Agreement (Ceasefire)

Export agreement:

Export agreement coding (PDF)

Country/entity: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Yugoslavia (former)
Region: Europe and Eurasia
Agreement name: Agreement (Ceasefire)
Date: 26 Feb 1994
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: Bosnia peace process
Parties: Chief of Staff of the VK /Supreme Command/ of the OS RBiH Sefer HALILOVIC; Chief of GS /Main Staff/ of the HVO Milivoj PETKOVIC
Third parties: Presided by Commander of the UN forces in BiH General Philippe MORILLON; Head of the Regional Centre of the ECMM /European Community Monitoring Mission/ Jean-Pierre THEBAULT
Description: This agreement provides for an immediate ceasefire, and establishe a Joint Command Centre for the 3rd Corps of the Army of BiH and the HVO Central Bosnia.

Agreement document: BA_940226_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: No specific mention.
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: Power sharing→Military power sharing→Joint command structures
Page 1, 3.
Vitez Joint Operations Centre has been formed at the level of the 3rd Corps of the Army of BiH and the HVO Central Bosnia Zone of Operations as the basis for establishing the Joint Command that shall finally be formed in the following days. At the very beginning, the Joint Operations Centre shall be commanded by both deputy commanders, while its members shall be the representatives of brigades of both sides. The centre shall temporary be located in the current Busovaca Joint Commission Headquarters in Vitez, which shall ensure a close cooperation; UNPROFOR shall provide all necessary assistance, particularly in security measures. In order to facilitate full and immediate cooperation, joint local commissions shall be concurrently formed on the level of brigade commanders. The Joint Operations Centre shall be established on Wednesday 21.04.1993 and will immediately start with its activities on the entire territory. The centre is authorised to issue joint orders, which shall be carried out in the field immediately.

Page 1, 4.
The Chiefs shall meet every week in order to ensure close and permanent cooperation with regard to all issues. These meetings shall be organised alternately in Mostar and Zenica. The next meeting shall be held in Mostar.

Page 1, 5.
Reports on the implementation on all levels shall be made on a daily basis. Every day the commander of the corps and the commander of the zone of operations shall make a joint report so both of the Chiefs could be informed about the aforementioned.
Power sharing→Military power sharing→Proportionality
Page 1, 1.
The BiH Army and the HVO /Croatian Defence Council/ are equally treated legitimate military forces of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Page 1, 2.
All commanders on all levels shall respect and establish cease-fire on the entire territory of the republic immediately. Regardless of the reasons, violation of the cease-fire is unacceptable. Both of the Chiefs have immediately issued orders fully respecting the above mentioned.

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, 2.
All commanders on all levels shall respect and establish cease-fire on the entire territory of the republic immediately. Regardless of the reasons, violation of the cease-fire is unacceptable. Both of the Chiefs have immediately issued orders fully respecting the above mentioned.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: Page 1, 1.
The BiH Army and the HVO /Croatian Defence Council/ are equally treated legitimate military forces of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Page 1, 2.
All commanders on all levels shall respect and establish cease-fire on the entire territory of the republic immediately. Regardless of the reasons, violation of the cease-fire is unacceptable. Both of the Chiefs have immediately issued orders fully respecting the above mentioned.

Page 1, 3.
Vitez Joint Operations Centre has been formed at the level of the 3rd Corps of the Army of BiH and the HVO Central Bosnia Zone of Operations as the basis for establishing the Joint Command that shall finally be formed in the following days. At the very beginning, the Joint Operations Centre shall be commanded by both deputy commanders, while its members shall be the representatives of brigades of both sides. The centre shall temporary be located in the current Busovaca Joint Commission Headquarters in Vitez, which shall ensure a close cooperation; UNPROFOR shall provide all necessary assistance, particularly in security measures. In order to facilitate full and immediate cooperation, joint local commissions shall be concurrently formed on the level of brigade commanders. The Joint Operations Centre shall be established on Wednesday 21.04.1993 and will immediately start with its activities on the entire territory. The centre is authorised to issue joint orders, which shall be carried out in the field immediately.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 1, 1.
The BiH Army and the HVO /Croatian Defence Council/ are equally treated legitimate military forces of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Page 1, 2.
All commanders on all levels shall respect and establish cease-fire on the entire territory of the republic immediately. Regardless of the reasons, violation of the cease-fire is unacceptable. Both of the Chiefs have immediately issued orders fully respecting the above mentioned.

