Sarajevo, 23 July 2001
The High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, welcomes the successful conclusion of negotiations on the Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje Agreement, which was initialed today at the OHR office in Bugojno by the Bosniac and Croat representatives of Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje in the presence of OHR and OSCE representatives.
This Agreement, which will bring the long-lasting division in this area to an end, was brokered by the HR’s Special Envoy for this municipality, Ulrich Bucher, and is the result of a series of negotiations on the political and administrative future of this area held during the past several months. The Agreement stipulates the establishment of a single, joint municipality of Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje, based on the fair distribution of power. The OHR welcomes the constructive approach of the negotiating parties and the support rendered by the Cantonal officials. The OHR calls on the signatories, all interested parties, the Cantonal and Federation authorities, and, most of all, the citizens of Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje to give their full support to this agreement and its successful implementation.
The Agreement will be signed at the Cantonal Government building in Travnik on 02 Au building in Travnik on 02 Aug 01 by the President and Deputy President of the Central Bosnia Canton and by the Croat and Bosniac representatives of Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje, in the presence of the Senior Deputy High Representative, Ambassador Matthias Sonn, and the Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission in BiH, Ambassador Dieter Woltmann. Representatives of the media will be invited in time to attend.
The High Representative considers that this agreement is a step further in the overall effort to overcome the divisions created by the war and to consolidate the BiH Federation.