Agreement (ICRC Humanitarian Principles)

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Country/entity: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Yugoslavia (former)
Region: Europe and Eurasia
Agreement name: Agreement (ICRC Humanitarian Principles)
Date: 6 Jun 1992
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: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Bosnia peace process
Parties: Mr. K. Trnko, Representative of Mr Alija IZETBEGOVIC, President of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mr. D. Kalinic, Representative of Mr. Radovan KARADZIC, President of the Serbian Democratic Party
Mr. S. Sito Coric, Representative of Mr. Miljenko BRKIC, President of the Croatian Democratic Union
Mr. I. Sarac, Liaison Officer of the Croatian Democratic Union

Mr. A. KURJAK, Representative of the President of the Party of Democratic Action, who could not attend the meeting, has been invited to ratify the present agreement, and has done so on … [page in English, with signatures]
Third parties: At a meeting opened by Mr. Cornelio Sommaruga, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and chaired by Mr. Thierry Germond, the General Delegate of the ICRC for Europe. The following attended the meeting as observers:
On behalf of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, His Excellency, Mr. Naste Calovski, Ambassador, Colonel General V. Vojvodic
On behalf of the Republic of Croatia: Dr. I. Simonovic
On behalf of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees: Mrs. A. M. Demmer, Director, Regional Office for Europe and America, Mr. J. M. Mendiluce, High Commission Special Envoy.
Description: In this humanitarian principles agreement the parties commit to respecting International Humanitarian law, and acting in accordance with the ICRC's action plan for providing humanitarian assistance. This includes freedom of movement for delivering aid, and access of ICRC delegates to prisons and places of detention.

Agreement document: BA_920606_Agreement Number 3 (ICRC).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: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Substantive
Page 3, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid
The ICRC will assist victims of war, such as displaced persons or persons separated by war, especially the most vulnerable groups.

Page 3, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 1.
Displaced persons: Each month one food parcel for five persons, contents as follows: 4.5 kg of oil, 1.0 kg of cheese, 3.0 kg of beans, 2.0 kg of canned beef, 3.0 kg of sugar, 0.5 kg of soap, 1.0 kg of detergent.

Page 6, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 5. Other ICRC activities
...The nature of the conflict, which has resulted in the displacement of a large number of persons within the Republic and outside its borders, explains the need for the services of the ICRC Tracing Service, whose work consists of restoring contact between family members who have been separated, and prisoners and their families by means of Red Cross messages, and tracing persons who have been reported missing in the conflict.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: Page 6, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 5. Other ICRC activities
...ICRC officials will have free access to all persons imprisoned or detained; ICRC officials will be allowed to interview these persons without witnesses, register them and inform their families of their medical condition and place of detention, and repeat these visits whenever necessary;...The nature of the conflict, which has resulted in the displacement of a large number of persons within the Republic and outside its borders, explains the need for the services of the ICRC Tracing Service, whose work consists of restoring contact between family members who have been separated, and prisoners and their families by means of Red Cross messages, and tracing persons who have been reported missing in the conflict.

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: [Summary: The agreement in its entirety provides for the parties cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross to deliver humanitarian assistance.]

Page 2, II. Security requirements related to implementation of the lCRC plan of activities, 1.
Present to the ICRC the complete results of the investigation into the attack on the ICRC convoy in Sarajevo on 18 May 1992;

Page 3, II. Security requirements related to implementation of the lCRC plan of activities, 5.
Inform all units of ICRC activities and ensure that central and regional military districts of all the interested parties issue written permits allowing ICRC officials to carry out their humanitarian obligations;

Page 3, II. Security requirements related to implementation of the lCRC plan of activities, [6].
Ensure regular meetings of the Commission [with?] the Liaison Officer under the auspices of the ICRC, with the objective of coordinating activities throughout the territory.

Page 3, II. Security requirements related to implementation of the lCRC plan of activities, 7.
Ensure that the emblem of the Red Cross is respected in keeping with Article 3 of Agreement no. 1 signed on 22 May 1992 in Geneva.

