Petersberg Declaration – Bonn, 25/04/96

Agreement on Restructuring the Police Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

We, the undersigned, met at Bonn-Petersberg on 25 April 1996 to decide among other issues the restructuring of the police in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and to agree upon concrete measures to implement that restructuring with respect to Cantonal police in accordance with the Federation Constitution and the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A unified policing structure designed to support democratic institutions is essential to the success of the Federation. This Agreement demonstrated our commitment to the development of policing structures within the Federation which will support the democratic system and protect internationally accepted human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons. The restructuring of the police is a critical confidence building measure which will help to provide a solid foundation for free and fair elections, and instil in the public confidence in the security of their persons and property.

The following agreements, of which the attached Annex forms integral part, express our basic commitments and concrete steps toward the restructuring of the Federation police consistent with generally accepted international policing standards and guaranteeing respect for internationally accepted human rights.

Basic Commitments:

1. We acknowledge that under the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we are committed to creating police organisations, predicated on the advice of the Commisioner of the United Nations International Police Task Force (UN IPTF), that are structured and operate according to generally accepted international standards for policing and guarantee respect for internationally accepted human rights.
2. In furtherance of our commitments and obligations under the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we have, at the request of the Commissioner of the UN IPTF, created a Commission designed to provide input to him in his formulation of directives concerning the restructuring of Federation policing structures necessary to ensure compliance with our obligations. We have met today in the first substantive session of the full Commission.
3. We agree that the principles articulated in Annex I to this Agreement constitute the generally accepted international policing principles upon which the standards for the restructuring and reorientation of the Federation police structures must be based.
4. We agree that the current policing strength is in excess of the needs of democratic society and beyond the means of the Federation to support, and that as the Federation moves to a peace-time democracy, the number of police employed in the current policing structure must be adjusted to a level consistent with European standards.

Concrete Steps:

1. We pledge that the restructuring will proceed on a phased basis, Canton by Canton, according to the following schedule which we have agreed to today:
   1. On 6 May 1996 the Commission will begin reviewing draft proposals for restructuring prepared by the UN IPTF Plans Department.
   2. By 12 May 1996, the Commission will finalise its recommendations including the structure and staffing of the newly reorganised police forces, the process by which individuals will be vetted into the new forces, and an implementation schedule.
   3. On 20 May 1996 after having reviewed the recommendations of the Commission, the Commissioner of the UN IPTF will issue his instructions on reorganisation.
   4. On 31 May 1996 the Federation will begin implementing those directives, starting with the screening of police officers in Sarajevo.
   5. On 15 June 1996, implementation will begin in the rest of the Federation, proceeding Canton by Canton, beginning with Canton Six, to be followed by Canton Seven and then the other Cantons pursuant to the schedules to be established by the Commission.
   6. The entire process of reorganisation will be concluded not later than 1 September 1996.
2. We agree that a new uniform, an example of which was presented at the Conference today, will be used by all uniformed police operating in Federation territory. This uniform, created in accordance with the decree of the government of the Federation of 15 March 1996 and procured through a tendering process open to local manufacturers throughout the Federation, is an important symbol of our commitment to the restructuring of policing in the Federation. Once each Canton is restructured, all uniformed police serving in that jurisdiction will wear only the new uniform. After that, any person found wearing another police uniform will be regarded by UN IPTF, IFOR, and the newly re-structured police force as a person illegally impersonating a police officer, and will be subject to arrest.
3. We are committed to developing a strategy for utilising the talents of those who may be demobilised as a result of restructuring. The Commission will review a proposed strategy by the IPTF at the 22 May 1996 Commission meeting and make its recommendations, the Commissioner of the UN IPTF. After reviewing the Commission recommendations, the Commissioner of the UN IPTF will issue instructions which will be executed by the parties in connection with the Canton by Canton restructuring of the police. We agree that that demobilisation of police must occur within 30 days after a Canton is transitioned but in no event later than 15 September 1996.
4. We understand and agree that those persons who are not selected to serve as police in the restructured Federation police force will not be allowed to perform law enforcement duties and will not be permitted to carry arms. Those individuals discovered with arms who are not certified by the UN IPTF to serve as police will be treated by IFOR as armed civilians to be seized and disarmed.
5. We agree that, as prescribed in the Federation Constitution, the Cantonal governments shall ensure that the composition of the police shall reflect that of the population, according to the 1991 census, provided that the composition of the police of each Municipality, shall reflect the composition of the latter.
6. We agree to the development and implementation of training standards and curricula under the guidance and supervision of the Commissioner of the UN IPTF. We welcome the resources and assistance to be provided by the UN IPTF and interested bilateral donors in connection with the strengthening of existing police training. We are committed to reviewing proposals prepared by the UN IPTF Plans Department concerning training standards and curricula at the 9 June 1996 meeting of the Commission and making training recommendations to the Commissioner not later than 12 June 1996.
7. We acknowledge that after reviewing the Commission recommendations the Commissioner of the UN IPTF will issue instructions concerning training on 15 June 1996 which we agree to begin implementing commencing 1 July 1996.
8. We understand that the actions of the Commissioner of the UN IPTF is screening and certifying persons for participation in the restructured police force are provisional certifications effective through 15 October 1996. We agree to the creation of the permanent Police Standards and Training Commission under the advice and guidance of the Commissioner UN IPTF. Based on recommendations by the Commisioner UN IPTF, which will be predicated on his review of the conduct of those persons provisionally certified, the Police Standards and Training Commision shall issue permanent credentials to police officers and be responsible for future accessions to the police forces and for the continued training function.
9. We also agree that we will make available twenty senior police managers from across the Federation, including the senior police executive in each Canton, to attend a two to three week training session sometime in June or July, 1996, at a specific date and place to be determined by the Commissioner UN IPTF.

Signed at Bonn-Petersberg on 25 April 1996.

Kresimir Zubak

President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Ejup Ganic

Vice President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

For the Commission

Robert Wasserman

Chairman, Deputy Commissioner, UN International Police Task Force

Avdo Hebib

Minister of Internal Affairs, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Jozo Leutar

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Ismet Dahic

Police Advisor, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Milan Krizanovic

Legal Advisor, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Enes Bezdrob

Chief of Police, Sarajevo

Milan Vukoja

Canton Representative

As Witnesses:

Michael Steiner

Ambassador, Principal Deputy High Representative

S. Iqbal Riza

Special Representative of the Secretary-General

Office of the High Representative