Contact Group Statement
The Contact Group meeting on 2 July welcomed Carlos Westendorp’s appointment as High Representative and promised him its full support.
The Contact Group recalled the provision in the Sintra Declaration that the holding of the Donors Conference depended on agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Monetary Fund. It reaffirmed its support for this conditionality. It noted the importance of the Donors Conference going ahead soon, to enable international assistance to make a rapid impact in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It therefore urged the Bosnian authorities to make additional efforts to secure agreement within the next seven days, without which the support of the Donor Community risked being forfeited.
The Contact Group reaffirmed its full commitment to all the other provisions of the Sintra Declaration. It invited the High Representative to prepare proposals on concerted action in the event of non-compliance.
The Contact Group recalled the responsibilities of the Governments of Croatia and the FRY to support the peace process in Bosnia, in particular in establishing functioning borders for Bosnia; to surrender to the International Tribunal any indictees on their territories; and to assist all refugees from their territories to return to their homes.