Page 3, II. Security requirements related to implementation of the lCRC plan of activities, 9.
Ensure that ICRC personnel, local ICRC staff and the staff of other humanitarian organisations involved in implementing the present plan are respected.

Page 3, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid
The ICRC will assist victims of war, such as displaced persons or persons separated by war, especially the most vulnerable groups...

Page 6, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 4. Observation, supervision and organisation of participants
The ICRC will coordinate the entire aid programme, supervise its implementation, assess its effectiveness and make all the necessary adjustments as needed. The ICRC will cooperate with local humanitarian organisations.

Page 6, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 5. Other ICRC activities
ICRC believes that security conditions need to be improved as soon as possible to enable the reopening of all ICRC offices, which have been temporarily closed down. This precondition must be fulfilled before the ICRC can resume its normal activities...

Page 7, III. ICRC Aid Programme, V General Provisions
The ICRC will immediately dispatch its representatives who will meet with the aforementioned authorities in order to assess the situation and determine how to proceed. The ICRC and the parties may publish the contents of this plan of action after a successful start of implementation of the present Agreement.
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: Page 3, II. Security requirements related to implementation of the lCRC plan of activities, 10.
Do your utmost to ensure that the principles and regulations of international humanitarian law, especially Agreement no. 1 of 22 May 1992, are known to all the soldiers and the civilian population.

Page 6, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 5. Other ICRC activities
...The ICRC wishes to remind the parties that item 2.4 of Agreement no. 1 signed on 22 May 1992 in Geneva stipulates the following: "Imprisoned soldiers will receive the treatment envisaged by the Third Geneva Convention. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will have free access to all imprisoned soldiers in order to fulfil its humanitarian mandate pursuant to the Third Geneva Convention adopted on 12 August 1949."...
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: Rights related issues→Media and communication→Media roles
Page 2, II. Security requirements related to implementation of the lCRC plan of activities, 2.
Negotiate, organise and observe cease-fire agreements in areas where humanitarian activities are taking place, and announce them to the population through the media;

Page 6, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 5. Other ICRC activities
...The ICRC, therefore, believes it is necessary to launch a major media campaign without delay to ensure that all combat units are aware of the humanitarian principles to be observed in time of war...
Mobility/access: Page 4, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 2. Medical programme, b) Evacuations
Measures will be taken to enable the evacuation of the wounded, the sick and other vulnerable persons in keeping with the relevant provisions set forth in Agreement no.1 of 22 May 1992.

Page 3, II. Security requirements related to implementation of the lCRC plan of activities, 3.
Inform all units [on/of?] the planned routes of the convoys, which will be announced by the ICRC in due time. The parties must send permission for unimpeded passage to the ICRC as soon as possible, and at the latest within 36 hours of receipt of the announcement by the ICRC of the intended passage of the convoy.

Page 3, II. Security requirements related to implementation of the lCRC plan of activities, 4.
Permit "cross-line" operations.

Page 4, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 3. Logistical and operational structure
Approach: Pursuant to Article 2(6) of Agreement no. 1 signed on 22 May 1992 in Geneva, the parties will allow unimpeded passage of all shipments of medicine and medical supplies, necessary foodstuffs and clothing intended exclusively for the civilian population. For this purpose, ICRC will receive guarantees that convoys will be allowed access to areas where the presence of victims has been established and cross the lines between the warring parties.

[Summary: Page 5, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 3. Logistical and operational structure, lists the possible routes for aid convoys.]

Page 5, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 3. Logistical and operational structure
...As for the proposal about the use of Sarajevo airport submitted by the parties to the ICRC on 23 May; the participants were informed that the issue is currently being discussed under the auspices of others...Any other route would have to be negotiated in order to achieve the agreement of all parties.
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: Page 6, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 5. Other ICRC activities
...Access to prisoners and visits to places of detention represent the basis of the ICRC mandate. It is imperative that the ICRC gain access to all places of detention under the control of parties to the conflict. The objective of these visits is to assess the overall conditions of detention and report them to the relevant authorities in a confidential manner. The ICRC wishes to remind the parties that item 2.4 of Agreement no. 1 signed on 22 May 1992 in Geneva stipulates the following: "Imprisoned soldiers will receive the treatment envisaged by the Third Geneva Convention. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will have free access to all imprisoned soldiers in order to fulfil its humanitarian mandate pursuant to the Third Geneva Convention adopted on 12 August 1949."...

