SCMM Press Statement Sarajevo, 31 March 1998

The Standing Committee on Military Matters (SCMM) is one of the common institutions established by Dayton. Its role is to coordinate the activities of armed forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A meeting of the SCMM was scheduled to take place at Lukavica, at 1000am on Tuesday 31st March 1998, under the chairmanship of President Izetbegovic. The meeting did not take place. The point at issue centred on the placing of the Flag of Bosnia-Herzegovina in the glass fronted entrance foyer of the Lukavica building. However, it was not displayed on the building, in contravention of the Law on the Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina of 4th February 1998. A protest was made by the Protocol office of President Izetbegovic. As a result of this impasse, the meeting was postponed. The High Representative issued the following statement. i) The High Representative deplores the abandonment of today's meeting of the Standing Committee on Military Matters. ii) The High Representative rules that all meetings of the common institutions will take place with the B-H flag officially displayed on the building in which meetings are to be held, in accordance with the Law on the Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina of 4th February 1998. A member of the High Representative's staff will visit each of the buildings of the common institutions and issue a binding decision on where the flag shall be displayed. iii) The High Representative states that any subsequent objections and procrastination, which affects the efficient functioning of the Joint Institutions, will be considered as non-compliance. OHR Press Release, 31 March 1998