Agreement by the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Hercegovina with regard to the opening of Sarajevo airport

Export agreement:

Export agreement coding (PDF)

Country/entity: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Yugoslavia (former)
Region: Europe and Eurasia
Agreement name: Agreement by the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Hercegovina with regard to the opening of Sarajevo airport
Date: 1 Jun 1992
Agreement status: Unilateral document
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
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: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Bosnia peace process
Parties: On behalf of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia Herzegovina: Dr Nikola Koljevic, Member of the Presidency of Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Signed on behalf of UNPROFOR by Lt. Col R.P. Gray
Third parties: -
Description: This agreement commits the Serbian side to a ceasefire in and around Sarajevo, withdrawing all anti-aircraft weapons systems from the vicinity of the airport, to be concentrated at five locations supervised by UNPROFOR.

Agreement document: BA_920601_AgreementSerbianRepublicOpeningSarajevoAirport.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: No specific mention.
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: No specific mention.
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): 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: No specific mention.

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: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
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: 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: 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: Page 1, 2.
All anti-aircraft weapon systems shall be withdrawn the maximum possible distance from positions from which they can engage the airport, flying aircraft or aircraft on the ground and that they shall be placed under UNPROFOR supervision. This distance is to exceed the maximum effective rage of each weapon system.

Page 1, 3.
That the location of such anti-aircraft weapons systems shall be in five or less locations as mutually agreed to by the Serbian side and UNPROFOR. These locations are to be collocated with the agreed upon locations for the indirect fire weapons systems as mentioned below.

Page 1, 4.
That all artillery, mortars, ground to ground missile systems and tanks within range of the airport will be concentrated in five locations agreed upon by the Serbian side and UNPROFOR. These five locations are to be subject to continuous UNPROFOR supervision commencing at a time mutually agreed upon by the Serbian side and UNPROFOR.

Page 1, 7.
That the Serbian side undertake to provide to UNPROFOR a map that details the precise number and type of weapons to be concentrated in the five designated locations. Such provided information shall be kept in the strictest confidence, shall not be known to the other side and shall only be known by Maj Gen Mackenzie, the personal assistant to the General, the senior military observer responsible for the supervision mission (Lt Col Gray), Lt Col Jones (the Canadian battalion commander tasked with protecting the airport) and the patrol coordinator responsible for tasking the patrols of supervision.

Page 2, 11.
This agreement refers to the use of indirect fire weapons and anti-aircraft weapons on the airport of Sarajevo as well as aircraft attempting to use the airport.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Page 1, 1.
The ceasefire agreed for 0600 hours on 15 June 1992 in and around Sarajevo shall be a durable one subject to verification by UNPROFOR and that the parties will provide liaison officers and escorts to assist in its verification.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 1, 3.
That the location of such anti-aircraft weapons systems shall be in five or less locations as mutually agreed to by the Serbian side and UNPROFOR. These locations are to be collocated with the agreed upon locations for the indirect fire weapons systems as mentioned below.

Page 1, 4.
That all artillery, mortars, ground to ground missile systems and tanks within range of the airport will be concentrated in five locations agreed upon by the Serbian side and UNPROFOR. These five locations are to be subject to continuous UNPROFOR supervision commencing at a time mutually agreed upon by the Serbian side and UNPROFOR.

Page 1, 5.
That a commander from the Serbian side shall be nominated at each of the five locations as a liaison person to liaise directly with UNPROFOR personnel charged with the duty of supervising each location. Without prejudice to these liaison persons, UNPROFOR undertake to employ, at no cost to the Serbian side, an interpreter, should the nominated commander not speak English. This interpreter is to facilitate ready and meaningful liaison between the commander at the location and the UNPROFOR personnel charged with supervising that location. The interpreter will be at the choice of the Serbian side.
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: Signed on behalf of UNPROFOR by Lt. Col R.P. Gray
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Page 1, 1.
The ceasefire agreed for 0600 hours on 15 June 1992 in and around Sarajevo shall be durable one subject to verification by UNPROFOR and that the parties will provide liaison officers and escorts to assist in its verification.

Page 1, 2.
All anti-aircraft weapon systems shall be withdrawn the maximum possible distance from positions from which they can engage the airport, flying aircraft or aircraft on the ground and that they shall be placed under UNPROFOR supervision. This distance is to exceed the maximum effective rage of each weapon system.

Page 1, 3.
That the location of such anti-aircraft weapons systems shall be in five or less locations as mutually agreed to by the Serbian side and UNPROFOR. These locations are to be collocated with the agreed upon locations for the indirect fire weapons systems as mentioned below.

Page 1, 4.
That all artillery, mortars, ground to ground missile systems and tanks within range of the airport will be concentrated in five locations agreed upon by the Serbian side and UNPROFOR. These five locations are to be subject to continuous UNPROFOR supervision commencing at a time mutually agreed upon by the Serbian side and UNPROFOR.

