Sarajevo Joint Declaration

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Country/entity: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Yugoslavia (former)
Region: Europe and Eurasia
Agreement name: Sarajevo Joint Declaration
Date: 12 Nov 1993
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: Implementation/renegotiation
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Bosnia peace process
Parties: H.E. HARIS Silajdzic Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina; H.E. MATE Granic Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia
Third parties: Witnessed by H.E. Hikmet CETIN Minister for Foreign Affairs of The Republic of Turkey
Description: This short agreement contains implementation modalities for the principles of statements signed by the Presidents of Croatia and Bosnia, Franjo Tudjman and Alija Izetbegovic, regarding military conflict between the HVO and Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, free passage of humanitarian aid, and to continue dialogue to solve issues between Croats and Bosniacs.

Agreement document: BA_931112_Sarajevo Joint Declaration.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, Untitled Preamble
In this context particular attention was paid to the latest peace initiatives. In this respect they have agreed that every political effort must be exerted on the bilateral and multilateral levels to end further deterioration of relations between the Bosnian Croats and Bosniacs in order to create a positive framework for the restoration of the peace process.

Page 2, 4.
All other remaining controversial political, military, territorial and other issues between the Bosnian Croats and the Bosniacs shall be resolved only through political means and without the use of force and a special mechanism for the coordination of all activities regarding the protection of rights and interests of the two peoples shall be established with the good offices of Turkey and other countries.

Page 2, 5.
The sides shall continue their working dialogue on ministerial and other levels on all open questions with a view to bringing about a solution to Croat-Bosniac relations and preparations for the reactivation of the peace process.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Substantive
Page 1-2, 2.
The immediate assurances and guarantees for free and unhindered passage of humanitarian aid convoys to all parties and areas shall be given by the respective highest authorities. For the purposes of the realization of the above-mentioned, the parties have agreed on the following:
...
(e) To establish a Joint Commission, with the mandate to coordinate all activities relating to humanitarian convoys and to cooperate with the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian agencies;
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: No specific mention.
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: Page 1-2, 2.
The immediate assurances and guarantees for free and unhindered passage of humanitarian aid convoys to all parties and areas shall be given by the respective highest authorities. For the purposes of the realization of the above-mentioned, the parties have agreed on the following:
...
(e) To establish a Joint Commission, with the mandate to coordinate all activities relating to humanitarian convoys and to cooperate with the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian agencies;

Page 2, 3.
To continue to revive the activities of previously established joint working groups for the release of all detainees, in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other international agencies.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

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: Page 2, 4.
All other remaining controversial political, military, territorial and other issues between the Bosnian Croats and the Bosniacs shall be resolved only through political means and without the use of force and a special mechanism for the coordination of all activities regarding the protection of rights and interests of the two peoples shall be established with the good offices of Turkey and other countries.
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: Page 1-2, 2.
The immediate assurances and guarantees for free and unhindered passage of humanitarian aid convoys to all parties and areas shall be given by the respective highest authorities. For the purposes of the realization of the above-mentioned, the parties have agreed on the following:
(a) To appeal jointly to the United Nations Security Council, the European Community and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to provide for the free passage of humanitarian convoys by all means, including the use of force;
(b) To open immediately a humanitarian aid corridor on the route Ploce - Metkovic - Capljina - Mostar -Jablanica - Tarcin - Kiseljak - Visoko;
(c) To use the Kamenska - Tomislavgrad - Gornji Vakuf - Novi Travnik – Travnik -Zenica corridor until the above-mentioned corridor is available;
(d) To organize immediately two convoys for the Central Bosnia area, i.e., one for Nova Bila and the other for Maglaj;
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 1-2, 2.
The immediate assurances and guarantees for free and unhindered passage of humanitarian aid convoys to all parties and areas shall be given by the respective highest authorities. For the purposes of the realization of the above-mentioned, the parties have agreed on the following:
(a) To appeal jointly to the United Nations Security Council, the European Community and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to provide for the free passage of humanitarian convoys by all means, including the use of force;
(b) To open immediately a humanitarian aid corridor on the route Ploce - Metkovic - Capljina - Mostar -Jablanica - Tarcin - Kiseljak - Visoko;
(c) To use the Kamenska - Tomislavgrad - Gornji Vakuf - Novi Travnik – Travnik -Zenica corridor until the above-mentioned corridor is available;
(d) To organize immediately two convoys for the Central Bosnia area, i.e., one for Nova Bila and the other for Maglaj;
(e) To establish a Joint Commission, with the mandate to coordinate all activities relating to humanitarian convoys and to cooperate with the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian agencies;
(f) To coordinate their activities in order to provide for the repair of energy supply systems.
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: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Page 1, 1.
To prepare and organize an urgent meeting of the highest political and military leadership of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina and HVO, not later than within five to seven days, in order to reach a comprehensive agreement on all military issues relating to the establishment of the cease-fire and final cessation of all hostilities and military activities. It was agreed that, during the preparations for this meeting, both sides would strictly refrain from all military activities.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: Page 1, Untitled Preamble
During the talks, special emphasis was put on the recent flare-up of fighting between the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina and HVO forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the central Bosnia area in particular, and the urgent necessity to end all hostilities and military activities.