Page 1, 3.
Vitez Joint Operations Centre has been formed at the level of the 3rd Corps of the Army of BiH and the HVO Central Bosnia Zone of Operations as the basis for establishing the Joint Command that shall finally be formed in the following days. At the very beginning, the Joint Operations Centre shall be commanded by both deputy commanders, while its members shall be the representatives of brigades of both sides. The centre shall temporary be located in the current Busovaca Joint Commission Headquarters in Vitez, which shall ensure a close cooperation; UNPROFOR shall provide all necessary assistance, particularly in security measures. In order to facilitate full and immediate cooperation, joint local commissions shall be concurrently formed on the level of brigade commanders. The Joint Operations Centre shall be established on Wednesday 21.04.1993 and will immediately start with its activities on the entire territory. The centre is authorised to issue joint orders, which shall be carried out in the field immediately.
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: Presided by Commander of the UN forces in BiH General Philippe MORILLON;
Other international signatory: Head of the Regional Centre of the ECMM /European Community Monitoring Mission/ Jean-Pierre THEBAULT
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Page 1, 3.
Vitez Joint Operations Centre has been formed at the level of the 3rd Corps of the Army of BiH and the HVO Central Bosnia Zone of Operations as the basis for establishing the Joint Command that shall finally be formed in the following days. At the very beginning, the Joint Operations Centre shall be commanded by both deputy commanders, while its members shall be the representatives of brigades of both sides. The centre shall temporary be located in the current Busovaca Joint Commission Headquarters in Vitez, which shall ensure a close cooperation; UNPROFOR shall provide all necessary assistance, particularly in security measures...
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: ICTY Court Records, Prlic et. al trial exhibit P02002.E
http://www.icty.org/

AGREEMENT

At a joint meeting held in Zenica, presided by both General MORILLON, Commander of the UN forces in BiH and Mr. THEBAULT, Head of the European Community Monitoring Mission, the representatives at the highest level have agreed the following:

1. The BiH Army and the HVO /Croatian Defence Council/ are equally treated legitimate military forces of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

2. All commanders on all levels shall respect and establish cease-fire on the entire territory of the republic immediately.

Regardless of the reasons, violation of the cease-fire is unacceptable.

Both of the Chiefs have immediately issued orders fully respecting the above mentioned.

3. Vitez Joint Operations Centre has been formed at the level of the 3rd Corps of the Army of BiH and the HVO Central Bosnia Zone of Operations as the basis for establishing the Joint Command that shall finally be formed in the following days.

At the very beginning, the Joint Operations Centre shall be commanded by both deputy commanders, while its members shall be the representatives of brigades of both sides.

The centre shall temporary be located in the current Busovaca Joint Commission Headquarters in Vitez, which shall ensure a close cooperation;

UNPROFOR shall provide all necessary assistance, particularly in security measures.

In order to facilitate full and immediate cooperation, joint local commissions shall be concurrently formed on the level of brigade commanders.

The Joint Operations Centre shall be established on Wednesday 21.04.1993 and will immediately start with its activities on the entire territory.

The centre is authorised to issue joint orders, which shall be carried out in the field immediately.

4) The Chiefs shall meet every week in order to ensure close and permanent cooperation with regard to all issues.

These meetings shall be organised alternately in Mostar and Zenica.

The next meeting shall be held in Mostar.

5) Reports on the implementation on all levels shall be made on a daily basis.

Every day the commander of the corps and the commander of the zone of operations shall make a joint report so both of the Chiefs could be informed about the aforementioned.

Chief of Staff of the VK /Supreme Command/ of the OS RBiH Sefer HALILOVIC

Chief of GS /Main Staff/ of the HVO Milivoj PETKOVIC

Commander of the UN forces in BiH General Philippe MORILLON

Head of the Regional Centre of the ECMM /European Community Monitoring Mission/ Jean-Pierre THEBAULT