Page 1, 5.
That a commander from the Serbian side shall be nominated at each of the five locations as a liaison person to liaise directly with UNPROFOR personnel charged with the duty of supervising each location. Without prejudice to these liaison persons, UNPROFOR undertake to employ, at no cost to the Serbian side, an interpreter, should the nominated commander not speak English. This interpreter is to facilitate ready and meaningful liaison between the commander at the location and the UNPROFOR personnel charged with supervising that location. The interpreter will be at the choice of the Serbian side.

Page 1, 6.
That the Serbian side agree to up to 40 UNPROFOR personnel, residing at Lukavica barracks at a cost to be borne personally and individually by each of the UNPROFOR personnel so residing at Lukavica barracks.

Page 1, 7.
That the Serbian side undertake to provide to UNPROFOR a map that details the precise number and type of weapons to be concentrated in the five designated locations. Such provided information shall be kept in the strictest confidence, shall not be known to the other side and shall only be known by Maj Gen Mackenzie, the personal assistant to the General, the senior military observer responsible for the supervision mission (Lt Col Gray), Lt Col Jones (the Canadian battalion commander tasked with protecting the airport) and the patrol coordinator responsible for tasking the patrols of supervision.

Page 1, 8.
That the Serbian side agree to provide vehicle escorts to UNPROFOR personnel tasked with the supervision of the five locations until such time, as mutually agreed between the Serbian side and UNPROFOR, that UNPROFOR personnel are confident of finding their own way to the locations in safety.

Page 2, 9.
That the supervision mission of the agreed upon five locations shall commence as soon as possible as mutually agreed upon by the Serbian side and UNPROFOR. The commencement date may be as early as 20 June 1992.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: ICTY Court Records, Karadzic trial exhibit D02406
http://icr.icty.org/

Agreement by the Serbian Republic of Bosnia Herzegovina with regard to the opening of Sarajevo Airport

In pursuance of Security Council Resolution 757 (1992), Paragraph 17;

the Undersigned agree that:

1. The ceasefire agreed for 0600 hours on 15 June 1992 in and around Sarajevo shall be durable one subject to verification by UNPROFOR and that the parties will provide liaison officers and escorts to assist in its verification.

2. All anti-aircraft weapon systems shall be withdrawn the maximum possible distance from positions from which they can engage the airport, flying aircraft or aircraft on the ground and that they shall be placed under UNPROFOR supervision.

This distance is to exceed the maximum effective rage of each weapon system.

3. That the location of such anti-aircraft weapons systems shall be in five or less locations as mutually agreed to by the Serbian side and UNPROFOR.

These locations are to be collocated with the agreed upon locations for the indirect fire weapons systems as mentioned below.

4. That all artillery, mortars, ground to ground missile systems and tanks within range of the airport will be concentrated in five locations agreed upon by the Serbian side and UNPROFOR.

These five locations are to be subject to continuous UNPROFOR supervision commencing at a time mutually agreed upon by the Serbian side and UNPROFOR.

5. That a commander from the Serbian side shall be nominated at each of the five locations as a liaison person to liaise directly with UNPROFOR personnel charged with the duty of supervising each location.

Without prejudice to these liaison persons, UNPROFOR undertake to employ, at no cost to the Serbian side, an interpreter, should the nominated commander not speak English.

This interpreter is to facilitate ready and meaningful liaison between the commander at the location and the UNPROFOR personnel charged with supervising that location.

The interpreter will be at the choice of the Serbian side.

6. That the Serbian side agree to up to 40 UNPROFOR personnel, residing at Lukavica barracks at a cost to be borne personally and individually by each of the UNPROFOR personnel so residing at Lukavica barracks.

7. That the Serbian side undertake to provide to UNPROFOR a map that details the precise number and type of weapons to be concentrated in the five designated locations.

Such provided information shall be kept in the strictest confidence, shall not be known to the other side and shall only be known by Maj Gen Mackenzie, the personal assistant to the General, the senior military observer responsible for the supervision mission (Lt Col Gray), Lt Col Jones (the Canadian battalion commander tasked with protecting the airport) and the patrol coordinator responsible for tasking the patrols of supervision.

8. That the Serbian side agree to provide vehicle escorts to UNPROFOR personnel tasked with the supervision of the five locations until such time, as mutually agreed between the Serbian side and UNPROFOR, that UNPROFOR personnel are confident of finding their own way to the locations in safety.

9. That the supervision mission of the agreed upon five locations shall commence as soon as possible as mutually agreed upon by the Serbian side and UNPROFOR.

The commencement date may be as early as 20 June 1992.

10. This agreement shall be without prejudice to the settlement of constitutional questions now under negotiation.

11. This agreement refers to the use of indirect fire weapons and anti-aircraft weapons on the airport of Sarajevo as well as aircraft attempting to use the airport.

On behalf of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia Herzegovina

Dr Nikola Koljevic, Member of the Presidency of Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina [signed]

Signed on behalf of UNPROFOR by Lt.

Col R.P. Gray [signed]