In the exercise of the powers vested in the High Representative 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”;

Considering Article 40 of the Law on Identity Cards of Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina (published in the Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina 32/01 and 16/02) which requires, inter alia, issuance ofa rule book concerning the cost of identity cards;

Mindful of the need to ensure effective implementation of theCitizens Identification Protection System;

Considering the fact that such effective implementation requires an adequate and stable source of funding and noting that a Commission established by the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina will review this issue as a matter of urgency in the coming days.

Having taken into account and considered the totality of the matters aforesaid,the High Representative hereby issues the following

Decision

Imposing Amendments to the Book of Rules on the Fee for the Form for Personal Documents (published in the Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 39/02) ashereinafter set out.

This Decision, as well as the attached Amendments, shall come into effect forthwith and shall be published without delay in the Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Amendments to the Book of Rules on the Fee for the Form for Personal Documents

Article 1

Article 2, item 1 of the Book of Rules on the Fee for the Form for Personal Documents, which concerns the fee for identity cards, shall be amended to read as follows:

“- the identity card                                                                    KM 10.00

- costs of servicing the identity card                                           KM   2.50

- costs of preparing the form                                                     KM   1.00”

Article 2

For the avoidance of doubt, the fees set forth in Article 1 of the Amendments herein are to be treated for all purposes as the fees applicable as from and includingthe firstdate of issuance of identity cards.