Agreement on the Normalization of Relations

• Country/entity

  Croatia
  Yugoslavia (former)
  
• Region

  Europe and Eurasia
  Europe and Eurasia
  
• Agreement name

  Agreement on the Normalization of Relations
• Date

  23 Aug 1996
• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed
• Interim arrangement

  Yes
• Agreement/conflict level

  Interstate/intrastate conflict(s) ( Balkan Conflicts (1991 - 1995) (1998 - 2001) )
• Stage

  Framework/substantive - partial
• Conflict nature

  Government/territory
• Peace process

  Croatia negotiation process
• Parties

  For the federal Republic of Yugoslavia: Milan Milutinovic, Federal minister for Foreign Affairs
  For the Republic of Croatia: Dr. Mate Granic, Vice-President of the Government and Minister for Foreign Affairs
• Third parties

  -
• Description

  This agreement on normalization of relations provides for: basic principles of independence, sovereignty and equality of states; mutual recognition; provision for missing persons; repatriation of refugees and displaced persons; human rights guarantees; and cooperation in various other matters.

• Agreement document

  HR RS_960823_AgreementNormalizationRelationsYugoslaviaCroatia.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

Agreement on Normalization of Relations between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Croatia

The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Croatia (hereinafter "the Contracting Parties"),

Aware of their responsibility for the establishment and maintenance of peace and security in the region,

Desiring to contribute to that end through the normalization of mutual relations,

Aimed at promoting relations between their peoples and citizens,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

The Contracting Parties shall respect each other as independent, sovereign and equal States within their international borders.

Article 2

Each Contracting Party shall respect, in accordance with international law, the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of the other Contracting Party.

The Contracting Parties confirm that they shall carry out the regulation of their borders and the delimitation through mutual agreement only, that they shall solve disputes by peaceful means and refrain from threat or use of force in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.

The Contracting Parties shall seek to foster mutual confidence, good will and tolerance and shall cooperate in promoting peace, stability and development in the region.

Article 3

Within 15 days after the signing of this Agreement, the Contracting Parties shall establish full diplomatic and consular relations.

The Contracting Parties shall promptly upgrade their existing representative offices to embassies and shall exchange ambassadors.

Article 4

The Contracting Parties are agreed to solve the disputed issue of Prevlaka through mutual negotiations.

Thereby a contribution shall be made to the full security of the part of the territory of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the Boka Kotorska Bay and the part of the territory of the Republic of Croatia in the area of the Dubrovnik region.

The two Parties shall solve this important disputed issue through mutual negotiations in the spirit of the Charter of the United Nations and good-neighbourliness.

Until mutual agreement on Prevlaka is reached, the Contracting Parties are

agreed to respect the existing security regime established through United Nations monitoring.

Article 5

Proceeding from the historical fact that Serbia and Montenegro existed as independent States before the creation of Yugoslavia, and bearing in mind the fact that Yugoslavia has continued the international legal personality of these States, the Republic of Croatia notes the existence of the State continuity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Proceeding from the historical fact of the existence of the various forms of statal organization of Croatia in the past, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia notes the existence of the continuity of the Croatian statehood.

The Contracting Parties are agreed to solve the issue of the succession of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on the basis of the rules of

international law on succession of States and through agreement.

Article 6

The Contracting Parties undertake to speed up forthwith the process of solving the questions of missing persons, and both Contracting Parties shall immediately exchange all available information about these persons.

Article 7

The Contracting Parties shall ensure conditions for a free and safe return of refugees and displaced persons to their places of residence or other places which they freely choose.

The Contracting Parties shall ensure to these persons return into possession of their property or a just compensation.

The Contracting Parties shall ensure full security to the refugees and displaced persons who return.

The Contracting Parties shall assist these persons to ensure necessary conditions for normal and safe life.

The Contracting Parties shall declare general amnesty for all acts

committed in connection with the armed conflicts, except for the gravest violations of humanitarian law having the nature of war crimes.

The Contracting Parties shall encourage consistent and comprehensive implementation of the Erdut Agreement on Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium.

Each Contracting Party shall guarantee the same legal protection to the property of physical persons and legal entities having the citizenship of the

other Party, that is, being seated in the territory of the other Party, as the one enjoyed by its own citizens, that is, its legal entities.

Within six months from the date of the entry into force of this Agreement, the Contracting Parties shall conclude an agreement on compensation for all destroyed, damaged or lost property.

Such agreement shall define the procedures for the realization of the rights to fair compensation which shall not include court proceedings.

For the purpose of implementing the obligations under this article, a joint commission, consisting of three representatives of each Contracting Party, shall be established within 30 days from the signing of this Agreement.

Article 8

The Contracting Parties shall guarantee the Croats in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Serbs and Montenegrins in the Republic of Croatia all rights they are entitled to under international law.

Article 9

The Contracting Parties shall conclude, within six months, a separate agreement on social insurance which shall regulate disability, health and

pension insurance, including the payment of pensions.

The Contracting Parties shall conclude, if necessary, other agreements as well concerning the settlement of work- and status-related issues.

Article 10

The Contracting Parties shall continue to cooperate in normalizing road, railway, air and river traffic on the basis of the principle of reciprocity and

good-neighbourliness.

Article 11

Internal regulations in force concerning the stay and movement of foreigners shall be applied without discrimination to the entry, movement and

stay of the citizens and vehicles of one Contracting Party in the territory of the other Contracting Party.

Article 12

The Contracting Parties shall continue to promote post, telephone and other telecommunications.

Article 13

The Contracting Parties shall proceed, without delay, to concluding mutual agreements in the fields of economy, science, education, protection of the environment, as well as in other fields of the common interest of the Contracting Parties.

The Contracting Parties shall immediately conclude an agreement on cultural cooperation which shall include the preservation and restoration of cultural heritage.

Article 14

This Agreement has been done in two original copies, in the Serbian and Croatian languages, both texts being equally authentic.

This Agreement shall be provisionally applied from the day of signature and shall enter into force after the two Contracting Parties notify each other

through diplomatic channels that it has been confirmed by their competent authorities.

Done at Belgrade on 23 August 1996.

For the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Milan MILUTINOVIC Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs

For the Republic of Croatia Dr. Mate GRANIC Vice-President of the Government and Minister for Foreign Affairs