|
|
To: | Mirsad Veladzic
Governor Una Sana Canton |
|
Sarajevo, November 29, 1999
|
Dear Mr. Mirsad Veladzic,
For reasons outlined in the attached Decision, we herewith notify you of
the
following: under the powers vested in the High Representative, you are
removed from public office with immediate effect. In addition, in
accordance
with the Provisional Election Commission Rules and Regulations, this
Decision bars you from being a candidate in the upcoming municipal
elections.
It is with great regret that we are forced to acknowledge that during your
term in office not only have you failed to show any commitment to the
implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace, but you have
also seriously and persistently obstructed its implementation.
Sincerely,
|
Wolfgang Petritsch | Robert L. Barry |
|
High Representative | Chairman of the PEC |
| | OSCE Head of Mission |
In the exercise of the powers vested in the High Representative by Article 5
of the Annex 10 of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and
Herzegovina, according to which the High Representative 'is the final
authority in the theater regarding interpretation of [the] Agreement on the
civilian implementation of the peace agreement';
Endorsing the interpretation of this power 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;
Noting 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;
Considering the mandate entrusted with the Provisional Election Commission
under Article III of the Annex 3 to the General Framework Agreement for
Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the article 7.10 of the Rules and
Regulations adopted thereafter which provides that no person who has been
removed by the High Representative shall be permitted to be a candidate in
the elections.
We hereby issue the following
Decision
To remove Mr. Mirsad Veladzic from his position of Governor of Una Sana
Canton and to ban him from being a candidate for the next municipal
elections or to hold any executive office at any level, unless authorised
to
do so.
This Decision has immediate effect.
Reasons for removal
Mr. Mirsad Veladzic has abused his power by persistently and seriously
obstructing the implementation of the General Framework Agreement for
Peace.
By pursuing an extra-legal agenda, he has consistently refused to take
ownership of the laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In particular, Mr. Mirsad Veladzic, in his capacity as Governor of Una
Sana
Canton, has systematically obstructed the implementation of the Dayton
Peace
Agreement on a number of fronts:
- Following the 1997 municipal elections, Mr. Mirsad Veladzic played a
key role in obstructing the implementation of the election results,
forcing
the Election Appeals Sub-Commission to issue a warning to him regarding
his
interference with election results implementation in Buzim.
- Mr. Mirsad Veladzic has been instrumental in continuous acts of
organized violence and intimidation in the northern part of the Canton.
In
1998, Mr. Mirsad Veladzic was fined by the Election Appeals Sub-Commission
for abetting a negative security climate in Velika Kladusa.
- During 1997 and 1998, the Rule of Law was continuously violated by
the Government, generally to the detriment of the northern section of the
Canton. Documented abuses were committed by the Minister of Justice, the
Minister of Information, the Minister of Urbanism, the Minister of
Education
and the Cantonal Judiciary in addition to the Ministry of Interior. In his
capacity as Governor, Mr. Mirsad Veladzic is ultimately responsible for
the
overall performance of the Cantonal Government.
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, we hereby remove Mr. Mirsad
Veladzic
from the position of Governor of Una Sana Canton. The decision will be
effective immediately and will not require any further procedural steps.
The position left vacant by Mr. Mirsad Veladzic's removal will be filled
in
accordance with the legal regulations governing this election. In order to
protect the institution to which a replacement is to be elected, no
further
actions are to be taken by the relevant authorities until OHR and OSCE
communicate that there are no objections and that the proposed name can
proceed through the appropriate process.
Sarajevo, 29 November 1999
|
Wolfgang Petritsch | Robert L. Barry |
|
High Representative | Chairman of the PEC |
| | OSCE Head of Mission |
| 
