Cease-fire Agreement

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Country/entity: Croatia
Yugoslavia (former)
Region: Europe and Eurasia
Agreement name: Cease-fire Agreement
Date: 1 Sep 1991
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
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: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Croatia negotiation process
Parties: For the European Community and its member States: HANS VAN DEN BROEK
For the Presidency of the SFRY, acting also in its capacity of Collective Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces: STIPE MESIC, PRESIDENT OF PRESIDENCY
For the Federal Executive Council: ANTE MARKOVIC, PRESIDENT
For the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina: ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC, PRESIDENT OF THE PRESIDENCY
For the Republic of Montenegro: MOMIR BULATOVIC, PRESIDENT OF PRESIDENCY
For the Republic of Croatia: FRANJO TUDJMAN, PRESIDENT
For the Republic of Macedonia: KIRO GLIGOROV, PRESIDENT
For the Republic of Slovenia: MILAN KUCAN, PRESIDENT OF THE PRESIDENCY
For the Republic of Serbia: SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, PRESIDENT
Third parties: -
Description: This agreement provides for an immediate cease-fire in the Republic of Croatia; disarmament and demobilisation of all paramilitary forces, the Croatian National Guard and the Yugoslav People's Army. It also provides for the European Community Observer Mission to expand its activities to monitor implementation of the agreement.

Agreement document: HR_910901_Cease-fire Agreement.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, 2.
In order to ensure the comprehensive and effective control of the cease-fire, the signatories agree that supervision be carried out by the Yugoslav People's Army, the Croatian authorities and representatives of the Serbian population in Croatia involved in hostilities.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
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: No specific mention.
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: 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: No specific mention.
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.
The cease-fire shall be put into effect in the Republic of Croatia. It was agreed that the cease-fire should include the following points:
- end to the use of force;
- all armed units and all persons bearing arms shall immediately and unconditionally refrain from opening fire and halt all activities which might provoke armed clashes;
- all the parties in conflict shall immediately stop any further movements, save those aimed at withdrawal, in order to avoid direct contact and they shall withdraw from their present or earlier positions where hostilities were or are in progress;
- the parties in conflict in immediate contact shall disengage and withdraw to positions beyond the range of hand fire-weapons;
- mortars and other weaponry shall be withdrawn beyond the range of the parties earlier in conflict;
- all paramilitary forces (with the exception of police forces) and irregular units shall be disarmed and dissolved;
- the members of the Croatian National Guard shall be demobilised and the Yugoslav People's Army shall withdraw to barracks so that neither shall anticipate monitoring activities as noted in paragraph 2.
All parties agree to ensure the effective and immediate realization of the above quoted points of the cease fire.

Page 1, 2.
In order to ensure the comprehensive and effective control of the cease-fire, the signatories agree that supervision be carried out by the Yugoslav People's Army, the Croatian authorities and representatives of the Serbian population in Croatia involved in hostilities.

Page 1, 3.
The signatories also agree together with Yugoslav institutions that the Observer Mission of the EC and its member States should expand their present activities in order to be able to take part in the above mentioned monitoring of the implementation of the Agreement, in keeping with the provisions of the Memorandum on Understanding appended to this Agreement, submitted to the European Community and its member States. The signatories of this Agreement are pledged to guarantee the safety of the members of the Observer mission, especially by issuing precise orders that no unit or individual shall open fire on the Mission or in its vicinity.

Page 1, 4.
Any violation of the cease-fire will be reported to the Observer mission.
Police: Page 1, 1.
The cease-fire shall be put into effect in the Republic of Croatia. It was agreed that the cease-fire should include the following points:
...- all paramilitary forces (with the exception of police forces) and irregular units shall be disarmed and dissolved;...
Armed forces: Page 1, 1.
The cease-fire shall be put into effect in the Republic of Croatia. It was agreed that the cease-fire should include the following points:
...- the members of the Croatian National Guard shall be demobilised and the Yugoslav People's Army shall withdraw to barracks so that neither shall anticipate monitoring activities as noted in paragraph 2....
DDR: Security sector→DDR→Demilitarisation provisions
Page 1, 1.
The cease-fire shall be put into effect in the Republic of Croatia. It was agreed that the cease-fire should include the following points:
...- all paramilitary forces (with the exception of police forces) and irregular units shall be disarmed and dissolved;...- the members of the Croatian National Guard shall be demobilised and the Yugoslav People's Army shall withdraw to barracks so that neither shall anticipate monitoring activities as noted in paragraph 2....
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 1, 1.
The cease-fire shall be put into effect in the Republic of Croatia. It was agreed that the cease-fire should include the following points:
...- all paramilitary forces (with the exception of police forces) and irregular units shall be disarmed and dissolved;...- the members of the Croatian National Guard shall be demobilised and the Yugoslav People's Army shall withdraw to barracks so that neither shall anticipate monitoring activities as noted in paragraph 2....

