The Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina

A/RES/54/119No PDF available

Who created this mandate?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 42Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, published in 1999.

What other versions does this mandate have?

11 versions · 1992–2002

Newer documents in this group exist (latest: 2002).

2002A/RES/57/10The situation in Bosnia and HerzegovinaLatestCompare with previous version
2002A/RES/56/215The situation in Bosnia and HerzegovinaLatestCompare with previous version
2001A/RES/55/24The situation in Bosnia and HerzegovinaCompare with previous version
1999A/RES/54/119The situation in Bosnia and HerzegovinaCompare with previous version
1999A/RES/53/35The situation in Bosnia and HerzegovinaCompare with previous version

Versions are identified automatically by matching titles within the same organ (~97% accuracy on a manual audit).

What subjects does this mandate have?

16 topics

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina Situation Boundaries Civil Servants Corruption Displaced Persons Economic Reform Indictments Land Legislation Mass Media Military Budgets Mine Clearance Property Reconstruction Refugees From Bosnia and Herzegovina Repatriation

What does this mandate say?

32 operative paragraphs

Expresses its full support for the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the annexes thereto (collectively the “Peace Agreement”),1 which constitute the key mechanism for the achievement of a durable and just peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, leading to stability and cooperation in the region and the reintegration of Bosnia and Herzegovina at all levels;

Welcomes the adoption on 15 November 1999 of the New York Declaration , in which the Joint Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina agreed to important steps for moving forward the process of fully implementing the Peace Agreement, including the establishment of a State border service, improved inter-entity military cooperation, steps to improve the functioning of common State institutions, including the creation of a permanent secretariat for the Joint Presidency under one roof, the establishment of a joint commission on refugee returns and the creation of a single national passport;

Demands that all parties facilitate the full implementation of all aspects of the New York Declaration, including, in particular, the Principles on the Establishment of a State Border Service, in a timely manner;

Notes the progress that has been made towards the implementation of the Peace Agreement, and reiterates its demands for the full, comprehensive and consistent implementation thereof;

Supports fully the efforts of the High Representative for the implementation of the Peace Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina, in accordance with the Peace Agreement and subsequent Peace Implementation Council declarations, and calls upon all parties to cooperate fully and in good faith with him;

Stresses the importance of the summit meeting of heads of State and Government to launch the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe in Sarajevo on 29 and 30 July 1999;

Endorses the concept of “ownership” as presented by the High Representative, whereby the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and, in particular, their political leaders, should assume more responsibility in the process of the implementation of the Peace Agreement;

Recognizes that the role of the international community remains essential, welcomes the readiness of the international community to continue its efforts towards a self-sustaining peace, and recalls that the responsibility for consolidating peace and security lies primarily with the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

Welcomes the vital contribution of the multinational Stabilization Force in providing a secure environment for the implementation of civilian aspects of the Peace Agreement, calls for the fullest cooperation by all parties in this regard, expresses its full support for the efforts of the United Nations International Police Task Force in carrying out its mandate, and commends its efforts in the establishment of the rule of law in Bosnia and Herzegovina;

Underlines the fact that the assistance provided by the international community remains strictly conditional upon compliance with the Peace Agreement and subsequent obligations, including, in particular, cooperation with the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 and facilitation of the return of refugees and displaced persons;

Insists upon the need to surrender all indictees to the International Tribunal for trial, notes that the Tribunal has the authority to address individual responsibility for the perpetration of the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international humanitarian law in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and demands that all the parties fulfil their obligations to hand over to the Tribunal all indicted persons in territories under their control and otherwise to comply fully with the orders of the Tribunal and to cooperate with the work of the Tribunal, including with exhumations and other investigative acts, in accordance with article 29 of the statute of the Tribunal, with all relevant Security Council resolutions and in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Peace Agreement, in particular the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

Welcomes the support given by Member States so far, and urges Member States, taking into account the orders and requests of the International Tribunal, to offer the Tribunal their full support, including financial support, in order to ensure the achievement of the purpose of the Tribunal, and to carry out their obligations under the statute of the Tribunal and all relevant Security Council resolutions;

Reaffirms once again the right of refugees and displaced persons to return voluntarily to their homes of origin in accordance with the Peace Agreement, in particular annex 7, and the realization of the same in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and host countries, calls upon all parties to improve substantially their cooperation with the international community at the State, entity and local levels, in order to establish immediately the conditions necessary for the return of refugees and displaced persons to their homes and for the freedom of movement and communication of all the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and calls upon the relevant international organizations to enhance the conditions to facilitate return, in accordance with relevant provisions of the Peace Agreement, in particular the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and welcomes continued and new efforts by the United Nations agencies, the European Union, bilateral and other donors and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to establish and implement projects designed to facilitate the early voluntary and orderly return of refugees and displaced persons to all regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including projects that would help to create a safe and secure environment with increased economic opportunity;

