Work Programme of the Conference, International Conference on Yugoslavia (The London Conference)

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Country/entity: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Yugoslavia (former)
Region: Europe and Eurasia
Agreement name: Work Programme of the Conference, International Conference on Yugoslavia (The London Conference)
Date: 28 Aug 1992
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Interstate/intrastate conflict(s)
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: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Bosnia peace process
Parties: The signatory participants of the London Conference for this agreement are: Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, Italy
Third parties: -
Description: This agreement outlines the work programme and establishes a steering committee for the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia. It establishes working groups on several issues: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Humanitarian Issues, Ethnic and National Communities and Minorities, Economic Issues, and Confidence and Security-Building and Verification Measures.

Agreement document: BA_920828_Work Programme of the Conference (London Conference).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: Groups→Racial/ethnic/national group→Substantive
Page 1, THE OFFICE OF THE CO-CHAIRMEN, 4.
There will be six Working Groups in continuous session at the Office of the United Nations in Geneva:...(c) Ethnic and National Communities and Minorities Working Group. The Group's task is to recommend initiatives for resolving ethnic questions in the former Yugoslavia. A special group on the former autonomous province of Kosovo will be set up;
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Substantive
Page 1, THE OFFICE OF THE CO-CHAIRMEN, 4.
There will be six Working Groups in continuous session at the Office of the United Nations in Geneva:...(b) Humanitarian Issues Working Group. The Group's task is to promote humanitarian relief in all its aspects, including refugees;
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: Page 1, THE OFFICE OF THE CO-CHAIRMEN, 4.
There will be six Working Groups in continuous session at the Office of the United Nations in Geneva:...(d) Succession Issues Working Group. The Group's task is to resolve succession issues arising from the emergence of new states on the territory of the former Yugoslavia; (e) Economic Issues Working Group. The Group's task is to address economic issues arising from the emergence of new states in the territory of the former Yugoslavia.

Page 2, ARBITRATION COMMISSION, 5.
The Conference will seek the continued assistance of the Arbitration Commission.
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: Governance→Constitution→Constitutional reform/making
Page 1, THE OFFICE OF THE CO-CHAIRMEN, 4.
There will be six Working Groups in continuous session at the Office of the United Nations in Geneva: (a) Bosnia-Herzegovina Working Group. The Group's task is to promote a cessation of hostilities and a constitutional settlement in Bosnia-Herzegovina;

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: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Humanitarian assistance
Page 1, THE OFFICE OF THE CO-CHAIRMEN, 4.
There will be six Working Groups in continuous session at the Office of the United Nations in Geneva:...(b) Humanitarian Issues Working Group. The Group's task is to promote humanitarian relief in all its aspects, including refugees;
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: Page 2, COSTS, 7.
Participants in the Conference agree to bear the costs related to the administrative
implementation of this Work Programme and the provision of the Secretariat, with a scale of contributions to be approved by the Steering Committee.
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: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→General commitments
Page 1, THE OFFICE OF THE CO-CHAIRMEN, 4.
There will be six Working Groups in continuous session at the Office of the United Nations in Geneva: (a) Bosnia-Herzegovina Working Group. The Group's task is to promote a cessation of hostilities and a constitutional settlement in Bosnia-Herzegovina; ...(f) Confidence and Security-building and Verification Measures Working Group. The Group's task are to develop confidence-building measures covering military movements, arms control and arms transfers and limitations, and measures for their monitoring and verification.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: Page 1, THE OFFICE OF THE CO-CHAIRMEN, 4.
There will be six Working Groups in continuous session at the Office of the United Nations in Geneva:
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
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: UN Secretary-General was co-chairman of the International Conference on Former Yugoslavia
Other international signatory: The signatory participants of the London Conference for this agreement are: Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, Italy
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: University of Liverpool, David Owen Papers
https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/library/sca/colldescs/owen/

Work Programme of the Conference

The London Conference

27 August 1992

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

1. The International Conference on the former Yugoslavia will remain in being until a final settlement of the problems of the former Yugoslavia has been reached.

