In the exerciseof the powers vested in me by Article V of Annex 10 (Agreement on Civilian Implementation of the Peace Settlement) to the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to which the High Representative is the final authority in theatre regarding interpretation of the said Agreement on the Civilian Implementation of the Peace Settlement; and considering in particular Art. II.1.(d) of the last said Agreement, according to the terms of which the High Representative shall  “Facilitate, as the High Representative judges necessary, the resolution of any difficulties arising in connection with civilian implementation”;

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”;

Bearing in mind Article 133 of the Statute of the Zepce Municipality ( Municipality of Zepce Official Gazette No. 1/03) and the right and obligation of the High Representative to review and finally approve the Statute withintwo years of the date of its entry into force;

Taking into account the progress achieved in the implementation of the High Representative’s Decision dated 6 October 2000, but also in the implementation of the Final Decision dated 30 November 2001 and the Decision on the organization of Municipal Elections in the Municipality of Zepce dated 3 April 2002;

Considering the level of progress achieved in the process of integration of municipal services and community life in general in the Municipality;

Being aware of necessity to bring the Municipality of Zepce into regular life and to incorporate it into the system of Bosnia and Herzegovina , the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina , and Zenica – Doboj Canton;

Bearing in mind the totality of the matters aforesaid, I hereby issue the following:

DECISION

ON AMENDING THE STATUTE OF THE ZEPCEMUNICIPALITY

The Statute of the Zepce Municipality (Official Gazette of the Municipality of Zepce No. 1/03) is hereby amended as follows:

Article 1

In Article 1, words “in accordance with the Decision of the High Representative on Integrating the Municipality of Zepce of 6 October 2000, (hereinafter referred to as: the Decision of the High Representative)” shall be deleted.

Article 2

In Paragraph 1 of Article 3, the words “the Decision of the High Representative” shall be deleted and replaced with the words “the Law on Changing of the Borders of the Municipality of Zepce”.

Article 3

In Article 10, the words “the Decision of the High Representative” shall be deleted.

Article 4

In Article 16, the words “the Decision of the High Representative” shall be deleted.

Article 5

In Item 17 of Paragraph 1 of Article 17, the words “the Decision of the High Representative” shall be deleted.

Article 6

In Article 20, the words “the Decision of the High Representative” shall be deleted.

Article 7

Article 133 shall be deleted.

Article 8

Article 134 shall be deleted.

Article 9

This Statute shall enter into force forthwith, and shall be published without delay in the Official Gazettes of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Zenica – Doboj Canton.