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In the exercise of 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 Civilian
Implementation of the Peace Settlement; and considering in particular Article
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";
Recalling further Article I:1 of the
said Annex 10, referring explicitly to the promotion of respect for human rights
and the return of displaced persons and refugees;
Considering the emphasis placed by the Peace Implementation Council on accelerating
refugee return and on ensuring full and non-discriminatory implementation of the
property laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
Considering further the need to implement in the most efficient
and equitable manner legislation concerning repossession of property throughout
Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to ensure that the same is undertaken in a
harmonised manner in each Entity;
Conscious that after months of
negotiation the Entity officials responsible for refugee and housing issues have
been unable to reach agreement on the specific provisions necessary for
harmonisation as aforesaid, and that the deadline of 15 November 2001 as set by
the Entities at the Teslic Property Conference for full harmonization has
passed;
Noting that the Ministry for Human
Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina has requested action by the Office
of the High Representative to harmonise Entity legislation governing the
repossession of property in order to safeguard basic human rights and expedite
refugee return.
Having considered and borne in mind all the matters aforesaid,
I hereby issue the following:
DECISION
ON AMENDMENTS TO THE INSTRUCTION ON APPLICATION
OF THE LAW ON THE CESSATION OF APPLICATION OF THE LAW ON TEMPORARY ABANDONED
REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY CITIZENS
Article 1
The following Articles of the Instruction on the Application of
the Law on Cessation of Application of the Law on Abandoned Real Property Owned
by Citizens (Official Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina 11/98,
28/98, 27/99) shall be suspended: Articles 1 through 4, 9 through 12 and 18
through 21.
Article 2
This Decision shall be published as soon as possible in the
Official Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the amendments
contained herein shall enter into force eight days after the date of such
publication.
Sarajevo, 4 December 2001
Wolfgang Petritsch
High Representative
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