In the exercise of the powers vested in me 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 Article 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 Representatives 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 the Peacesure the Peace Agreement throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina and its Entities;
Recalling further Article I:1 of the said Annex 10, referring explicitly to the promotion of respect for human rights and the return of displaced persons and refugees;
Considering the emphasis the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council has continually placed on accelerating refugee return and ensuring full and non-discriminatory implementation of the property laws of BiH, as stated at the meeting of 24 May 2000, and reiterated at the meetings of 10 May 2001 and 7 December 2000.
Considering further the need to complete in the most efficient manner the full implementation of property legislation to ensure the continued stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
Conscious of the need to ensure all possible resources are mobilized by the responsible local officials to further the repossession of property through increased implementation of property legislation and recognizing that all such resources have not yet been fully utilized;
Further conscious of the urgent need to extend the deadline for use of unclaimed socially-owned property as alternative accommodation in order to ensure complete and timely implementation of the property repossession process.
Having considered and borne in mind all the matters aforesaid, I foresaid, I hereby issue the following
DECISION
FURTHER AMENDING THE LAW ON THE CESSATION OF THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW ON ABANDONED APARTMENTS (Official Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 11/98, 38/98, 12/99, 27/99, 43/99)
1. In the first paragraph of Article 18d, the words “until 4 July 2001” shall be deleted and replaced by the words “until such date as shall in due course be provided for by further amendment.”
This Decision, which comes into force forthwith, shall be published without delay in the Official Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
| Sarajevo, 4 July 2001 | Wolfgang Petritsch |
| High Representative |