Further Agreed Basic Principles (additional to those issued 8 September 1995, in Geneva)

• Country/entity

  Bosnia and Herzegovina
  Yugoslavia (former)
  
• Region

  Europe and Eurasia
  Europe and Eurasia
  
• Agreement name

  Further Agreed Basic Principles (additional to those issued 8 September 1995, in Geneva)
• Date

  26 Sep 1995
• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed
• Interim arrangement

  Yes
• Agreement/conflict level

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

  Pre-negotiation/process
• Conflict nature

  Government/territory
• Peace process

  Bosnia peace process
• Parties

  H.E. Mr. Muhamed Sacirbey, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnia and Herzegovina); H.E. Mr. Mate Granic, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Croatia (Croatia); and H.E. Mr. Milan Milutinovic, Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Yugoslavia)
• Third parties

  Witnessed by: the Permanent Representatives of France, Germany, Italy, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America to the United Nations
• Description

  This short agreement contains further principles additional to those agreed on 8 September 1995 at Geneva, as basis for talks on ending the war in Bosnia, which includes principles on a future settlement, the division of the state into two entities, establishing institutions, and holding elections.

• Agreement document

  BA_950926_FurtherAgreedPrinciples.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

Further Agreed Basic Principles (additional to those signed on 8 September 1995 at Geneva)

4. Each of the two entities will honour the international obligations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as long as the obligation is not a financial obligation

incurred by one entity without the consent of the other.

5. It is the goal that free democratic elections be held in both entities as soon as social conditions permit.

In order to maximize the democratic

effectiveness of such elections, the following steps will be taken by both entities.

5.1 Both Governments will immediately pledge their full support, starting immediately, for (a) freedom of movement;

(b) the right of displaced persons to repossess their property or to receive just compensation;

(c) freedom of speech and of the press;

and (d) protection of all other internationally recognized human rights in order to enhance and empower the democratic election process.

5.2 As soon as possible the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) (or other international organization) will station representatives in all principal towns throughout the Federation and the Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina and publish monthly reports as to the degree to which

(a) the obligations listed in all of the Agreed Basic Principles have been fulfilled, and (b) social conditions are being restored to a level at which the

election process may be effective.

5.3 Within 30 days after the OSCE delegations have concluded that free and democratic elections can be properly held in both entities, the Governments of the two entities will conduct free and democratic elections and will fully cooperate with an international monitoring programme.

6. Following the elections, the affairs and prerogatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be vested in the following institutions, in accordance with all

of the Agreed Basic Principles.

6.1 A parliament or assembly, two thirds of which will be elected from the territory of the Federation, and one third from the territory of the Republika Srpska.

All parliamentary actions will be by majority vote provided that the majority includes at least one third of the votes from each entity.

6.2 A presidency, two thirds of which will be elected from the territory of the Federation, and one third from the territory of the Republika Srpska.

All presidency decisions will be taken by majority vote, provided, however, that if one third or more of the members disagree with a decision taken by the other members and declare that decision to be destructive of a vital interest of the entity or entities from which the dissenting members were elected, the matter will be referred immediately to the appropriate entity’s/entities’ parliament.

If any such parliament confirms the dissenting position by a two-thirds vote, then the challenged decision will not take effect.

6.3 A cabinet of such ministers as may be appropriate.

6.4 A constitutional court with jurisdiction to decide all questions arising under the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina as it will be revised

in accordance with all of the Agreed Basic Principles.

6.5 The parties will negotiate in the immediate future as to further aspects of the management and operation of these institutions.

6.6 The foregoing institutions will have responsibility for the foreign policy of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The parties will negotiate further to

determine the extent to which these institutions will also have responsibility for other matters consistent with all of the Agreed Basic Principles.