Arbitration Award for Dobrinja I and IV, Executive Summary
17 April, 2001
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
I set out here a summary of the Award in relation to Dobrinj'a I and IV. I
must emphasise that this is a summary only and this cannot be taken to be in
substitution of the full Award. I therefore recommend that the Award be read in
full to appreciate the reasons for the findings therein.
I was appointed by Wolfgang Petritsch the High Representative by Decision
dated the 5th February 2001 to decide on the final position of the Inter Entity
Boundary Line between the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republica
Srpska (RS) at Dobrinja I and IV. I came with an open mind and nobody has
attempted to interfere with my independence in this matter.
The Dayton Agreement allowed for disputes on the final boundary between the
two Entities to be referred to arbitration and the High Representative's
Decision requires me to take into account a number of matters including the
existing lines and also the views of the residents of the area.
The hearing was conducted in the most civilised manner by the legal
representatives of both Entities and they cannot be faulted in the manner or
content of their presentation. Much of the hearing was taken up with
considerable argument about the origin or the maps and the circumstances of
their production. The main problem arose probably because of the difficulty of
interpreting the exact location of the IEBL on maps of a particular scale.
I am satisfied that a collective mistake was made at some stage. The Award
sets out my views on the doctrine of mistake that I feel apply to this case. I
do not criticise the parties for failing to agree the position in relation to
Dobrinja I and IV but I have to decide where the final line has to be.
I listened carefully to the evidence of the residents, to the Prime Minister
of the RS, to a representative of the Club of Mayors and to all the arguments
put forward by both sides and I considered the representations made by letter
which I received. I emphasise in the award that I am more concerned with people
than with institutions and I also emphasise that no person in legitimate
possession of an apartment is to be disturbed as a result of my Award. Following
from all of this I have declared that the blocks of flats and the school be
contained in the IEBL line on the map prepared giving effect to the view that I
have formed.
Finally, I state that this decision has been as hard as any I have had to
make in my long period dealing with cases. My conscience has been my guide in
coming to the decision that I have made and if my conscience had dictated
another course then I would have taken that course.
Sarajevo, 17 April 2001
Diarmuid P. Sheridan
Arbitrator for Dobrinja IEBL
Statement, 17 April, 2001
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