Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the United Nations Peace Forces (UNPF) - United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation (UNCRO) on temporary measures in the areas formerly known as 'Sector North' and 'Sector South'

• Country/entity

  Croatia
  Yugoslavia (former)
  
• Region

  Europe and Eurasia
  Europe and Eurasia
  
• Agreement name

  Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the United Nations Peace Forces (UNPF) - United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation (UNCRO) on temporary measures in the areas formerly known as 'Sector North' and 'Sector South'
• Date

  6 Aug 1995
• Agreement status

  Unilateral document
• 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

  Croatia negotiation process
• Parties

  Hrvoje Sarinic, Republic of Croatia; Yasushi Akashi, United Nations Peace Forces
• Third parties

  -
• Description

  This short agreement outlines commitments of the Government of Croatia to protect the human rights of civilians in the former United Nations Protected Areas, including cooperation with UNMO human rights monitoring and the inviolability of UN premises, personnel and vehicles.

• Agreement document

  HR_950806_Agreement on temporary measures in 'Sector North' and 'Sector South'.pdf | Download PDF

Groups

Gender

State definition

Governance

Power sharing

Human rights and equality

Rights related issues

Rights institutions

Justice sector reform

Socio-economic reconstruction

Land, property and environment

Security sector

Transitional justice

Implementation

We the undersigned,

Concerned by the effects of the hostilities on the lives of civilians in the areas formerly known as "Sector North" and "Sector South" (hereinafter referred to as the Areas),

Committed to minimizing the loss of civilian life from hostilities,

Dedicated to ensuring to the maximum extent possible the full protection of civilians and of their human rights,

Committed providing for the humanitarian needs of the civilian population affected by the hostilities in the Areas,

Recognizing the need to ensure full respect for international human rights and humanitarian law,

Agree to the following,

1. That Croatia expresses its complete and unequivocal commitment to the full respect for the human rights of all individuals in the Areas concerned, and guarantees that those rights will be respected by all Croatian authorities.

2. That, further to clause 1 above, Croatia concurs that UNCRO, together with UNHCR and ICRC where appropriate, will monitor and report on the human rights situation in the Areas, and intervene with the Croatian authorities on human rights matters when appropriate.

3. That, further to clause 1 above, Croatia encourages all those previous inhabitants of the Republic of Croatia who so wish to remain peacefully in the areas over which Croatian authority is exercised.

However, Croatia will allow, with full guarantees for security, the departure from those areas of all those who express their desire to do so, except those who committed violations of international criminal law.

In the event of any such departures, Croatia pledges to allow UNCRO and humanitarian organizations, particularly UNHCR and the ICRC, to assist and coordinate such departures in conformity with recognized international standards.

4. That full access by UNCRO and by humanitarian organizations, particularly UNHCR and the ICRC, to the civilian population, for the purpose of providing for the humanitarian needs of the civilian population, will be assured by the authorities of Croatia, to the extent allowed by objective security considerations.

5. That UNMOs and human rights monitoring elements of UNCRO will carry out surveillance immediately in all areas except where, in the opinion of the local UNCRO military commanders after consulting Croatian army commanders, the security situation does not permit for such surveillance.

6. That Croatia, and in particular its military authorities, will make every effort to ensure that civilian areas are not targeted by direct or indirect military fire as long as the hostilities continue.

7. That, if UNCRO commanders become aware that local military personnel have departed from a specific location where only non-combatants are present, and that the 1ocation is under fire by Croatian forces, this information will be immediately passed to the Headquarters of the Croatian Army for appropriate action.

8. That, in conformity with its international obligations, Croatia reiterates the inviolability of United Nations premises and establishments, and its vehicles, and all those therein, and thus commits all Croat an authorities to fully respect such inviolability.

Croatia further emphasizes that none of its authorities will seek to remove any person or persons from such United Nations premises, establishments or vehicles.

9. That the future relations of the two parties in this matter will be defined as soon as possible.