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High Representative's DecisionDecision removing Mr. Nikola Poplasen from the Office of President of Republika Srpska05 March 1999 |
In the exercise of powers vested in me by Article 5 of Annex 10 to the
General Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to which
the High Representative "is the final authority in theater regarding
interpretation of [the] Agreement on the civilian implementation of the
peace agreement";
Considering, particularly, Art. II(1)(d) of the latter Annex, in terms of which the High Representative shall have the power to "facilitate, as the High Representative judges necessary, the resolution of any difficulties arising in connection with civilian implementation"; considering, furthermore, that in accordance with Article I.1 of the said Annex, the term "civilian implementation" includes, in particular, "the establishment of political and constitutional institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina"; Endorsing the interpretation of such powers given in paragraph XI.2 of the Conclusions of the Peace Implementation Conference held in Bonn on 10 December 1997, in particular, sub-paragraph (c) thereof, by means of which the High Representative is entitled to take actions against persons holding public office who are found by the High Representative to be in violation of legal commitments made under the Peace Agreement or the terms of its implementation; Mentioning the reiteration of the acknowledgement of such powers by the Peace Implementation Council in Chapter X of the Annex to the Madrid Declaration of 16 December 1998; and Taking into account Article 15.35 of the Rules and Regulations of the Provisional Election Commission; I hereby issue the following
To remove the President of Republika Srpska, Nikola Poplasen, from office effective immediately.
President Nikola Poplasen has abused his power; blocked the will of the people of Republika Srpska by hindering the implementation of the elections results, refusing to abide by the decisions the National Assembly and consistently acting to impede the formation of a legitimate government with the support of the National Assembly; obstructed the implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace, acted to trigger instability in the Republika Srpska and thus put peace into risk in the Republika Srpska and in the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina, by the following actions:
All of the above establishes a disturbing, and unacceptable pattern of deliberate attempts to obstruct the implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace. For these reasons, and in order to protect the Office of the President of Republika Srpska as an institution and the legitimate interests of the people of Republika Srpska, I decide the following: I hereby remove Nikola Poplasen from the Office of President of Republika Srpska. Effective immediately, I forbid him from exercising any of the rights, privileges, and authorities of that office. Succession should be assured by relevant provisions of the RS law, which designate the Vice President of the Republika Srpska, and, failing that, a replacement appointed in accordance with generally accepted practice. Sarajevo, 5 March 1999
Carlos Westendorp |
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