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Federation Meeting on the Central Bosnia Canton
Sarajevo, 5 August 1997
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On 5 August, Federation President Soljic, Vice-President Ganic, Prime
Minister Bicakcic, Deputy Prime Minister Bilandzija, Minister for
Refugees Kadic and his Deputy Ljubic met with the Governor of the
Central Bosnia Canton Saric, his Deputy Terzic and other Canton
officials to discuss the situation in the Canton. The meeting was
chaired by the Senior Deputy High Representative Ambassador Wagner.
COSSFOR Widder, UN SRSG Eide, UNHCR Special Envoy Faubert, OSCE Deputy
Head of Mission Jenness and Deputy Police Commissioner Schumm were also
present.
The participants deplored the events which took place in the
municipality of Jajce between 1 and 3 August. The incidents are being
investigated. The participants expressed their resolve to use all their
authority to prevent similar incidents in the Canton in the future. They
also expressed their determination to continue to support return to and
within the Central Bosnia Canton as well as in the whole Federation, in
full respect of the provisions of Annex 7 of the General Framework
Agreement for Peace. They welcomed the agreement on the formation of the
Canton Police as a major contribution to security and safety in the
area.
The Federation officials took note of the letter of the Principals of
the Major Implementation Agencies of 3 August to President Soljic and
Vice-President Ganic in which they strongly condemned actions which were
directed against returnees and which may have resulted in the death of
one citizen. They accepted that they are fully responsible to
re-establish law and order, to immediately establish conditions which
enable families to return to their homes and to fully investigate the
events to identify those responsible. Federation officials also took
note of the pending report of the UN IPTF and the Principals'
announcement that they will press for the removal from office of any
official found directly or politically responsible. Federation officials
regretted the lack of action of the cantonal and local authorities which
forced SFOR establish area security to protect returnees from violence
and to prevent an escalation of the situation.
To facilitate the return of refugees and displaced persons to their
homes in a safe manner and to improve the security situation in the
Central Bosnia Canton, the participants decided the following:
- The Central Bosnia Canton will declare its firm intention to welcome
back all former inhabitants, regardless of their national belonging.
The authorities will give priority to return issues and to open up
municipalities and villages to returnees. For this purpose, UNHCR, the
Federation Minister for Refugees and his Deputy as well as Canton
officials will straight away form a working group under the JCC
Sub-Commission for Refugees, in which also OHR, SFOR, OSCE and UN IPTF
will participate. The working group will discuss the approach to
returns, a program for return to the Canton provided by the Ministry for
refugees, in strict accordance with Annex 7 of the GFAP, and devote
particular attention to the security of returnees. It will also take
action upon complaints about the denial of returns to specific
municipalities in the Central Bosnia Canton, brought to its attention by
the Federation Ombudsmen and from other sources.
- As an immediate step, those displaced persons who left Jajce in fear
will be enabled to return to their villages by the end of next week.
Cantonal and municipal authorities and political leaders will in this
time make public statements inviting all former inhabitants of the
Central Bosnian Canton to return to their homes of origin.
- Canton officials signed the attached Agreement on the Canton Police
and decided to accelerate its implementation.
- The Canton authorities will immediately provide premises for the
Federation Ombudsmen to open a regional office in Travnik.
The participants decided to meet again in 10 days to discuss the report
of the UN IPTF and to review first results of this meeting.
Sarajevo, 5 August 1997
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