Page 6, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 5. Other ICRC activities
...And in particular, the parties will report to the ICRC on the identity of all persons imprisoned or detained; ICRC officials will have free access to all persons imprisoned or detained; ICRC officials will be allowed to interview these persons without witnesses, register them and inform their families of their medical condition and place of detention, and repeat these visits whenever necessary;...The nature of the conflict, which has resulted in the displacement of a large number of persons within the Republic and outside its borders, explains the need for the services of the ICRC Tracing Service, whose work consists of restoring contact between family members who have been separated, and prisoners and their families by means of Red Cross messages, and tracing persons who have been reported missing in the conflict.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Humanitarian assistance
Page 3, II. Security requirements related to implementation of the lCRC plan of activities, 3.
Inform all units [on/of?] the planned routes of the convoys, which will be announced by the ICRC in due time. The parties must send permission for unimpeded passage to the ICRC as soon as possible, and at the latest within 36 hours of receipt of the announcement by the ICRC of the intended passage of the convoy.

Page 3, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 1.
Displaced persons: Each month one food parcel for five persons, contents as follows: 4.5 kg of oil, 1.0 kg of cheese, 3.0 kg of beans, 2.0 kg of canned beef, 3.0 kg of sugar, 0.5 kg of soap, 1.0 kg of detergent.

Page 3, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 1. b)
Groups separated by war: Each month one food parcel for five persons, contents as described above, plus additional aid, as follows: 6.0 kg of grain per person each month, 2.0 kg of canned protein food per person each month, 0.5 kg of soap per person each month, 0.5 kg of detergent per person each month.

Page 3-4, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 1. c)
Vulnerable groups, that is persons in medical and/or welfare institutions: one full ration per person each month, contents as follows: 12.0 kg grain, 4.0 kg of canned protein food, 1.5 kg of oil, 2.0 kg of sugar, 0.2 kg soap, 1.0 kg of detergent.

Page 4, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 2. Medical programme
On 21 April 1992, on the basis of a comprehensive list of items of surgical equipment needed by 19 hospitals throughout the territory, ICRC drafted a medical program intended at maintaining the level of primary surgical activity at the hospitals that would enable them to accept and treat the wounded. A limited quantity of surgical aid has already been distributed to some of the 19 hospitals. In the attack on the ICRC convoy in Sarajevo on 19 May an ICRC truck carrying surgical supplies for the Sarajevo hospital was also destroyed. Taking into consideration the worsening of the situation in the Republic, the ICRC is looking into the possibility of extending its medical programme to other types of medical resources.

Page 4, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 3. Logistical and operational structure
For every period of one month, the proposed ICRC aid program would total 2,500 tonnes, that is approximately 125 trucks. The shipments would be equally distributed among all the beneficiaries throughout BH. The ICRC Aid Program will have the following operational and logistical structure: - main logistical bases outside BH: Belgrade, Kotor, Split, Zagreb;
- possible logistical bases and/or distribution centres within BH: Banja Luka, Bihac, Bijeljina, Brcko, Doboj, Foca, Gorazde, Grude, Kiseljak, Konjic, Milici, Mostar, Nevesinje, Odzak, Pale, Prozor, Sarajevo, Stolac, Tomislavgrad (also known as Duvno ), Trebinje, Tuzla, Velika Kladufa, Visoko, Zenica.

Page 4, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 3. Logistical and operational structure
Approach: Pursuant to Article 2(6) of Agreement no. 1 signed on 22 May 1992 in Geneva, the parties will allow unimpeded passage of all shipments of medicine and medical supplies, necessary foodstuffs and clothing intended exclusively for the civilian population. For this purpose, ICRC will receive guarantees that convoys will be allowed access to areas where the presence of victims has been established and cross the lines between the warring parties.

[Summary: Page 5, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 3. Logistical and operational structure, lists the possible routes for aid convoys.]