Page 1, 1.
To prepare and organize an urgent meeting of the highest political and military leadership of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina and HVO, not later than within five to seven days, in order to reach a comprehensive agreement on all military issues relating to the establishment of the cease-fire and final cessation of all hostilities and military activities. It was agreed that, during the preparations for this meeting, both sides would strictly refrain from all military activities.
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: Page 2, 3.
To continue to revive the activities of previously established joint working groups for the release of all detainees, in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other international agencies.
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: Witnessed by H.E. Hikmet CETIN Minister for Foreign Affairs of The Republic of Turkey
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Page 1-2, 2.
The immediate assurances and guarantees for free and unhindered passage of humanitarian aid convoys to all parties and areas shall be given by the respective highest authorities. For the purposes of the realization of the above-mentioned, the parties have agreed on the following:
(a) To appeal jointly to the United Nations Security Council, the European Community and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to provide for the free passage of humanitarian convoys by all means, including the use of force;
...
(e) To establish a Joint Commission, with the mandate to coordinate all activities relating to humanitarian convoys and to cooperate with the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian agencies;
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Snezana Trifunovska (ed.) Former Yugoslavia Through Documents: From its dissolution to the peace settlement (The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff 1999) pp. 62-63

SARAJEVO JOINT DECLARATION

Sarajevo, 12 November 19935

During their meeting in Sarajevo on 12 November 1993, the Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Haris Silajdzic, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, Mr. Mate Granic, in their capacity as Presidential Trustees following the Geneva Declaration of 14 September 1993, in the presence and with active participation of HE.

Mr. Hikmet Cetin, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, have extensively discussed the present political and military situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

During the talks, special emphasis was put on the recent flare-up of fighting between the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina and HVO forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the central Bosnia area in particular, and the urgent necessity to end all hostilities and military activities.

The three sides have also extensively discussed the necessity to revise the peace process in order to bring about an immediate, comprehensive and durable solution to the crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region, in particular in the light of the tragic deterioration of humanitarian conditions.

They have agreed that the basic principles of the Geneva peace agreement joint declaration signed by Presidents Franjo Tudjman and Alija Izetbegovic, as well as their statement from Vienna, represent a basis for comprehensive solution to the relations between the two parties aimed at reaching final agreement on the crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In this context particular attention was paid to the latest peace initiatives.

In this respect they have agreed that every political effort must be exerted on the bilateral and multilateral levels to end further deterioration of relations between the Bosnian Croats and Bosniacs in order to create a positive framework for the restoration of the peace process.

In order to implement these principles, Mr. Haris Silajdzic and Mr. Mate Granic, in their capacity as Presidential Trustees, and with the active participation of Mr. Hikmet Cetin, have agreed on the following:

1. To prepare and organize an urgent meeting of the highest political and militaryleadership of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina and HVO, not later than within five to seven days, in order to reach a comprehensive agreement on all military issues relating to the establishment of the cease-fire and final cessation of all hostilities and military activities.

It was agreed that, during the preparations for this meeting, both sides would strictly refrain from all military activities.

2. The immediate assurances and guarantees for free and unhindered passage of humanitarian aid convoys to all parties and areas shall be given by the respective highest authorities.

For the purposes of the realization of the above-mentioned, the parties have agreed on the following:

(a) To appeal jointly to the United Nations Security Council, the European Community and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to provide for the free passage of humanitarian convoys by all means, including the use of force;

(b) To open immediately a humanitarian aid corridor on the route Ploce - Metkovic - Capljina - Mostar -Jablanica - Tarcin - Kiseljak - Visoko;

(c) To use the Kamenska - Tomislavgrad - Gornji Vakuf - Novi Travnik – Travnik -Zenica corridor until the above-mentioned corridor is available;

(d) To organize immediately two convoys for the Central Bosnia area, i.e., one for Nova Bila and the other for Maglaj;

(e) To establish a Joint Commission, with the mandate to coordinate all activities relating to humanitarian convoys and to cooperate with the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian agencies;

(f) To coordinate their activities in order to provide for the repair of energy supply systems.

3. To continue to revive the activities of previously established joint working groups for the release of all detainees, in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other international agencies.

4. All other remaining controversial political, military, territorial and other issues between the Bosnian Croats and the Bosniacs shall be resolved only through political means and without the use of force and a special mechanism for the coordination of all activities regarding the protection of rights and interests of the two peoples shall be established with the good offices of Turkey and other countries.

5. The sides shall continue their working dialogue on ministerial and other levels on all open questions with a view to bringing about a solution to Croat-Bosniac relations and preparations for the reactivation of the peace process.

Mr. Haris Silajdzic and Mr. Mate Granic have expressed jointly their great appreciation and gratitude to the Republic of Turkey and to Minister Hikmet Cetin personally for the most valuable and continuous political assistance and humanitarian support to Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in search of a lasting solution to the crisis in the region.

(Signed) H.E. HARIS Silajdzic

Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina

(Signed) H.E. MATE Granic Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia

Witnessed by:

(Signed) H.E. Hikmet CETIN

Minister for Foreign Affairs of The Republic of Turkey