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The High Representative, by way of his Decision,
dated 29 November 1999 (“the 1999 Decision”), removed Mr. Dragan Meter from his
position as Mayor of Prozor-Rama. This Decision also barred Mr. Meter from being
a candidate for the elections or to hold any executive office at any level
(“Ban”). The 1999 Decision further provided explicitly for a lifting of the Ban
at the sole discretion of the High Representative.
Upon careful consideration of Mr. Meter’s case and after concluding that the
reasons for his removal no longer apply and that he no longer poses a threat to
peace implementation, institutional integrity or democracy in Bosnia and
Herzegovina, I have decided to repeal the Ban. Mr. Dragan Meter is hereby
expressly permitted to hold official, elective or appointive public office, to
run in elections and to hold office within political parties.
The principles of equity, proper governance and judicious exercise of the
High Representative’s international mandate, all of which take into account the
balance between the protection of national stability and the rights of the
individual, justify this outcome.
This Decision does not call into question the validity of the 1999 Decision.
This Decision does not entitle Mr. Meter to automatic restoration to the office
from which he was removed pursuant to the 1999 Decision. Further, this
Decision does not entitle him to compensation for any remuneration, other forms
of unvested monetary benefits or privileges or status forfeited as a result of
the 1999 Decision.
This Decision does not constitute an amnesty but rather a repeal,
prospectively, of the 1999 Decision. The latter is not expunged and remains as
part of the legislative record of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This Decision does not prejudice the right of the High Representative to
remove Mr. Meter again should he, while occupying a public office in the future,
be deemed to have violated his oath to respect the Constitution of Bosnia and
Herzegovina and to uphold the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia
and Herzegovina, which oath was freely given as a condition precedent for the
lifting of the Ban.
This Decision does not affect or otherwise prejudice any pending or impending
criminal proceedings in or outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
To the extent the terms of this Decision contradict domestic legislation on
any of the subjects encompassed thereby, the former shall prevail. High
Representative Decisions supersede and preempt contradictory domestic
legislation. This legislative statement is declaratory of existing and
prospective High Representative Decisions.
This Decision has immediate effect and will not require any further
procedural steps.
This Decision shall be published without delay in the Official Gazette of the
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Sarajevo, 29 June 2007
Dr. Christian Schwarz-Schilling
High
Representative
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