Page 5, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 3. Logistical and operational structure
...As for the proposal about the use of Sarajevo airport submitted by the parties to the ICRC on 23 May; the participants were informed that the issue is currently being discussed under the auspices of others...Any other route would have to be negotiated in order to achieve the agreement of all parties.

Page 6, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 4. Observation, supervision and organisation of participants
The ICRC will coordinate the entire aid programme, supervise its implementation, assess its effectiveness and make all the necessary adjustments as needed. The ICRC will cooperate with local humanitarian organisations.
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 2, II. Security requirements related to implementation of the lCRC plan of activities, 2.
Negotiate, organise and observe cease-fire agreements in areas where humanitarian activities are taking place, and announce them to the population through the media;
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: Page 6, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 5. Other ICRC activities
...And in particular,...ICRC officials will offer their services in facilitating the making of agreements on the release of such prisoners.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: Page 4, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 2. Medical programme, a) Aid for medical institutions
On 21 April 1992, on the basis of a comprehensive list of items of surgical equipment needed by 19 hospitals throughout the territory, ICRC drafted a medical program intended at maintaining the level of primary surgical activity at the hospitals that would enable them to accept and treat the wounded...

Page 4, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 2. Medical programme, b) Evacuations
Measures will be taken to enable the evacuation of the wounded, the sick and other vulnerable persons in keeping with the relevant provisions set forth in Agreement no.1 of 22 May 1992.

Page 4, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 3. Logistical and operational structure
Approach: Pursuant to Article 2(6) of Agreement no. 1 signed on 22 May 1992 in Geneva, the parties will allow unimpeded passage of all shipments of medicine and medical supplies, necessary foodstuffs and clothing intended exclusively for the civilian population. For this purpose, ICRC will receive guarantees that convoys will be allowed access to areas where the presence of victims has been established and cross the lines between the warring parties.

Page 6, III. ICRC Aid Programme, I. Beneficiaries and types of aid, 5. Other ICRC activities
...ICRC activities aimed at assisting all the victims of war have been rendered temporarily impossible by the lack of respect for the ICRC mandate...
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: ICTY Court Records, Simic trial, exhibit P177
http://icr.icty.org/

AGREEMENT

Number 3

At the invitation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),

Mr. K. Trnko

Representative of Mr Alija IZETBEGOVIC, President of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mr. D. Kalinic

Representative of Mr. Radovan KARADZIC, President of the Serbian Democratic Party

Mr. S. Sito Coric

Representative of Mr. Miljenko BRKIC, President of the Croatian Democratic Union

Mr. I. Sarac

Liaison Officer of the Croatian Democratic Union

Met in Geneva on 4th, 5th, and 6th June 1992,

At a meeting opened by Mr. Cornelio Sommaruga, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and chaired by Mr. Thierry Germond, the General Delegate of the ICRC for Europe.

The following attended the meeting as observers:

On behalf of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

- His Excellency, Mr. Naste Calovski, Ambassador

- Colonel General V. Vojvodic

On behalf of the Republic of Croatia:

- Dr. I. Simonovic

On behalf of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees

- Mrs. A. M. Demmer, Director, Regional Office for Europe and America

- Mr. J. M. Mendiluce, High Commission Special Envoy.

The following plan of action was adopted:

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA:

ICRC PLAN OF ACTION

The goal of the International Committee of the Red Cross is to assist and protect all victims of war throughout the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH), in keeping with its basic principles of humanity, neutrality and impartiality.

The ICRC opened its first office in BH in mid-December 1992 in Sarajevo.

After this offices were opened in Banja Luka, Mostar, Bihac, Tuzla and Trebinje.

Non-compliance with the basic principles of humanitarian law, and at the same time, the worsening of the overall security situation, put a halt on ICRC activities.

On several occasions, ICRC delegates were threatened with arms (Vogosca, 9 May, and Bijeljina, 19 May).

The deliberate attack on an ICRC convoy on 18 May 1992 in Sarajevo (Vratnik), in which one ICRC delegate was killed, came as the last in a series of incidents directed against the Red Cross.

