Croat-Serb Constitutional Principles for Bosnia-Herzegovina

  • Country/entity
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
    Yugoslavia (former)
  • Region
    Europe and Eurasia
    Europe and Eurasia
  • Agreement name
    Croat-Serb Constitutional Principles for Bosnia-Herzegovina
  • Date
    23 Jun 1993
  • Agreement status
    Multiparty signed/agreed
  • Interim arrangement
    Yes
  • Agreement/conflict level
    Intrastate/intrastate conflict ( Balkan Conflicts (1991 - 1995) (1998 - 2001) )
  • Stage
    Framework/substantive - partial
  • Conflict nature
    Government/territory
  • Peace process
    Bosnia peace process
  • Parties
    Radovan Karadzic; Mate Boban
  • Third parties
    -
  • Description
    This agreement establishes principles for establishing a confederation comprised of three constituent nations, an executive comprised of representatives from all three republics, a constitutional court, and mechanisms for international monitoring.


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→Substantive
    Page 1, 4.
    All matters of vital concern to any of the constituent peoples and their republics shall be regulated in the constitutions of the republics and tripartite constitutional agreement of confederation which as to these points may be amended only by consensus.
  • Religious groups

    No specific mention.

  • Indigenous people

    No specific mention.

  • Other groups

    No specific mention.

  • Refugees/displaced persons

    No specific mention.

  • 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
    Page 1, 1.
    Bosnia and Herzegovina shall be a confederation, the constitution shall recognise three constituent peoples, as well as a group of others, with most governmental functions carried out by its republics.
  • Self determination

    No specific mention.

  • Referendum

    No specific mention.

  • State symbols

    No specific mention.

  • Independence/secession

    No specific mention.

  • Accession/unification

    No specific mention.

  • Border delimitation

    No specific mention.

  • Cross-border provision

    No specific mention.


Governance

  • Political institutions (new or reformed)
    Governance→Political institutions (new or reformed)→General references
    Page 1, 5.
    The republics shall have democratically elected legislatures and democratically chosen chief executives and an independent judiciary. The presidency of the confederation shall be composed of the three presidents of the republics. There shall be a confederal council of ministers composed of nine members, three from each of the republics. The chairman of the confederal council shall be prime minister. The confederal council shall include a foreign minister. The posts of prime minister and foreign minister shall rotate at agreed intervals among the three republics. The confederal parliament shall be indirectly elected by the legislature of the three republics. The initial elections are to be UN/EC/CSCE supervised.
  • Elections
    Page 1, 5.
    The republics shall have democratically elected legislatures and democratically chosen chief executives and an independent judiciary. The presidency of the confederation shall be composed of the three presidents of the republics. There shall be a confederal council of ministers composed of nine members, three from each of the republics. The chairman of the confederal council shall be prime minister. The confederal council shall include a foreign minister. The posts of prime minister and foreign minister shall rotate at agreed intervals among the three republics. The confederal parliament shall be indirectly elected by the legislature of the three republics. The initial elections are to be UN/EC/CSCE supervised.
  • 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 1, 1.
    Bosnia and Herzegovina shall be a confederation, the constitution shall recognise three constituent peoples, as well as a group of others, with most governmental functions carried out by its republics.

    Page 1, 4.
    All matters of vital concern to any of the constituent peoples and their republics shall be regulated in the constitutions of the republics and tripartite constitutional agreement of confederation which as to these points may be amended only by consensus.

    Page 1, 6.
    A constitutional court, with a member from each republic, shall resolve dispute between the republics and the confederation, and among organs of the former. In the event that the constitutional court cannot settle disputes by consensus, they shall be referred for binding arbitration by a chamber of five drawn from judges of the International Court of Justice.

    Page 1, 9.
    A number of international monitoring devices shall be provided for in the constitution, to remain in place at least until the three republics by consensus agree to dispense with them.

Power sharing

  • Political power sharing
    Power sharing→Political power sharing→Executive coalition
    State level
    Page 1, 5.
    The republics shall have democratically elected legislatures and democratically chosen chief executives and an independent judiciary. The presidency of the confederation shall be composed of the three presidents of the republics. There shall be a confederal council of ministers composed of nine members, three from each of the republics. The chairman of the confederal council shall be prime minister. The confederal council shall include a foreign minister. The posts of prime minister and foreign minister shall rotate at agreed intervals among the three republics. The confederal parliament shall be indirectly elected by the legislature of the three republics. The initial elections are to be UN/EC/CSCE supervised.
    Power sharing→Political power sharing→Form of 'veto' or communal majority
    State level
    Page 1, 4.
    All matters of vital concern to any of the constituent peoples and their republics shall be regulated in the constitutions of the republics and tripartite constitutional agreement of confederation which as to these points may be amended only by consensus.
  • 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

    No specific mention.

