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Agreement on Restructuring the Police Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bonn, 25 April 1996
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We, the undersigned, met at Bonn-Petersberg on 25 April 1996 to decide among other issues the restructuring of the police in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and to agree upon concrete measures to implement that restructuring with respect to Cantonal police in accordance with the Federation Constitution and the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A unified policing structure designed to support democratic institutions is essential to the success of the Federation. This Agreement demonstrated our commitment to the development of policing structures within the Federation which will support the democratic system and protect internationally accepted human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons. The restructuring of the police is a critical confidence building measure which will help to provide a solid foundation for free and fair elections, and instil in the public confidence in the security of their persons and property.
The following agreements, of which the attached Annex forms integral part, express our basic commitments and concrete steps toward the restructuring of the Federation police consistent with generally accepted international policing standards and guaranteeing respect for internationally accepted human rights.
Basic Commitments:
- We acknowledge that under the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we are committed to creating police organisations,
predicated on the advice of the Commisioner of the United Nations
International Police Task Force (UN IPTF), that are structured and operate
according to generally accepted international standards for policing and
guarantee respect for internationally accepted human rights.
- In furtherance of our commitments and obligations under the General
Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we have, at
the request of the Commissioner of the UN IPTF, created a Commission
designed to provide input to him in his formulation of directives concerning
the restructuring of Federation policing structures necessary to ensure
compliance with our obligations. We have met today in the first substantive
session of the full Commission.
- We agree that the principles articulated in Annex I to this Agreement
constitute the generally accepted international policing principles upon
which the standards for the restructuring and reorientation of the
Federation police structures must be based.
- We agree that the current policing strength is in excess of the needs of
democratic society and beyond the means of the Federation to support,
and that as the Federation moves to a peace-time democracy, the
number of police employed in the current policing structure must be adjusted
to a level consistent with European standards.
Concrete Steps:
- We pledge that the restructuring will proceed on a phased basis, Canton by
Canton, according to the following schedule which we have agreed to today:
- On 6 May 1996 the Commission will begin reviewing draft proposals
for restructuring prepared by the UN IPTF Plans Department.
- By 12 May 1996, the Commission will finalise its recommendations
including the structure and staffing of the newly reorganised police
forces, the process by which individuals will be vetted into the new
forces, and an implementation schedule.
- On 20 May 1996 after having reviewed the recommendations of the
Commission, the Commissioner of the UN IPTF will issue his
instructions on reorganisation.
- On 31 May 1996 the Federation will begin implementing those
directives, starting with the screening of police officers in Sarajevo.
- On 15 June 1996, implementation will begin in the rest of the
Federation, proceeding Canton by Canton, beginning with Canton
Six, to be followed by Canton Seven and then the other Cantons
pursuant to the schedules to be established by the Commission.
- The entire process of reorganisation will be concluded not later
than 1 September 1996.
- We agree that a new uniform, an example of which was presented at the
Conference today, will be used by all uniformed police operating in
Federation territory. This uniform, created in accordance with the decree
of the government of the Federation of 15 March 1996 and procured
through a tendering process open to local manufacturers throughout
the Federation, is an important symbol of our commitment to the
restructuring of policing in the Federation. Once each Canton is
restructured, all uniformed police serving in that jurisdiction will wear
only the new uniform. After that, any person found wearing another
police uniform will be regarded by UN IPTF, IFOR, and the newly
re-structured police force as a person illegally impersonating a police
officer, and will be subject to arrest.
- We are committed to developing a strategy for utilising the talents of
those who may be demobilised as a result of restructuring.
The Commission will review a proposed strategy by the IPTF at the
22 May 1996 Commission meeting and make its recommendations,
the Commissioner of the UN IPTF. After reviewing the Commission
recommendations, the Commissioner of the UN IPTF will issue
instructions which will be executed by the parties in connection with
the Canton by Canton restructuring of the police. We agree that
that demobilisation of police must occur within 30 days after a
Canton is transitioned but in no event later than 15 September 1996.
- We understand and agree that those persons who are not selected to
serve as police in the restructured Federation police force will not
be allowed to perform law enforcement duties and will not be
permitted to carry arms. Those individuals discovered with arms
who are not certified by the UN IPTF to serve as police will be
treated by IFOR as armed civilians to be seized and disarmed.
- We agree that, as prescribed in the Federation Constitution, the
Cantonal governments shall ensure that the composition of the
police shall reflect that of the population, according to the 1991
census, provided that the composition of the police of each Municipality,
shall reflect the composition of the latter.
- We agree to the development and implementation of training standards
and curricula under the guidance and supervision of the Commissioner
of the UN IPTF. We welcome the resources and assistance to be provided
by the UN IPTF and interested bilateral donors in connection with the
strengthening of existing police training. We are committed to reviewing
proposals prepared by the UN IPTF Plans Department concerning training
standards and curricula at the 9 June 1996 meeting of the Commission
and making training recommendations to the Commissioner not later
than 12 June 1996.
- We acknowledge that after reviewing the Commission recommendations
the Commissioner of the UN IPTF will issue instructions concerning
training on 15 June 1996 which we agree to begin implementing commencing
1 July 1996.
- We understand that the actions of the Commissioner of the UN IPTF is
screening and certifying persons for participation in the restructured police
force are provisional certifications effective through 15 October 1996.
We agree to the creation of the permanent Police Standards and Training
Commission under the advice and guidance of the Commissioner UN IPTF.
Based on recommendations by the Commisioner UN IPTF, which will be
predicated on his review of the conduct of those persons provisionally
certified, the Police Standards and Training Commision shall issue
permanent credentials to police officers and be responsible for future
accessions to the police forces and for the continued training function.
- We also agree that we will make available twenty senior police managers
from across the Federation, including the senior police executive in each
Canton, to attend a two to three week training session sometime in June
or July, 1996, at a specific date and place to be determined by the
Commissioner UN IPTF.
Signed at Bonn-Petersberg on 25 April 1996.
- Kresimir Zubak
- President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Ejup Ganic
- Vice President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- For the Commission
- Robert Wasserman
- Chairman, Deputy Commissioner, UN International Police Task Force
- Avdo Hebib
- Minister of Internal Affairs, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Jozo Leutar
- Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Ismet Dahic
- Police Advisor, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Milan Krizanovic
- Legal Advisor, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Enes Bezdrob
- Chief of Police, Sarajevo
- Milan Vukoja
- Canton Representative
- As Witnesses:
- Michael Steiner
- Ambassador, Principal Deputy High Representative
- S. Iqbal Riza
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General
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