movement of their personnel;

7. Decides that the authorization referred to in paragraph 6 above will end on 15 April 1998;

8. Recalls that the expenses and logistical support for MISAB will be borne on a voluntary basis in accordance with article 11 of the mandate of MISAB, and encourages Member States to contribute to the Trust Fund for the Central African Republic;

9. Decides to establish a United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA) with effect from 15 April 1998, and decides also that the military component of MINURCA will not exceed 1,350 personnel;

10. Decides that, taking into account the recommendations of the Secretary-General in his report of 23 February 1998, MINURCA shall have the following initial mandate:

(a) To assist in maintaining and enhancing security and stability, including freedom of movement, in Bangui and the immediate vicinity of the city;

(b) To assist the national security forces in maintaining law and order and in protecting key installations in Bangui;

(c) To supervise, control storage, and monitor the final disposition of all weapons retrieved in the course of the disarmament exercise;

(d) To ensure security and freedom of movement of United Nations personnel and the safety and security of United Nations property;

(e) To assist in coordination with other international efforts in a short-term police trainers program and in other capacity-building efforts of the national police, and to provide advice on the restructuring of the national police and special police forces;

(f) To provide advice and technical support to the national electoral bodies regarding the electoral code and plans for the conduct of the legislative elections scheduled for August/September 1998;

11. Authorizes the Secretary-General to take the measures necessary to ensure that MINURCA is fully deployed by 15 April 1998 in order to carry out its mandate, and to secure a smooth transition between MISAB and MINURCA;

12. Decides that MINURCA is established for an initial period of 3 months until 15 July 1998 and expresses its intention to decide on the extension of MINURCA on the basis of the report to be submitted by the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraph 15 below;

13. Affirms that MINURCA may be required to take action to ensure security and freedom of movement of its personnel in the discharge of its mandate;

14. Welcomes the appointment by the Secretary-General, within MINURCA, of his Special Representative in the Central African Republic:

(a) To assist in the promotion of the reforms necessary to achieve national reconciliation, security and stability in the country;

(b) To head MINURCA;

(c) To have overall authority over all United Nations activities in the Central African Republic, in support of MINURCA's mandate;

(d) To provide good offices and mediation between the Government and political parties;

(e) To provide advice and facilitate technical assistance in the areas of good governance and the rule of law;

(f) To cooperate with other international partners, including international financial institutions, with the objective of supporting activities aimed at establishing the foundations for lasting peace, national reconstruction and development;

(g) To encourage the United Nations agencies and programmes to provide assistance to the Central African Republic, in particular in the areas referred to in the report of the Secretary-General;

15. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the Security Council regularly informed and to submit a report to the Security Council by 20 June 1998 on the implementation of the mandate of MINURCA, on developments in the Central African Republic, on progress towards the implementation of the commitments expressed in the letter of 8 January to the Secretary-General from the President of the Central African Republic and on the implementation of the Bangui Agreements and the National Reconciliation Pact, including on commitments related to ensuring the country's economic recovery;

16. Further requests the Secretary-General to provide information in his report referred to in paragraph 15 above on the progress by the Government of the Central African Republic to adopt an electoral code, set a date for the legislative elections, and develop specific plans for the conduct of the legislative elections, and to make recommendations on the future role of the United Nations in the legislative elections process;

17. Urges Member States to respond positively to the request made to them by the Secretary-General to contribute personnel, equipment and other resources to MINURCA in order to facilitate its early deployment (S/1998/148);

18. Approves the intention of the Secretary-General to establish a trust fund to enable Member States to make voluntary contributions to support the activities of MINURCA and to assist in the financing of the Mission and urges Member States to contribute to it;

19. Requests the Government of the Central African Republic to conclude a status-of-forces agreement with the Secretary-General before 25 April 1998, and recalls that pending the conclusion of such an agreement, the model status-of-forces agreement dated 9 October 1990 (A/45/594) should apply provisionally;

20. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.