Encourages the acceleration of the peaceful, orderly and phased return of refugees and displaced persons, including in areas where they would be in the ethnic minority, strongly condemns all acts of intimidation, violence and killings, including those acts designed to discourage the voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons, and demands that such acts be investigated and prosecuted;

Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraph 18 of resolution 53/35, commends him for its thoroughness and candour, condemns the brutal acts described therein, deplores the appalling magnitude of the human tragedy that occurred before and after the fall of Srebrenica and Zepa, notes with deep concern the findings contained in the report, and therefore encourages the Secretary-General and Member States to address these concerns so as to prevent them from recurring in the future, as recommended in the report;

Reaffirms the previous conclusions of the Peace Implementation Council on the importance of reform of the media in Bosnia and Herzegovina, endorses the decision of the High Representative of 30 July 1999 on the restructuring of the public broadcasting system in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and calls upon the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to implement that decision in full;

Stresses the importance of establishing, strengthening and expanding throughout all of Bosnia and Herzegovina free and pluralistic media, deplores any action that seeks to intimidate or restrict the freedom of the media, and condemns violent acts of intimidation against journalists;

Supports the efforts of the High Representative in accordance with the Peace Agreement and subsequent Peace Implementation Council declarations to counter obstructionist conduct against the Peace Agreement and reconciliation efforts, and notes in this regard the decision of the High Representative of 29 November 1999 to remove twenty-two Bosnian public officials;

Reaffirms once again its support for the principle that all statements and commitments made under duress, in particular those regarding land and property, are wholly null and void, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Peace Agreement, and supports the effective engagement of the Commission for Real Property Claims of Displaced Persons and Refugees in compliance with its mandate;

Endorses the package of property law reforms imposed by the High Representative on 27 October 1999 aimed at harmonizing the laws in the two entities in order to enable refugees and displaced persons to return to their pre-war homes, as well as the subsequent action by the High Representative to ensure full implementation of the property implementation package, and calls upon the entity Parliaments to adopt those laws formally and to contribute actively to their speedy implementation;

Emphasizes the importance of economic revitalization and reconstruction for the successful consolidation of the peace process in Bosnia and Herzegovina, recognizes the important contribution of the international community in this regard, and invites it to continue its efforts;

Notes that corruption and the lack of transparency seriously hamper the economic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasizes the importance of combating corruption, welcomes the important contribution made in this regard by the Customs and Fiscal Assistance Office, and expresses its full support for the efforts of the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its local bodies and others that are supportive in this regard;

Supports the efforts by the High Representative and the Commander of the multinational Stabilization Force, in accordance with the Peace Agreement and subsequent Peace Implementation Council declarations, to weaken the continued political and economic influence of remaining parallel nationalist structures obstructing the peace implementation;

Stresses the need for a more comprehensive approach to economic reform, which should contribute to the more homogeneous development of the economy and trade in the two entities and across the inter-entity boundary line;

Stresses the importance of establishing an economic programme that should include the creation of a framework for private-sector development, including privatizations and improvement of foreign investment conditions, the restructuring of banking and capital markets, the reform of the financial system and adequate social protection;

Welcomes the final arbitration award on Brcko, expresses its support for implementation of the final arbitration award in accordance with the Peace Agreement, and stresses that the obligation to cooperate fully with the Supervisor for Brcko is an essential obligation for the two entities;

Also welcomes the commitment made by the Joint Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the summit meeting on the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe to reduce unilaterally by 15 per cent the military budgets, equipment and personnel strength of the two entities, effective 31 December 1999, with a significant subsequent reduction thereafter, and calls for the full implementation of those commitments;

Stresses the need for timely information about the level of cooperation and compliance with the International Tribunal and its orders, the status and programme for the return of refugees and displaced persons to and within Bosnia and Herzegovina and the status and implementation of the Agreement on Subregional Arms Control;

Welcomes the efforts of international regional organizations, Member States and non-governmental organizations, including through the Board of Donors, and the Slovenian International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and invites Member States to continue to support the mine-action activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina;

Commends the efforts of the international community, including the Council of Europe, the European Union, the European Community Monitoring Mission, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Monetary Fund, the multinational Stabilization Force, non-governmental organizations, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Islamic Development Bank, the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Peace Implementation Council and the World Bank, in their roles in the implementation of the Peace Agreement;

Commends in particular the efforts of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, the Office of the High Representative for the Implementation of the Peace Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Office of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations International Police Task Force, the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United Nations Development Programme and the other United Nations agencies in the peace process, and encourages their further engagement in the peace process in Bosnia and Herzegovina;

Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-fifth session the item entitled “The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina”.

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