Brcko Arbitration Supervisor's statement Brcko, March 5, 1999

Today, the Arbitral Tribunal issued its Final Award. The Award is fair and balanced. Neither entity has "lost" or "won" Brcko. But there are winners - the residents of Brcko and their children, who will now be able to plan for better times. The pre-war Opstina will now be held by both entities on a condominium basis so that the territories of the two entities will overlap throughout this new district. "Condominium" means Brcko will be a territory shared by both Enties known as "the Brcko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina." The Final Award calls for a gradual phasing in of a new District Government. There will be no immediate changes. The IEBL will continue to exist within the District for the time being. To quote from the Award, "... the RS and its citizens will continue to have an absolutely unrestricted right to move freely east and west..." The Final Award clearly shows Brcko's future will be multiethnic and democratic. Let me repeat the pledge I have made before: persons and families living in houses and apartments which belong to others will not be evicted if they have nowhere else to go. There is good news on the economic front. The Presiding Arbitrator "urges the International Community to provide the Supervisor with all necessary support in his economic revitalization efforts." You will therefore see increased attention to Brcko's economy in the coming year. The entity governments and other interested parties will have 60 days in which to react to the Award's annex which sets out in some detail the future government structure. I am charged with forming a joint implementation commission which will come up with a more specific plan. Both entity governments will be invited to participate fully in that commission. We have much work ahead of us, but we now know - at long last - what lies ahead. I will stay on as Supervisor to help the people of Brcko build a new, tolerant, peaceful community with a prosperous future. Over the past two years, I have met many people from all ethnic groups who have shown they want to put the tragedy of the war behind them. They want to look with hope toward the future. This Final Award provides the basis for fulfilling that hope. People of all backgrounds understand the need for a cooperative approach now. They are eager to work together to take Bosnia and Herzegovina into the next phase of peaceful reconciliation. I am eager to continue working alongside the people of Brcko to bring us all through to happier days.

Office of the High Representative