Trilateral New York Declaration of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Turkey

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Country/entity: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Yugoslavia (former)
Region: Europe and Eurasia
Agreement name: Trilateral New York Declaration of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Turkey
Date: 23 Oct 1995
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: Renewal
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Bosnia peace process
Parties: Alija Izetbegovic, President of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Franjo Tudjman, President of the Republic of Croatia; Süleyman Demirel, President of the Republic of Turkey
Third parties: -
Description: This agreement between the presidents of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Turkey reaffirms their commitment to the Contact Group peace proposal, and calls for Turkey to be included into the expanded International Contact Group.

Agreement document: BA_951023_Trilateral New York Declaration of Bosnia and Herzegovina.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→Rhetorical
Page 1
...They reiterated their support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and for a pluralistic and democratic society of the three peoples and the "others" of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Rhetorical
Page 1
...The Presidents underlined the vital importance of economic assistance for the reconstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and humanitarian aid for the rehabilitation of all refugees and displaced persons returning to their homes following the peace settlement. To this end, the Presidents decided to establish a joint economic committee to coordinate their activities and cooperation in this field...
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): Page 1
...They reiterated their support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and for a pluralistic and democratic society of the three peoples and the "others" of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: Page 1
...The Presidents further expressed their conviction that mutual recognition of all States in the region within the internationally recognized borders would pave the way for the normalization of the situation in the region...
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: Page 1
...The Presidents further expressed their conviction that mutual recognition of all States in the region within the internationally recognized borders would pave the way for the normalization of the situation in the region...
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 Presidents welcomed the offer of legal assistance by Turkey to the democratization process in general and preparation of constitutional arrangements in particular of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina...

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: Power sharing→Territorial power sharing→Federal or similar sub-divided government
Page 1
...The Presidents emphasized their commitment to the Contact Group peace proposal and the Agreed Basic Principles of New York and Geneva and reiterated their firm belief that the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina should provide the basis for a peaceful solution to the crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina...
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: Page 1
...They reiterated their support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and for a pluralistic and democratic society of the three peoples and the "others" of Bosnia and Herzegovina...

Page 1
...The Presidents welcomed the offer of legal assistance by Turkey to the democratization process in general and preparation of constitutional arrangements in particular of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
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 Presidents underlined the vital importance of economic assistance for the reconstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and humanitarian aid for the rehabilitation of all refugees and displaced persons returning to their homes following the peace settlement. To this end, the Presidents decided to establish a joint economic committee to coordinate their activities and cooperation in this field. They also expressed their appreciation for the establishment of the Assistance Mobilization Group within the Organization of the Islamic Conference for economic and humanitarian assistance. The Presidents of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia reiterated their support to Turkey as a coordinator of this Group.
Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Infrastructure and reconstruction
Page 1
...The Presidents underlined the vital importance of economic assistance for the reconstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and humanitarian aid for the rehabilitation of all refugees and displaced persons returning to their homes following the peace settlement. To this end, the Presidents decided to establish a joint economic committee to coordinate their activities and cooperation in this field. They also expressed their appreciation for the establishment of the Assistance Mobilization Group within the Organization of the Islamic Conference for economic and humanitarian assistance. The Presidents of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia reiterated their support to Turkey as a coordinator of this Group.
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: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
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: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Letter dated 95/10/30 from the representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Turkey to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/1995/906)
http://repository.un.org/

Trilateral New York Declaration of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

Croatia and Turkey

The three Heads of State, His Excellency Alija Izetbegovic, President of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, His Excellency Franjo Tudjman, President of the Republic of Croatia, and His Excellency Süleyman Demirel, President of the Republic of Turkey, met in New York on 23 October 1995 on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations to hold trilateral consultations at the summit level.

The Presidents reviewed the latest developments for achieving a peaceful settlement to the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

They lauded the efforts of the international community, noting with particular appreciation the American initiative which has progressed to holding proximity talks in the United States of America at the end of October with the leaders of the three countries concerned.

They reiterated their support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and for a pluralistic and democratic society of the three peoples and the "others" of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

They also expressed deep concern for the continuing occupation of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem, and urged an early and peaceful settlement.

The Presidents emphasized their commitment to the Contact Group peace proposal and the Agreed Basic Principles of New York and Geneva and reiterated their firm belief that the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina should provide the basis for a peaceful solution to the crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Presidents reaffirmed that trilateral consultation and cooperation mechanism among Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Turkey is a major contribution to the peace process and to the building of stability and cooperation in the region.

They welcomed the signing of the Agreement on the Establishment of the Mission of Goodwill and Joint Police Forces for Action "Return" as a concrete result of the trilateral mechanism.

They reiterated their call for the inclusion of Turkey into the expanded International Contact Group.

The Presidents welcomed the offer of legal assistance by Turkey to the democratization process in general and preparation of constitutional arrangements in particular of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Presidents further expressed their conviction that mutual recognition of all States in the region within the internationally recognized borders would pave the way for the normalization of the situation in the region.

The Presidents underlined the vital importance of economic assistance for the reconstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and humanitarian aid for the rehabilitation of all refugees and displaced persons returning to their homes following the peace settlement.

To this end, the Presidents decided to establish a joint economic committee to coordinate their activities and cooperation in this field.

They also expressed their appreciation for the establishment of the Assistance Mobilization Group within the Organization of the Islamic Conference for economic and humanitarian assistance.

The Presidents of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia reiterated their support to Turkey as a coordinator of this Group.

The Presidents reaffirmed the determination and political will of their respective countries to strengthen trilateral cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia and Turkey in various fields.