Principles and Actions to be taken in Establishing the Future Federation Army of Bosnia Herzegovina

• Country/entity

  Bosnia and Herzegovina
  Yugoslavia (former)
  
• Region

  Europe and Eurasia
  Europe and Eurasia
  
• Agreement name

  Principles and Actions to be taken in Establishing the Future Federation Army of Bosnia Herzegovina
• Date

  12 Mar 1994
• 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

  General Rasim Delic; General Ante Zorislav Roso
• Third parties

  -
• Description

  Military agreement as part of the framework negotiations to establish the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Provides for the principles of a transitional period and the establishment of a Federal Army, including structure of the Joint Command.

• Agreement document

  BA_940312_Principles and Actions.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

WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING A FEDERATION IN THE AREAS OF THE REPUBLIC OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA AND OUTLINE OF A PRELIMINARY AGREEMENT FOR A CONFEDERATION BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA AND THE FEDERATION, WE THE UNDERSIGNED SET FORTH THE PRINCIPLES AND ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN ESTABLISHING THE FUTURE FEDERATION ARMY OF BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA

I. Transitional Period

1. In recognition and furtherance of the Framework Agreement establishing a unified military command of the military of the Federation in the areas of the Republic of Bosnia Herzegovina, the undersigned military representatives join in recognizing and agreeing to the following points and principles.

2. First, in the transitional period, the military arrangements in the Framework Agreement are supported and accepted as the foundation for future military agreements.

These points, repeated verbatim from the Framework Agreement, are:

-current command structures will remain in place;

-forces of the sides will disengage from one another immediately, with the aim of withdrawing a safe distance to be specified in the military agreement;

and

- all foreign armed forces, except those present with the agreement of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina or the authoization of the U.N. Security Council will leave the territory of the Federation.

3. We also recognize and agree to continue with United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) leaders the substantial progress alone current confrontation lines arnonged by UNPROFOR, Croatien Defense Council, and Bosnia Herzegovina leaders.

In accordance with the UNPROFOR sponsored peace accord signed at Camp Pleso on 23 February 1994, we confirm agreement of a separation of forces arnd weapons from designated confrontation lines, as follows:

- 2 km for infantry

- 10 km for mortars

- 20 km for heavy weapons

These withdrawals from the confrontation line will be maintained under continuing UNPROFOR coordination and monitoring.

In addition, we agree to continuing recognition and observation of the other sound UNPROFOR measures that contribute to stability.

Specific measures include free movement of all humanitarian aid, commercial goods, people, and UNPROFOR organizations.

4. The undersigned parties also recognize the value of additional measures that would aid the military aspects of the Framework Agreement and pledge to work toward confidence building measures that will include:

- Protection and release of all prisoners of war and detainees;

- Support of civil authorities in efforts to identify and provide due process in law to persons suspected of criminal activity, to include alleged war criminals;

- Establishment of joint liaison teams at the Headquarters of the Army of Bosnia Herzegovina and the Croatian Defense Council until the establishment of a joint military Headquarters, such teams having full communications equipment;

- Establishment of joint liaison teams at subordinate command levels;

- Exchange of military intelligence information;

- Shared command, control, and communications networks;

- Exchange of information on size, location, and commanders of military units, including the marking of minefields;

- Providing notification in advance of all military operations;

- Providing military support to civil authorities, to include support to impartial police forces;

- Continued recognition of the 23 February 1994 peace accord;

- Establishment of joint convoy escort teams, to include civilian police;

- Public statements of support for the framework agreements by military leaders of both parties;

- The respective Army chiefs of staff will meet within 5 to 7 days from the signing of this document to develop a time table for the purpose of planning the organization and structure of the Federal Army.

The Commanders of the respective armies will meet 7 days after the chiefs of staff meeting to review the plan developed by the chiefs of staff.

II Establishment of a Federal Army

1. A Federal Army will be formed, established by joining the Army of Bosnian Herzegovina and the Croatian Defense Council and responsible to the Federal command authority of the Federation President through the Minister of Defense.

2. In the transformation to a Federal Army, a Joint Command from the existing Army of Bosnian Herzegovina and the Croatian Defense Council will be created and be responsible for control of all operational military regions.

3. This Joint Command will consist of the top commanders of the Army of Bosnia Herzegovina and the Croatian Defense Council, who will meet regularly.

When the constitution is signed by representatives of both constituent people, these two commanders will establish a permanent ten man joint headquarters which will consist of an equal number of ranking officers named by each commander.

These officers will work during a transitional period to develop plans for control of all operations of units of the Army of Bosnia Herzegovina and the Croatian Defense Council.

The Headquarters will be located in Sarajevo and during the transitional period the Headquarters will establish permanent liaison with UNPROFOR.

The Joint Command transitional tasks will include establishing Joint:

a. Intelligence;

b. Operational planning;

e. Logistics support;

d. Public Affairs;

e. Command, control, and communications;

f. Military police;

g. Verification inspection teams.

4. The commanders will establish military region under the joint staff.

The military regions will not overlap.

Every military region will have a commanding officer and deputy which will be appointed by the Joint Headquarters in Sarajevo.

In every appointment of the commander and his deputy, no deputy may be from the same constituent people as his commander.

During the transitional period each military region headquarters will establish permanent liaison with UNPROFOR.

5. Every military region will have operational control of all units of the Army of Bosnia Herzegovina and the Croatian Defense Council on its territory.

6. All officers appointed to command positions must be acceptable to both parties.

Done this 12th day of March, 1994, in Split Croatia, in three copies, each in English, Croatian, and Bosnian languages, which shall be equally authentic.

General Rasim Delic [signature]

General Ante Zorislav Roso [signature]