Statement of Principles on Bosnia, International Conference on Former Yugoslavia (The London Conference)

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Country/entity: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Yugoslavia (former)
Region: Europe and Eurasia
Agreement name: Statement of Principles on Bosnia, International Conference on Former Yugoslavia (The London Conference)
Date: 27 Aug 1992
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Interstate/intrastate conflict(s)
Balkan Conflicts (1991 - 1995) (1998 - 2001)
Former Yugoslavia

The disintegration of former Yugoslavia post cold war saw conflicts which became mediated and produced peace agreements in Slovenia (where the brief independence conflict was mediated by the EC Troika in 1991), Croatia (between Croatian and Serb populations 1991-1995), in Bosnia (between Croatian, Serb and Bosniak populations 1992-1995), in Macedonia (where mediation played a key pre-emptive role in preventing large scale conflict in 2001), in Kosovo (between Kosovar Albanians and Serbian population and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), but also between FRY and NATO, 1998-1999), and a conflict in the Presevo Valley (between Albanians in South Serbia and FRY, 2000-2001). The continued fall-out of the disintegration of former Yugoslavia also saw mediated agreement and ultimate dissolution of the Union between Serbia and Montenegro.

Bosnia-Herzegovina

In 1991, after nationalist parties won the first multi-party elections in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, a violent process of disintegration commenced. With its mixed population, Bosnia-Herzegovina became the centre of the following civil war that began in 1992 between the newly formed army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (mostly Muslim Bosniacs), and the parastatal forces of self-declared Bosnian Croat (Herzeg-Bosnia) and Bosnian Serb (Republika Srpska) entities within Bosnia-Herzegovina, supported by Croatia and Serbia, with various, often short-lived, coalitions. The General Framework Agreement (Dayton Peace Agreement), signed in 1995, split the country into two ethno-federal entities, the Bosniak-Croat Federation and the Republika Srpska, and included continued peacekeeping and institutional administration by international actors.

Kosovo

The conflict between Serbs and Kosovar Albanians has a long history and always involved territorial disputes as well as ethno-political, cultural and linguistic factors. The most recent phase of the conflict began in November 1997 when the Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA or UCK) began their campaign for the independence of Kosovo from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY – then Serbia and Montenegro). The subsequent war lasted until the NATO intervention, which undertook bombing campaigns of Belgrade and other places in Serbia during spring 1999. The main agreements solving the conflict were internationally driven and, finally, a UNSC resolution imposed a post-conflict arrangement in the wake of what was essentially a NATO military victory. In February 2008, Kosovo’s parliament declared independence, but independence is still internationally disputed.
Stage: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Bosnia peace process
Parties: This was convened by Great Britain, which held the presidency of the EC at the time. The Participants were: The SFRY republics, the EC countries, the USA, China, Russia, Japan, Canada, The Republic of Czechoslovakia (as a state which held the presidency of CSCE – Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe) and the neighboring countries: Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania
Third parties: -
Description: This short agreement contains principles for a political settlement in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including: cessation of hostilities; recognition of independence; rights for national minorities; assistance for return of those forcibly expelled; and grouping of all heavy weaponry under Bosnian Serb control.

Agreement document: BA_920827_Statement on Bosnia.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: Groups→Racial/ethnic/national group→Rhetorical
Page 1, Untitled preamble
The participants in the London Conference on the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia condemn the continuing violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the attempts to gain territory by the use of force. They reject as inhuman and illegal the expulsion of civilian communities from their homes in order to alter the ethnic character of any area.

Page 1,
A political settlement in Bosnia and Herzegovina must include the following provisions:
...d) implementation of guarantees for the rights of persons belonging to all national communities and minorities in accordance with the UN Charter and CSCE provisions;

Page 1-2,
A political settlement in Bosnia and Herzegovina must include the following provisions: ...f) democratic and legal structures which properly protect the rights of all in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including national communities and minorities;
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Rhetorical
Page 1,
A political settlement in Bosnia and Herzegovina must include the following provisions: ...e) just and adequate arrangements for people who have been forcibly expelled from their homes including the right to return and compensation for their losses;

Page 2,
The negotiations will also need to cover the following arrangements:...e) the establishment of refugee and relief centres for those citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina who have lost or been expelled from their homes, pending their return;
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: Page 1,
A political settlement in Bosnia and Herzegovina must include the following provisions:
...b) recognition of Bosnia-Herzegovina by all the former Yugoslav Republics;
Accession/unification: Page 2,
The negotiations will also need to cover the following arrangements:
a) a genuine and lasting end to the conflict throughout the Republic, and return of territory taken by force;
Border delimitation: Page 1,
A political settlement in Bosnia and Herzegovina must include the following provisions:
...c) respect for the integrity of present frontiers, unless changed by mutual agreement;
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: Governance→Constitution→Constitutional reform/making
Page 2,
Further urgent steps are now required to achieve a settlement. The participants in the London Conference urge all parties immediately and without preconditions to resume negotiations on future constitutional arrangements within the framework of the Conference. All parties involved must participate in these negotiations with a genuine will to secure peace and a respect for the interest of the other parties.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: Page 1, Untitled preamble
...They welcome the adoption by the United Nations Security Council of Resolution 771
and other Security Council Resolutions, and the Resolution of the UN Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the territory of the former Yugoslavia.