Further deterioration of the situation forced ICRC staff to temporarily withdraw from BH, in order to review its potential activities in the Republic.

If the parties wish the ICRC to continue its humanitarian work, they will have to offer them effective guarantees.

Pursuant to Agreement no.

1 signed by the representatives of the Parties on 22 May 1992 in Geneva, and in keeping with its humanitarian mandate, ICRC hereby presents its plan of action, which includes a number of guidelines.

I. Security-undermining factors

At this moment, the following factors constitute the main obstacles to carrying out humanitarian activities:

1. The highly dangerous overall situation· in BH caused by deliberate attacks on the civilian population;

2. Lack of control over various military units by all Parties;

3. Non-compliance with the agreements regulating· the safe passage of urgent humanitarian aid;

4. Misuse of the Red Cross emblem.

The following are good examples of these security-undermining factors:

- the deliberate attack on an ICRC convoy on 18 May 1992 in Sarajevo, in which one ICRC delegate was killed;

- seizure of vehicles - an ICRC truck and a Land Cruiser on 9 May in Vogosca,

- another Land Cruiser on 19 May at Vratnik, both confiscated by the parties to the conflict;

- seizure of humanitarian aid - four tonnes of medication on 9 May in Vogosca and 2,500 family parcels on 19 May in Bijeljina;

- failure to ensure ICRC access to certain areas for which it has been established they need humanitarian aid and to towns under siege;

- increased difficulties in organising "cross-line" operations (crossing the lines of conflict).

II. Security requirements related to implementation of the lCRC plan of activities

The ICRC believes that the current situation in BH, as characterised by random attacks on towns and the civilian population, does not allow it to continue its activities until the necessary security requirements have been fulfilled.

The ICRC therefore asks all parties to accept their responsibility and take the following necessary steps as a precondition for the ICRC's continuation of activities throughout the territory of BH:

1. Present to the ICRC the complete results of the investigation into the attack on the ICRC convoy in Sarajevo on 18 May 1992;

2. Negotiate, organise and observe cease-fire agreements in areas where humanitarian activities are taking place, and announce them to the population through the media;

3. Inform all units [on/of?]

the planned routes of the convoys, which will be announced by the ICRC in due time.

The parties must send permission for unimpeded passage to the ICRC as soon as possible, and at the latest within 36 hours of receipt of the announcement by the ICRC of the intended passage of the convoy.

4. Permit "cross-line" operations.

5. Inform all units of ICRC activities and ensure that central and regional military districts of all the interested parties issue written permits allowing ICRC officials to carry out their humanitarian obligations;

[6.] Ensure regular meetings of the Commission [with?]

the Liaison Officer under the auspices of the ICRC, with the objective of coordinating activities throughout the territory.

7. Ensure that the emblem of the Red Cross is respected in keeping with Article 3 of Agreement no.

1 signed on 22 May 1992 in Geneva.

8. Return the confiscated trucks and Land Cruisers.

9. Ensure that ICRC personnel, local ICRC staff and the staff of other humanitarian organisations involved in implementing the present plan are respected.

10. Do your utmost to ensure that the principles and regulations of international humanitarian law, especially Agreement no.

1 of 22 May 1992, are known to all the soldiers and the civilian population.

III. ICRC Aid Programme

l. Beneficiaries and types of aid

The ICRC will assist victims of war, such as displaced persons or persons separated by war, especially the most vulnerable groups.

1. Displaced persons:

Each month one food parcel for five persons, contents as follows:

- 4.5 kg of oil

- 1.0 kg of cheese

- 3.0 kg of beans

- 2.0 kg of canned beef

- 3.0 kg of sugar

- 0.5 kg of soap

- 1.0 kg of detergent.

b) Groups separated by war:

Each month one food parcel for five persons, contents as described above, plus additional aid, as follows:

- 6.0 kg of grain per person each month

- 2.0 kg of canned protein food per person each month

- 0.5 kg of soap per person each month

- 0.5 kg of detergent per person each month.

c) Vulnerable groups, that is persons in medical and/or welfare institutions:

one full ration per person each month, contents as follows:

- 12.0 kg grain

- 4.0 kg of canned protein food

- 1.5 kg of oil

- 2.0 kg of sugar

- 0.2 kg soap

- 1.0 kg of detergent.

