Ceasefire Agreement for Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Country/entity: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Yugoslavia (former)
Region: Europe and Eurasia
Agreement name: Ceasefire Agreement for Bosnia and Herzegovina
Date: 5 Oct 1995
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: For the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: A. IZETBEGOVIC; For Republika Srpska: Radovan KARADZIC, R. MLADIC
Third parties: Witness: US Ambassador John Menzies, and Slobodan Milosevic
Description: This short ceasefire agreement provides for 60 day ceasefire to allow negotiation and commencement of peace agreement, and commitments to honour obligations under Geneva Agreed Basic Principles, Framework Agreement and Further Agreed Basic Principles (1995).

Agreement document: BA_951005_CeasefireAgreementforBosniaHerzegovina.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 1-2, 8.
During the period of the cease-fire, the undersigned will fully honour the obligations undertaken through the Geneva Agreed Basic Principles of 8 September 1995, the Framework Agreement of 14 September 1995, and the Further Agreed Principles of 26 September 1995, including (without limiting the generality of the foregoing) the obligation to afford all persons freedom of movement and all displaced persons the right to return home and repossess their property.
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: Page 1, 7.
Commencing on the effective date all parties will provide free passage and unimpeded road access between Sarajevo and Gorazde along two primary routes (Sarajevo-Rogatica-Gorazde, Belgrade-Gorazde) for all non-military and UNPROFOR traffic.

Page 1-2, 8.
During the period of the cease-fire, the undersigned will fully honour the obligations undertaken through the Geneva Agreed Basic Principles of 8 September 1995, the Framework Agreement of 14 September 1995, and the Further Agreed Principles of 26 September 1995, including (without limiting the generality of the foregoing) the obligation to afford all persons freedom of movement and all displaced persons the right to return home and repossess their property.
Protection measures: Rights related issues→Protection measures→Protection of civilians
Page 1,
5. Upon the effective date all parties will immediately ensure (a) that all civilians and prisoners will be treated humanely, and (b) that all prisoners of war will be exchanged under the supervision of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR).
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.
Commencing on the effective date defined in paragraph 2 below, the parties will implement a cease-fire throughout all territory within the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina by terminating all hostile military activities and by implementing the other provisions of this agreement.

Page 1, 2.
The cease-fire will become effective at 0001 hours on 10 October 1995, provided that at that time full gas and electrical utility service shall have been restored in the city of Sarajevo; otherwise, the cease-fire will become effective at 0001 hours on the day following such restoration.

Page 1, 3.
In order to allow for the negotiation and the commencement of the implementation of a Peace Agreement, this cease-fire will last for 60 days or until completion of proximity peace talks and a peace conference, whichever is later.

Page 1, 4.
Pursuant to the cease-fire obligation, on the effective date all parties will immediately ensure that all military commanders issue and compel compliance with clear orders precluding (a) all offensive operations; (b) patrol and reconnaissance activities forward of friendly positions; (c) all offensive weapons' firings, including sniper fire; (d) the laying of additional mines; and (e) the creation of additional barriers or obstacles.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: Page 1, 4.
Pursuant to the cease-fire obligation, on the effective date all parties will immediately ensure that all military commanders issue and compel compliance with clear orders precluding (a) all offensive operations; (b) patrol and reconnaissance activities forward of friendly positions; (c) all offensive weapons' firings, including sniper fire; (d) the laying of additional mines; and (e) the creation of additional barriers or obstacles.
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 1, 5.
Upon the effective date all parties will immediately ensure (a) that all civilians and prisoners will be treated humanely, and (b) that all prisoners of war will be exchanged under the supervision of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR).
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Page 1, 5.
Upon the effective date all parties will immediately ensure (a) that all civilians and prisoners will be treated humanely, and (b) that all prisoners of war will be exchanged under the supervision of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR).

Page 1, 6.
Commencing on the effective date the parties will cooperate with the cease-fire monitoring activities of UNPROFOR and will immediately report violations to appropriate UNPROFOR authorities.

Page 1, 7.
Commencing on the effective date all parties will provide free passage and unimpeded road access between Sarajevo and Gorazde along two primary routes (Sarajevo-Rogatica-Gorazde, Belgrade-Gorazde) for all non-military and UNPROFOR traffic.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: UN Peacemaker
http://peacemaker.un.org/

Cease-fire Agreement for Bosnia and Herzegovina,

5 October 1995

The undersigned agree as follows:

1. Commencing on the effective date defined in paragraph 2 below, the parties will implement a cease-fire throughout all territory within the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina by terminating all hostile military activities and by implementing the other provisions of this agreement.

2. The cease-fire will become effective at 0001 hours on 10 October 1995, provided that at that time full gas and electrical utility service shall have

been restored in the city of Sarajevo;

otherwise, the cease-fire will become effective at 0001 hours on the day following such restoration.

3. In order to allow for the negotiation and the commencement of the implementation of a Peace Agreement, this cease-fire will last for 60 days or

until completion of proximity peace talks and a peace conference, whichever is later.

4. Pursuant to the cease-fire obligation, on the effective date all parties will immediately ensure that all military commanders issue and compel compliance with clear orders precluding (a) all offensive operations;

(b) patrol and reconnaissance activities forward of friendly positions;

(d) the laying of additional mines;

and (e) the creation of additional barriers or obstacles.

5. Upon the effective date all parties will immediately ensure (a) that all civilians and prisoners will be treated humanely, and (b) that all prisoners of

war will be exchanged under the supervision of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR).

6. Commencing on the effective date the parties will cooperate with the cease-fire monitoring activities of UNPROFOR and will immediately report

violations to appropriate UNPROFOR authorities.

7. Commencing on the effective date all parties will provide free passage and unimpeded road access between Sarajevo and Gorazde along two primary routes (Sarajevo-Rogatica-Gorazde, Belgrade-Gorazde) for all non-military and UNPROFOR traffic.

8. During the period of the cease-fire, the undersigned will fully honour the obligations undertaken through the Geneva Agreed Basic Principles of

8 September 1995, the Framework Agreement of 14 September 1995, and the Further Agreed Principles of 26 September 1995, including (without limiting the generality of the foregoing) the obligation to afford all persons freedom of movement and all displaced persons the right to return home and repossess their property.

For the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina:

(Signed) A. IZETBEGOVIC

For Republika Srpska:

(Signed) Radovan KARADZIC (Signed) R. MLADIC

5 October 1995

For the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina:

(Signed) A. IZETBEGOVIC

5 October 1995

Witness:

(Signed) John MENZIES, US Ambassador (Signed) Slobodan MILOSEVIC