Page 1-2,
A political settlement in Bosnia and Herzegovina must include the following provisions:
...f) democratic and legal structures which properly protect the rights of all in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including national communities and minorities;
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: Page 1, Untitled preamble
...They undertake to collate substantiated information on violations of international humanitarian law and to make this information available to the United Nations. They reaffirm that persons who commit or order the commission of grave breaches of the Geneva
Conventions are individually responsible in respect of such breaches.

Page 1,
A political settlement in Bosnia and Herzegovina must include the following provisions:
...d) implementation of guarantees for the rights of persons belonging to all national communities and minorities in accordance with the UN Charter and CSCE provisions;

Page 2,
A political settlement in Bosnia and Herzegovina must include the following provisions:
...h) respect for all international Treaties and Agreements;
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: Rights related issues→Citizenship→Citizen, general
Page 2,
The negotiations will also need to cover the following arrangements:...e) the establishment of refugee and relief centres for those citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina who have lost or been expelled from their homes, pending their return;
Democracy: Page 1-2,
A political settlement in Bosnia and Herzegovina must include the following provisions:
...f) democratic and legal structures which properly protect the rights of all in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including national communities and minorities;
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Humanitarian assistance
Page 2,
The negotiations will also need to cover the following arrangements:...f) the extension of humanitarian relief to all areas of Bosnia-Herzegovina where supplies are needed, with the cooperation of local parties;

Page 2,
As and when parties are ready to reach a settlement on the above basis, the International Community will join with them in a major reconstruction programme to cope with humanitarian needs and to restore economic activity.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: Page 2,
As and when parties are ready to reach a settlement on the above basis, the International Community will join with them in a major reconstruction programme to cope with humanitarian needs and to restore economic activity.
Business: Page 2,
A political settlement in Bosnia and Herzegovina must include the following provisions:
...i) restoration of trade and other links with neighbouring countries.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→General commitments
Page 1,
A political settlement in Bosnia and Herzegovina must include the following provisions:
a) a full and permanent cessation of hostilities and an end of all violence and repression, including the expulsion of populations;

Page 2,
The negotiations will also need to cover the following arrangements:...g) an international peacekeeping force under UN auspices may be created by the UN Security Council to maintain the ceasefire, control military movements, and undertake other confidence building measures.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: Page 2,
A political settlement in Bosnia and Herzegovina must include the following provisions:
...g) assurances of non-intervention by outside military forces whether formed units or irregulars, except as provided for in relevant UN Security Council Resolutions;

Page 2,
The negotiations will also need to cover the following arrangements:...g) an international peacekeeping force under UN auspices may be created by the UN Security Council to maintain the ceasefire, control military movements, and undertake other confidence building measures.
DDR: Security sector→DDR→Demilitarisation provisions
Page 2,
The negotiations will also need to cover the following arrangements:...c) the grouping of heavy weaponry under international control; d) the demilitarisaion of major towns and the monitoring of them by international observers;

Page 2-3,
At a meeting with FCO Minister of State Douglas Hoqq, Drs Karadzic and Koljevic representing the Bosnian Serbs signified their agreement to the following: i. That the Bosnian Serb side would notify to the UN within 96 hours the positions of all heavy weaponry to be grouped around the 4 towns of Sarajevo, Bihac, Goradze and Jajce, this grouping to be completed within a period of 7 days. The weaponry once grouped would be put under the continuous supervision of permanent UN observers. The Bosnian Serb side would expect the Bosnian Government to take reciprocal action, but would not impose this as a precondition for their own action, which would be unilateral. The Bosnian Serb side further undertook with immediate effect not to initiate fire from any of this heavy weaponry.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 2,
A political settlement in Bosnia and Herzegovina must include the following provisions:
...g) assurances of non-intervention by outside military forces whether formed units or irregulars, except as provided for in relevant UN Security Council Resolutions;

Page 2-3,
At a meeting with FCO Minister of State Douglas Hoqq, Drs Karadzic and Koljevic representing the Bosnian Serbs signified their agreement to the following:
i. That the Bosnian Serb side would notify to the UN within 96 hours the positions of all heavy weaponry to be grouped around the 4 towns of Sarajevo, Bihac, Goradze and Jajce, this grouping to be completed within a period of 7 days. The weaponry once grouped would be put under the continuous supervision of permanent UN observers. The Bosnian Serb side would expect the Bosnian Government to take reciprocal action, but would not impose this as a precondition for their own action, which would be unilateral. The Bosnian Serb side further undertook with immediate effect not to initiate fire from any of this heavy weaponry.
ii. That the Bosnian Serb side recognised that in negotiations between the three Bosnian parties, they would agree to withdraw from a substantial portion of the territory now under control of their forces.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: Page 2,
...The negotiations will also need to cover the following arrangements:...b) the cessation of all outside interference, in terms of personnel or material support, in the present conflict;
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali was the co-chairman of the International Conference on Former Yugoslavia
Other international signatory: This was convened by Great Britain, which held the presidency of the EC at the time. The Participants were: The SFRY republics, the EC countries, the USA, China, Russia, Japan, Canada, The Republic of Czechoslovakia (as a state which held the presidency of CSCE – Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe) and the neighboring countries: Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Page 2,
The negotiations will also need to cover the following arrangements:...c) the grouping of heavy weaponry under international control; d) the demilitarisation of major towns and the monitoring of them by international observers;...g) an international peacekeeping force under UN auspices may be created by the UN Security Council to maintain the ceasefire, control military movements, and undertake other confidence building measures.