2. Medical programme

a) Aid for medical institutions

On 21 April 1992, on the basis of a comprehensive list of items of surgical equipment needed by 19 hospitals throughout the territory, ICRC drafted a medical program intended at maintaining the level of primary surgical activity at the hospitals that would enable them to accept and treat the wounded.

A limited quantity of surgical aid has already been distributed to some of the 19 hospitals.

In the attack on the ICRC convoy in Sarajevo on 19 May an ICRC truck carrying surgical supplies for the Sarajevo hospital was also destroyed.

Taking into consideration the worsening of the situation in the Republic, the ICRC is looking into the possibility of extending its medical programme to other types of medical resources.

b) Evacuations

Measures will be taken to enable the evacuation of the wounded, the sick and other vulnerable persons in keeping with the relevant provisions set forth in Agreement no.1 of 22 May 1992.

3. Logistical and operational structure

For every period of one month, the proposed ICRC aid program would total 2,500 tonnes, that is approximately 125 trucks.

The shipments would be equally distributed among all the beneficiaries throughout BH.

The ICRC Aid Program will have the following operational and logistical structure:

- main logistical bases outside BH:

Belgrade, Kotor, Split, Zagreb;

- possible logistical bases and/or distribution centres within BH:

Banja Luka, Bihac, Bijeljina, Brcko, Doboj, Foca, Gorazde, Grude, Kiseljak, Konjic, Milici, Mostar, Nevesinje, Odzak, Pale, Prozor, Sarajevo, Stolac, Tomislavgrad (also known as Duvno ), Trebinje, Tuzla, Velika Kladufa, Visoko, Zenica.

Additional bases may be used as needed

- logistical equipment:

vehicles pool of ICRC trucks with ICRC drivers, local trucks will also be hired, if available;

- Approach:

Pursuant to Article 2(6) of Agreement no.

1 signed on 22 May 1992 in Geneva, the parties will allow unimpeded passage of all shipments of medicine and medical supplies, necessary foodstuffs and clothing intended exclusively for the civilian population.

For this purpose, ICRC will receive guarantees that convoys will be allowed access to areas where the presence of victims has been established and cross the lines between the warring parties.

Possible routes:

-Banja Luka

1) Belgrade - Ordje - Tuzla - Doboj - Banja Luka

2) Belgrade - Bijeljina - Tuzla - Doboj - Banja Luka

3) Zagreb - Okucani - Banja Luka

- Bihac

1) Zagreb - Karlovac - Bihac

2) Banja Luka - Mrkonjic Grad - Bibac

3) Banja Luka - Bosanski Novi - Bosanska Krupa - Bihac

- Gorazde/Foca

1) Belgrade - Cacak - Titovo Uzice - Gorazde - Foca

2) Trebinje - Gacko - Foca - Gorazde

- Mostar

1) Split - Grude-Listica- Zovnica -Mostar

2) Split – Grude-Listica - Bogodol – Goranci - Mostar

3) Trebinje - Bileca - Berkovici - Stolac - Buna - Mostar

4) Trebinje - Bileca - Gacko - Nevesinje - Mostar Kalinovik

- Sarajevo

1) Belgrade-Tuzla- Kladanj - Olovo -Sarajevo

2) Zagreb - Banja Luka - Sarajevo

3) Belgrade - Zvornik- Vlasenica - Pale-Sarajevo

4) Split - Grode - Novi Travnik - Kiseljak - Vares - Sarajevo.

As for the proposal about the use of Sarajevo airport submitted by the parties to the ICRC on 23 May;

the participants were informed that the issue is currently being discussed under the auspices of others.

Tuzla

1) Belgrade - Kuzmin- Bijeljina-Tuzla - Belgrade - Sabac -

Zvornik - Tuzla

Zenica

1) Banja Luka - Doboj - Zenica

2) Banja Luka - Jajce - Donji V akuf - Travnik - Zenica

3) Split - Grude - Prozor - Bugojno - Zenica

Jajce

1) Split-Livno-Tomislavgrad (Duvno) -Prozor-Gornji Vakuf-Jajce

Konjic

1) Split -Tomislavgrad (Duvno) - Prozor- Jablanica-Konjic

Prijedor

1) Zagreb - Karlovac -Bihac - Prijedor.

