High Representative's Decision Decision removing Pero Raguz from his position as Mayor of Stolac Sarajevo, 4 March 1998

Pero Raguz Mayor Stolac Dear Mr. Raguz, This is in reply to developments in Stolac. As you know, elected officials have a special responsibility in the implementation of the Peace Agreement. They have this responsibility towards the citizens of this country as much as towards the international community which is prepared to assist them in complying with their obligations. If elected officials fail, they must leave their task to others. Unfortunately, Stolac has been one of the few Federation municipalities with a particularly bad record regarding the peace implementation. In spite of constant international efforts since Dayton, return has been of dreadfully limited dimensions. Despite the presence of the IPTF and SFOR curity incidents against minorities, including beatings and house burnin have occurred regularly and have increased in the first months of 1998. You have to take political responsibility for this situation. You have been given various opportunities to live up to your obligations and to create at least minimum conditions for our future cooperation. You let these opportunities pass. I have now no choice than to use the authority given to me by the Bonn Peace Implementation Council and to dismiss you from your function as mayor with immediate effect. I have asked the HDZ leadership to identify someone dedicated to implementation of the Peace Agreement to take over. Copies of this letter will be sent to the HDZ leadership and the Members of the Steering Board. Yours sincerely,   Carlos Westendorp High Representative

Office of the High Representative