Page 2-3,
At a meeting with FCO Minister of State Douglas Hogg, Drs Karadzic and Koljevic representing the Bosnian Serbs signified their agreement to the following: i. That the Bosnian Serb side would notify to the UN within 96 hours the positions of all heavy weaponry to be grouped around the 4 towns of Sarajevo, Bihac, Goradze and Jajce, this grouping to be completed within a period of 7 days. The weaponry once grouped would be put under the continuous supervision of permanent UN observers. The Bosnian Serb side would expect the Bosnian Government to take reciprocal action, but would not impose this as a precondition for their own action, which would be unilateral. The Bosnian Serb side further undertook with immediate effect not to initiate fire from any of this heavy weaponry.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: 'International Conference the Former Yugoslavia: Documents Adopted at the London Conference, International Legal Materials, Vol. 31, No. 6 (NOVEMBER 1992), pp. 1537-39

The London Conference

STATEMENT ON BOSNIA

LC/CS (FINAL)

27 August 1992

The participants in the London Conference on the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia condemn the continuing violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the attempts to gain territory by the use of force.

They reject as inhuman and illegal the expulsion of civilian communities from their homes in order to alter the ethnic character of any area.

They welcome the adoption by the United Nations Security Council of Resolution 771

and other Security Council Resolutions.,

and the Resolution of the UN Com.mission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the territory of the former Yugoslavia.

They undertake to collate substantiated information on violations of international humanitarian law and to make this infor:

mation available to the United Nations.

They reaffirm that persons who commit or order the commission of grave breaches of the Geneva

Conventions are individually responsible in respect of such breaches.

A political settlement in Bosnia and Herzegovina must include the following provisions:

a) a full and permanent cessation of hostilities and an end of all violence and repression, including the expulsion of populations;

b) recognition of Bosnia-Herzegovina by all the former Yugoslav Republics;

c) respect for the integrity of present frontiers, unless changed by mutual agreement;

d) implementation of guarantees for the rights of persons belonging to all national communities and minorities in accordance with the UN Charter and CSCE provisions;

e) just and adequate arrangements for people who have been forcibly expelled from their homes including the right to return and compensation for their losses

f) democratic and legal structures which properly protect the rights of all in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including national communities and minorities;

g) assurances of non-intervention by outside military forces whether formed units or irregulars, except as provided for in relevant UN Security Council Resolutions;

h) respect for all international Treaties and Agreements;

i) restoration of trade and other links with neighbouring countries.

Further urgent steps are now required to achieve a settlement.

The participants in the London Conference urge all parties immediately and without preconditions to resume negotiations on future constitutional arrangements within the framework of the Conference.

All parties involved must participate in these negotiations with a genuine will to secure peace and a respect for the interest of the other parties.

The negotiations will also need to cover the following arrangements:

a) a genuine and lasting end to the conflict throughout the Republic, and return of territory taken by force;

b) the cessation of all outside interference, in termss of personnel or material support, in the present conflict;

c) the grouping of heavy weaponry under international control;

d) the demilitarisaion of major towns and the monitoring of them by international observers;

e) the establishment of refugee and relief centres for those citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina who have lost or been expelled from their homes, pending their return;

f) the extension of humanitarian relief to all areas of Bosnia-Herzegovian where supplies are needed, with the cooperation of local parties;

g) an international peacekeeping force under UN auspices may be created by the UN Security Council to maintain the ceasefire, control military movements, and undertake other confidence building measures.

As and when parties are ready to reach a settlement on the above basis, the International Community will join with them in a major reconstruction programme to cope with humanitarian needs and to restore economic activity.

At a meeting with FCO Minister of State Douglas Hogg, Drs Karadzic and Koljevic representing the Bosnian Serbs signified their agreement to the following:

i That the Bosnian Serb side would notify to the UN within 96 hours the positions of all heavy weaponry to be grouped around the 4 towns of Sarajevo, Bihac, Goradze and Jajce, this grouping to be completed within a period of 7 days.

The weaponry once grouped would be put under the continuous supervision of permanent UN observers.

The Bosnian Serb side would expect the Bosnian Government to take reciprocal action, but would not impose this as a precondition for their own action, which would be unilateral.

The Bosnian Serb side further undertook with immediate effect not to initiate fire from any of this heavy weaponry.

ii That the Bosnian Serb side recognised that in negotiations between the three Bosnian parties, they would agree to withdraw from a substantial portion of territory now under the control of their forces.