It will build on the work already done by the EC Conference on Yugoslavia, especially the documents already produced, and will be guided by the provisions of the statement of principles agreed today.

The Permanent CoChairmen will be the Head of State/Government of the Presidency of the of the European Union and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The Conference will be re-convened on plenary session

by the Permanent Co-Chairmen on the recommendation of the Co-Chairmen of the Steering Committee.

STEERING COMMITTEE

2. A high-level Steering Committee will be set up.

The Co-Chairmen will be a representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and a representative of the Presidency of the European Community.

It will include representatives of the Troika of the European Community, the Troika of the CSCE, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, and one representative from the OIC, two representatives from the neighbouring States and Lord Carrington.

It will meet at the request ofthe Co-Chairmen to guide the work of the Conference and to coordinate its work with related work in other organizations.

THE OFFICE OF THE CO-CHAIRMEN

3. The Co-Chairmen of the Steering Committee will be assisted by the Chairmen of the Working Groups (on which see below).

They will work in continuous session at the Office of the United Nations in Geneva.

The Co-Chairmen will direct the Working Groups and prepare the basis for a

general settlement and associated measures.

They will also meet as necessary with representatives from the former Yugoslavia, who will attend meetings without preconditions.

4. There will be six Working Groups in continuous session at the Office of the United Nations in Geneva:

(a) Bosnia-Herzegovina Working Group.

The Group's task is to promote a cessation of hostilities and a constitutional settlement in Bosnia-Herzegovina;

(b) Humanitarian Issues Working Group.

The Group's task is to promote humanitarian relief in all its aspects, including refugees;

The Group's task is to recommend initiatives for resolving ethnic questions in the former Yugoslavia.

A special group on the former autonomous province of Kosovo will be set up;

(d) Succession Issues Working Group.

The Group's task is to resolve succession issues arising from the emergence of new states on the territory of the former Yugoslavia;

(e) Economic Issues Working Group.

The Group's task is to address economic issues arising from the emergence of new states in the territory of the former Yugoslavia.

(f) Confidence and Security-building and Verification Measures Working Group.

The Group's task are to develop confidence-building measures covering military movements, arms control and arms transfers and limitations, and measures for their monitoring and verification.

ARBITRATION COMMISSION

5. The Conference will seek the continued assistance of the Arbitration Commission.

SECRETARIAT

6. A small Secretariat will be established at the Office of the United Nations in Geneva.

It will be headed by an Executive Director.

It will be staffed by personnel from the United Nations and from the European Community.

COSTS

7. Participants in the Confurence agree to bear the costs related to the administrative implementation of this Work Programme and the provision of the Secretariat, with a scale of contributions to be approved by the Steering Committee.

Work Programme of the Confurence - Addendum

The London Conference

27 August 1992

The attached Memorandum addressed to the Co-Chairmen of the Conference should be attached to LC/C4 (FINAL)

Memorandum to the Co-Chairmen of the London Conference

Subject:

The Draft Action Programme LC/C4 (Revise)

26 August 1992

Ref: p. 1 para 2, Steering Committee

The undersigned Ministers have agreed the following formula for selection of the representative for the "neighbouring States":

1. Given the fact that there will be two seats for "Neighbouring Countries", one will be allocated to the Community Countries, Italy and Greece, the other one to non-Comrrrunity Countries.

Italy and Greece have decided on their own rotation system, on a six months basis.

2. The Representatives of the non-Community neighbouring States have agreed to the following representation on the Steering Committee:

a) the system will be based on rotation in alphabetical order (English alphabet) with Romania starting the process;

b) the tenure will be for a period of three months;

c) it has been agreed that the member representing the non-Community neighbouring States in the Steering Committee will keep the representatives of the other neighbouring States informed in a timely fashion so as to ensure complete collaboration and the best possible hand-over of responsibilities to the next appointee.

ALBANIA

AUSTRIA

BULGARIA

HUNGARY

ROMANIA

GREECE

ITALY