Recalling paragraph XI.2 of the Conclusions of the Peace Implementation Conference held in Bonn on 9 and 10 December 1997, in which the Peace Implementation Council welcomed the High Representative’s intention to use his final authority in theatre regarding interpretation of the Agreement on the Civilian Implementation of the Peace Settlement in order to facilitate the resolution of any difficulties as aforesaid “by making binding decisions, as he judges necessary” on certain issues including, under sub-paragraph (c) thereof, “measures to ensure implementation of the Peace Agreement throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina and its Entities”;

Considering paragraph 12.1 of the Declaration of the Peace Implementation Council which met in Madrid on 15 and 16 December 1998, which made clear that the said Council considered that the establishment of the rule of law, in which all citizens had confidence, was a prerequisite for a lasting peace, and for a self-sustaining economy capable of attracting and retaining international and domestic investors;

Considering further paragraph 3 of Annex II (Rule of Law and Human Rights) to the last said Declaration, according to which the establishment of judicial institutions at the State level, which meet an established constitutional need to deal with criminal offences perpetrated by public officials of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the course of their duties, and with administrative and electoral matters, is a precondition for the establishment of the rule of law inBosnia and Herzegovina;

Recalling the Declaration of the Peace Implementation Council, which met in Brussels on 23 and 24 May 2000, and the Annex thereto, pursuant to which the adoption of a Law on a Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina was envisaged by September 2000;

Bearing in mind the reinvigorated strategy for judicial reform to strengthen the Rule of Law efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2002/03 which was endorsed by the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council on 28 February 2002 and noting that the aforementioned strategy was devised in response to calls by the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina for firmer International Community actions to tackle economic crime, corruption and problems inherent in the judicial system;

Noting further that the communiqué of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council issued at Sarajevo on 31 July 2002 stated that the Board welcomed the creation of Special Chambers of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and endorsed the proposal of the High Representative to include national and international Judges and Prosecutors in a Special Panel/Department for Organised Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption in the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

Noting that the communiqué of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council issued at Sarajevo on 26 September 2003 stated that the Board took note of the UN Security Council Resolution 1503, which, inter alia, called on the International Community to support the work of the High Representative in setting up the war crimes chamber;

Recalling the Agreement between the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the Establishment of the Registry for Section I for War Crimes and Section II for Organised Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption of the Criminal and Appellate Divisions of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Special Department for War Crimes and the Special Department for Organised Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina signed by the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the High Representative on 1 December 2004;

Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the Law on Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (“Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina”, 29/00, 24/02, 3/03, 42/03, 37/03, 9/04, 4/04, 35/04, and 61/04) providing for a number of international judges to be appointed to the Section I for War Crimes and to the Section II for Organised Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption of the Criminal and Appellate Divisions of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

Convinced of the vital importance to Bosnia and Herzegovina of ensuring that the rule of law is strengthened and followed;

Convinced also that the Registry for Section I for War Crimes and Section II for Organised Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption of the Criminal and Appellate Divisions of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Special Department for War Crimes and the Special Department for Organised Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina will provide, with the funds available, both the necessary physical infrastructure and the legal and administrative assistance to ensure that the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina are able to meet the standards required by the international community;

Mindful therefore both of the urgency and of the need to establish and strengthen the Special Sections of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and to appoint the international judges to the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as of the principle of effectiveness, and for all the reasons as aforesaid;

Noting the Joint Recommendation for the Appointment of International Judges of 27 July 2005 signed by the Registrar of the Registry for Section I for War Crimes and Section II for Organised Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption of the Criminal and Appellate Divisions of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Special Department for War Crimes and the Special Department for Organised Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia, the President of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the President of the High Judicial and  Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

The High Representative hereby issues the following

DECISION

Appointing Richard S. Gebelein to Section I for War Crimes of the Criminal and Appellate Divisions and to Section II for Organised Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption of the Criminal and Appellate Divisions of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina

1.      As provided by Article 65, paragraph 4, as amended, of the Law on Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nos. 29/00, 24/02, 3/03, 42/03, 37/03, 9/04, 4/04, 35/04 and 61/04, hereinafter: the Law) is hereby appointed as international judge to Section I for War Crimes of the Criminal and Appellate Divisions and to Section II for Organised Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption of the Criminal and Appellate Divisions of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina:

Richard S. Gebelein 

2.      The term of appointment of Richard S. Gebelein shall be for two years, subject to reappointment. An international judge is required to reside in Bosnia in Herzegovina during the term of his appointment and cannot perform any other function that is incompatible with the judicial service or that can impede his performance of the judicial function on a full time basis. To the extent applicable, all other requirements for judicial service as set forth in the Law shall apply to this appointment.

3.         The Registrar of the Registry for Section I for War Crimes and Section II for Organised Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption of the Criminal and Appellate Divisions of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Special Department for War Crimes and the Special Department for Organised Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina shall notify the High Representative of any occurrence, including the ones as referred to in Paragraph 2 of this Decision, that may cause the inability of an appointed international judge to perform his mandate.  In the event of resignation by or inability of an international judge to complete his mandate, the High Representative may appoint a successor to complete the above-mentioned term of office.

4.         During the term of appointment, the appointee shall complete all training programs as directed by the President of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and adhere to all professional conduct standards as established by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

5.         An appointed international judge shall perform the duty of judge in accordance with the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina and laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina, take decisions upon his best knowledge, conscientiously, responsibly and impartially to uphold the rule of law, and shall protect the freedoms and rights of individuals granted by the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. An international judge as a judge of the Section I for War Crimes of the Criminal and Appellate Divisions and Section II for Organised Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption of the Criminal and Appellate Divisions of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina stays bounded by a solemn declaration before the President of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina to be taken to that effect.

6.         An international judge hereby appointed shall take up his official function as judge of the Section I for War Crimes of the Criminal and Appellate Divisions and Section II for Organised Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption of the Criminal and Appellate Divisions of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina from the date hereof. 

7.         This Decision shall enter into force forthwith and shall be published without delay in the Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina.