Office of the High Representative Documents


Federation Forum Meeting

Agreed Measures

Sarajevo, 25 October 1996

Determined to strengthen the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina further, Bosnian Presidency Members Izetbegovic and Zubak, the latter also in his function as Federation President, Federation Vice President Ganic, Federation Prime Minister Kapetanovic, Federation Deputy Prime Minister Bilandzija, Bosnian Prime Minister Muratovic, Bosnian Foreign Minister Prlic, other senior Federation officials, representatives of the Office of the High Representative and the United States met October 23 and 25, 1996 in Sarajevo as the Special Group. The Special Group underscored the importance of urgently completing the establishment of all Federation institutions following September 14 elections, in support of ongoing efforts to establish the new joint institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

  1. The Federation partners accepted the annexed basic principles concerning the future organization of Sarajevo. These basic principles provide that Sarajevo shall, in the future, be organized in three layers: an overarching Canton with its nine Municipalities, a City consisting of the four urban core Municipalities, and a State District under the authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina, subject to agreement by the other Entity, around those buildings that are essential for the functioning of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole. On this basis, as of today, there shall be full participation of the Federation partners in all organs of the Canton of Sarajevo.

  2. The participants welcomed the formation of most cantonal assemblies, the election of cantonal assembly officers, and the designation by most cantons of representatives to the Federation House of Peoples. The Federation partners pledged to work toward the completion of the Federation House of Peoples by October 29. The Federation Assembly shall convene and elect its officers by October 29. At that session, the Federation Assembly shall also designate the Federation delegates to the House of Peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

  3. The Federation partners reached agreement on the annexed design of a Federation flag and coat of arms, which the Federation President and Vice President shall submit to the Federation Assembly for approval by October 29. After adoption by the Assembly, they shall be displayed on all appropriate Federation documents, functions and institutions.

  4. The Federation partners reaffirmed their commitment to transfer all authorities from the legally dissolved Croat Republic of Herzeg-Bosna to appropriate ministries of the Federation or to the appropriate cantonal ministries as soon as they are established, along with the appropriate functions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in accordance with the Dayton agreement, related annexes, and the Constitutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

  5. The Special Group decided that it will undertake a working-level implementation review of Annex I to the Agreed Measures of August 15, 1996, meeting first by October 31 and conducting its work on the basis of written submissions of the Federation partners. The Co-chairmen will issue a report at the conclusion of that review, no later than November 15.

  6. The Special Group welcomed the consolidation of a single operational Federation Customs Administration, in close cooperation with the International Customs Observer Mission ICOM. The Federation Customs Administration shall continue to pursue, as one of the priority matters, a policy of ethnically mixed staffing at the international border crossing points of the Federation. The Federation Finance Minister and Deputy Minister shall work with the ICOM to provide a written progress report on the functioning of the Federation Customs Administration to the Co-chairmen of the Special Group by November 10.

  7. Following a presentation by the Deputy Commissioner of the International Police Task Force, the Federation partners agreed to complete the establishment of the integrated Federation Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Federation President, Vice President and Prime Minister agreed to provide clear and specific written instruction, with the assistance of the Deputy Commissioner, to the Minister and Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs to accomplish that task. Appropriate transfers and integration of personnel and redesignation of forces and resources shall be completed by November 15.

  8. The International Police Task Force shall, at the request of the Federation President and Vice President, prepare draft police laws for all cantons. These drafts shall be endorsed in writing by the Federation President and Vice President, and by the Principal Deputy High Representative. The draft law for the Sarajevo canton shall be submitted by October 26. The new Federation police force established in the Sarajevo canton shall serve as a model for the establishment of the cantonal police forces in all other cantons of the Federation. The Special Group welcomed the meeting of senior IPTF and Federation Ministry of Internal Affairs officials October 26-27 to discuss police issues, including police at the international borders of the Federation.

  9. The Federation partners agreed that, in the transition period until a fully integrated cantonal police is established throughout the canton, the Neretva Canton Minister and Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs shall designate the senior Bosniak and Bosnian Croat police officials for the city of Mostar, who shall alternate every 30 days as chief and deputy chief of police. This arrangement shall go into effect October 28, with the Bosniak official serving the first tour of duty as chief of police.

  10. Bosnian Foreign Minister Prlic, at the request of the Special Group, shall provide a written status report on the ethnic staffing and organization of the Foreign Ministry and its diplomatic and consular missions abroad by October 31.

Office of the High Representative