The High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, on Saturday, 15 September issued a Decision confirming and supporting the Agreement on Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje signed in Travnik on 2 August this year. The High Representative’s Decision also names Bernd Burwitz, from Germany, as Supervisor for the Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje Municipality. The Senior Deputy High Representative (SDHR), Matthias Sonn, visited Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje today and presented the Decision to representatives of the Central Bosnia Canton and the Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje municipality.

In accordance with the Agreement signed by Dzevad Agic and Nikola Milic, representatives of Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje, and the President of the Central Bosnia Canton, Rudo Vidovic, and his Deputy, Nedzad Hadzic, the High Representative’s Decision changes the name of the municipality and the settlement of Gornji Vakuf to Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje. The seat of the new single administration of the municipality will be in both buildings currently used by the parallel administrations, but departments will be unified in one or other building. The positions of the Mayor and his Deputy will also be located in the same building and will rotate periodically.

The parties to the Agreement had invited the High Representative to give the force of law to their political compromise by issuing Saturday’s Decision and by appointing a Supervisor for the purpose of ensuring the agreement’s implementation.

The High Representative’s Decision stipulates that within fifteen days of the Decision, the new Interim Municipal Council will meet to elect a Mayor and his Deputy and other municipal officials. At their first session, the Council will adopt the new Statute, the Rules of Procedure and the systematisation plan of the Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje municipality. The composition of the Interim Municipal Council is based on the 1991 Census and consists of the 23 elected Gornji Vakuf Municipal Council Members and 16 new Councillors named in the Decision.

As Supervisor, Bernd Burwitz, who has extensive experience in the Central Bosnia Canton, will oversee the implementation of all areas of the High Representative’s Decision, encourage rapid progress, report regularly to the High Representative and act as arbiter when necessary.

Today, in Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje, the SDHR commended the positive atmosphere created by the 2 August agreement, on which the High Representative’s Decision is based, the increasingly pragmatic approach of the local representatives, and the crucial role of Ulrich Bucher, the High Representative’s Special Envoy in Bugojno, in bringing the Agreement about.

The SDHR noted that the Agreement strengthens the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, upholds the rule of law and shows that reconciliation and partnership are burgeoning. The SDHR added that this would doubtless improve the situation in the area, and stimulate interest among international donors and investors. The SDHR also announced that the German Government has approved a reconstruction programme for 50 houses.

The High Representative`s Decision came into force on 15 September 2001 and is to be published in the Official Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.