Any other route would have to be negotiated in order to achieve the agreement of all parties.

4. Observation, supervision and organisation of participants

The ICRC will coordinate the entire aid programme, supervise its implementation, assess its effectiveness and make all the necessary adjustments as needed.

The ICRC will cooperate with local humanitarian organisations.

5. Other ICRC activities

ICRC believes that security conditions need to be improved as soon as possible to enable the reopening of all ICRC offices, which have been temporarily closed down.

This precondition must be fulfilled before the ICRC can resume its normal activities.

Access to prisoners and visits to places of detention represent the basis of the ICRC mandate.

It is imperative that the ICRC gain access to all places of detention under the control of parties to the conflict.

The objective of these visits is to assess the overall conditions of detention and report them to the relevant authorities in a confidential manner.

The ICRC wishes to remind the parties that item 2.4 of Agreement no.

1 signed on 22 May 1992 in Geneva stipulates the following:

"Imprisoned soldiers will receive the treatment envisaged by the Third Geneva Convention.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will have free access to all imprisoned soldiers in order to fulfil its humanitarian mandate pursuant to the Third Geneva Convention adopted on 12 August 1949."

And in particular,

- the parties will .report to the ICRC on the identity of all persons imprisoned or detained;

- ICRC officials will have free access to all persons imprisoned or detained;

- ICRC officials will be allowed to interview these persons without witnesses, register them and inform their families of their medical condition and place of detention, and repeat these visits whenever necessary;

- ICRC officials will offer their services in facilitating the making of agreements on the release of such prisoners.

The nature of the conflict, which has resulted in the displacement of a large number of persons within the Republic and outside its borders, explains the need for the services of the ICRC Tracing Service, whose work consists of restoring contact between family members who have been separated, and prisoners and their families by means of Red Cross messages, and tracing persons who have been reported missing in the conflict.

ICRC activities aimed at assisting all the victims of war have been rendered temporarily impossible by the lack of respect for the ICRC mandate.

The ICRC, therefore, believes it is necessary to launch a major media campaign without delay to ensure that all combat units are aware of the humanitarian principles to be observed in time of war.

V General Provisions

The parties commit themselves to informing their political and military authorities at the central, regional and local level as soon as possible of the contents of this Agreement.

The parties agree to submit the following to the ICRC before 12 June 1992:

- a document confirming their formal acceptance of this plan of action;

- a list of regional and local political and military leaders who have been informed of the Agreement and whom the ICRC can contact after its return to Bosnia and Herzegovina

The list should primarily include the following places:

- Banja Luka

- Bihac

- Bijeljina

- Brcko

- Doboj

- Foca

- Gorazde

- Grude

- Kiseljak

- Konjic

- Milici

- Mostar

- Nevesinje

- Odzak

- Pale

- Prozor

- Sarajevo

- Stolac

- Tomislavgrad (also known as Duvno)

- Trebinje

- Tuzla

- Velika Kladusa

- Visoko

- Zenica.

The ICRC will immediately dispatch its representatives who will meet with the aforementioned authorities in order to assess the situation and determine how to proceed.

The ICRC and the parties may publish the contents of this plan of action after a successful start of implementation of the present Agreement.

The parties commit themselves to taking all steps necessary for the implementation of the above plan of action.

The Parties also undertake to implement the same relevant security requirements in respect of the activities of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

Geneva, 6 June 1992

Mr. K. TRNKA

Mr.D.KALINIC

Mr. Sito S. CORIC

Mr. A. KURJAK, Representative of the President of the Party of Democratic Action, who could not attend the meeting, has been invited to ratify the present agreement, and has done so on … [page in English, with signatures]

President of the HZ [Croatian· Community] of Herceg – Bosna and Vice·President of the HDZ [Croatian Democratic Union] of BH

[signed and stamped]