In the exercise of the powers vested in the High Representative by Article V of Annex 10 (Agreement on Civilian Implementation of the Peace Settlement) to the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to which the High Representative is the final authority in theatre regarding interpretation of the said Agreement on the Civilian Implementation of the Peace Settlement; and considering in particular Art. II.1.(d) of the last said Agreement, according to the terms of which the High Representative shall “Facilitate, as the High Representative judges necessary, the resolution of any difficulties arising in connection with civilian implementation”;
Recalling paragraph XI.2 of the Conclusions of the Peace Implementation Conference held in Bonn on 9 and 10 December 1997, in which the Peace Implementation Council welcomed the High Representative’s intention to use his final authority in theatre, regarding interpretation of the Agreement on the Civilian Implementation of the Peace Settlement, in order to facilitate the resolution of any difficulties as aforesaid “by making binding decisions, as he judges necessary” on certain issues including (under sub-paragraph (c) thereof) “measures to ensure implementation of the Peace Agreement throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina and its Entities”;
Being aware of the urgent need to ensure that the municipal structures in Zepce Municipality are democratically elected;
Noting that the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina has adopted the Election Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH O.G. 23/01);
Bearing in mind Article 9 of the High Representative’s Decision of 6 October 2000 on Integrating the Municipality of Zepce (FBiH O.G. 44/00), the High Representative’s Final Decision of 30 November 2001 on Integrating the Municipality of Zepce (FBiH O.G. 56/01) and the High Representative’s Decision of 3 April 2002 on Organization of Municipal Elections in the Municipality of Zepce (FBiH O.G. 14/02);
Further bearing in mind the Conclusion dated 1 February 2002 of the Interim Municipal Board of the Municipality of Zepce No. 01-05-48/02;
Mindful that the Election Commission requires certainty as to the number of the Councillors in the Municipal Assembly of Zepce before taking the steps necessary in respect of the forthcoming elections there;
Bearing in mind the totality of the matters aforesaid, the High Representative hereby issues the following:
DECISION
ON THENUMBER OF COUNCILLORS IN THE MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY OF ZEPCE FOR THE ZEPCE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN 2002
1. The number of the councillors in the Municipal Assembly of Zepce, in accordance with the results of the forthcoming Municipal Elections for Zepce on 5 October 2002, shall be 23.
2. This number of municipal councillors shall be implemented in the future Statute of the Municipality of Zepce.
3. This Decision shall enter into force with immediate effect, and shall be published without delay in the Official Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the Official Gazette of the Zenica – Doboj Canton.
Sarajevo, 8 July 2002
Paddy Ashdown
High Representative