  • Bill of rights/similar

    No specific mention.

  • Treaty incorporation
    Page 1, 2.
    The republics shall not enter into agreements with foreign states or with international organisations if it can damage the interests of other republics.

    Page 1, 8.
    The highest level of internationally recognised human rights shall be provided for in the constitution, which shall also provide for ensuring implementation through both domestic and international mechanisms.
  • Civil and political rights

    No specific mention.

  • Socio-economic rights

    No specific mention.


Rights related issues

  • Citizenship

    No specific mention.

  • Democracy

    No specific mention.

  • Detention procedures

    No specific mention.

  • Media and communication

    No specific mention.

  • Mobility/access
    Page 1, 3.
    Full freedom of movement shall be allowed throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina to be ensured in part by the maintenance of internationally monitored throughways.
  • 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
    Page 1, 6.
    A constitutional court, with a member from each republic, shall resolve dispute between the republics and the confederation, and among organs of the former. In the event that the constitutional court cannot settle disputes by consensus, they shall be referred for binding arbitration by a chamber of five drawn from judges of the International Court of Justice.
  • Prisons and detention

    No specific mention.

  • Traditional Laws

    No specific mention.


Socio-economic reconstruction

  • Development or socio-economic reconstruction

    No specific mention.

  • National economic plan

    No specific mention.

  • Natural resources

    No specific mention.

  • International funds

    No specific mention.

  • Business

    No specific mention.

  • 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

    No specific mention.

  • Police

    No specific mention.

  • Armed forces

    No specific mention.

  • DDR
    Security sector→DDR→Demilitarisation provisions
    Page 1, 7.
    Bosnia and Herzegovina is to be progressively demilitarised under UN/EC supervision.
  • Intelligence services

    No specific mention.

  • Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces

    No specific mention.

  • Withdrawal of foreign forces

    No specific mention.

  • 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

    No specific mention.

  • Other international signatory

    No specific mention.

  • Referendum for agreement

    No specific mention.

  • International mission/force/similar
    Page 1, 3.
    Full freedom of movement shall be allowed throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina to be ensured in part by the maintenance of internationally monitored throughways.

    Page 1, 7.
    Bosnia and Herzegovina is to be progressively demilitarised under UN/EC supervision.

    Page 1, 9.
    A number of international monitoring devices shall be provided for in the constitution, to remain in place at least until the three republics by consensus agree to dispense with them.
  • Enforcement mechanism

    No specific mention.

  • Related cases

    No specific mention.

  • Source
    University of Liverpool, David Owen papers
    https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/library/sca/colldescs/owen/

CROAT-SERB CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

1. Bosnia and Herzegovina shall be a confederation, the constitution shall recognise three constituent peoples, as well as a group of others, with most governmental functions carried out by its republics.

2. The republics shall not enter into agreements with foreign states or with international organisations if it can damage the interests of other republics.

3. Full freedom of movement shall be allowed throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina to be ensured in part by the maintenance of internationally monitored throughways.

4. All matters of vital concern to any of the constituent peoples and their republics shall be regulated in the constitutions of the republics and tripartite constitutional agreement of confederation which as to these points may be amended only by consensus.

5. The republics shall have democratically elected legislatures and democratically chosen chief executives and an independent judiciary.

The presidency of the confederation shall be composed of the three presidents of the republics.

There shall be a confederal council of ministers composed of nine members, three from each of the republics.

The chairman of the confederal council shall be prime minister.

The confederal council shall include a foreign minister.

The posts of prime minister and foreign minister shall rotate at agreed intervals among the three republics.

The confederal parliament shall be indirectly elected by the legislature of the three republics.

The initial elections are to be UN/EC/CSCE supervised.

6. A constitutional court, with a member from each republic, shall resolve dispute between the republics and the confederation, and among organs of the former.

In the event that the constitutional court cannot settle disputes by consensus, they shall be referred for binding arbitration by a chamber of five drawn from judges of the International Court of Justice.

7. Bosnia and Herzegovina is to be progressively demilitarised under UN/EC supervision.

8. The highest level of internationally recognised human rights shall be provided for in the constitution, which shall also provide for ensuring implementation through both domestic and international mechanisms.

9. A number of international monitoring devices shall be provided for in the constitution, to remain in place at least until the three republics by consensus agree to dispense with them.

Geneva, 23 June 1993