Page 1, 2.
In order to ensure the comprehensive and effective control of the cease-fire, the signatories agree that supervision be carried out by the Yugoslav People's Army, the Croatian authorities and representatives of the Serbian population in Croatia involved in hostilities.
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: For the European Community and its member States: HANS VAN DEN BROEK
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Page 1, 3.
The signatories also agree together with Yugoslav institutions that the Observer Mission of the EC and its member States should expand their present activities in order to be able to take part in the above mentioned monitoring of the implementation of the Agreement, in keeping with the provisions of the Memorandum on Understanding appended to this Agreement, submitted to the European Community and its member States. The signatories of this Agreement are pledged to guarantee the safety of the members of the Observer mission, especially by issuing precise orders that no unit or individual shall open fire on the Mission or in its vicinity.

Page 1, 4.
Any violation of the cease-fire will be reported to the Observer mission.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Snezana Trifunovska (ed.) Yugoslavia Through Documents: From Its Creation to Its Dissolution (The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, 1994) pp. 334-335

CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENT

Belgrade, 1 September 1991

The signatories of this Agreement have decided the following:

1. The cease-fire shall be put into effect in the Republic of Croatia.

It was agreed that the cease-fire should include the following points:

- end to the use of force;

- all armed units and all persons bearing arms shall immediately and unconditionally refrain from opening fire and halt all activities which might provoke armed clashes;

- all the parties in conflict shall immediately stop any further movements, save those aimed at withdrawal, in order to avoid direct contact and they shall withdraw from their present or earlier positions where hostilities were or are in progress;

- the parties in conflict in immediate contact shall disengage and withdraw to positions beyond the range of hand fire-weapons;

- mortars and other weaponry shall be withdrawn beyond the range of the parties earlier in conflict;

- all paramilitary forces (with the exception of police forces) and irregular units shall be disarmed and dissolved;

- the members of the Croatian National Guard shall be demobilised and the Yugoslav People's Army shall withdraw to barracks so that neither shall anticipate monitoring activities as noted in paragraph 2.

All parties agree to ensure the effective and immediate realization of the above quoted points of the cease fire.

2. In order to ensure the comprehensive and effective control of the cease-fire, the signatories agree that supervision be carried out by the Yugoslav People's Army, the Croatian authorities and representatives of the Serbian population in Croatia involved in hostilities.

3. The signatories also agree together with Yugoslav institutions that the Observer Mission of the EC and its member States should expand their present activities in order to be able to take part in the above mentioned monitoring of the implementation of the Agreement, in keeping with the provisions of the Memorandum on Understanding appended to this Agreement, submitted to the European Community and its member States.

The signatories of this Agreement are pledged to guarantee the safety of the members of the Observer mission, especially by issuing precise orders that no unit or individual shall open fire on the Mission or in its vicinity.

4. Any violation of the cease-fire will be reported to the Observer mission.

Done at Belgrade on September 1, 1991, in the English language in ten copies

For the European Community and its member States:

HANS VAN DEN BROEK

For the Presidency of the SFRY, acting also in its capacity of Collective Supreme Commander of the

Armed Forces:

STIPE MESIC, PRESIDENT OF PRESIDENCY

For the Federal Executive Council:

ANTE MARKOVIC, PRESIDENT

For the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina:

ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC, PRESIDENT OF THE PRESIDENCY

For the Republic of Montenegro:

MOMIR BULATOVIC, PRESIDENT OF PRESIDENCY

For the Republic of Croatia:

FRANJO TUDJMAN, PRESIDENT

For the Republic of Macedonia:

KIRO GLIGOROV, PRESIDENT

For the Republic of Slovenia:

MILAN KUCAN, PRESIDENT OF THE PRESIDENCY

For the Republic of Serbia:

SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, PRESIDENT