United Nations Security Council Resolution 1575 – Bosnia and Herzegovina

Resolution 1575 (2004)

The Security Council,

Recalling all its previous relevant resolutions concerning the conflicts in theformer Yugoslavia and relevant statements of its President, including resolutions1031 (1995) of 15 December 1995, 1088 (1996) of 12 December 1996, 1423 (2002)of 12 July 2002, 1491 (2003) of 11 July 2003 and 1551 (2004) of 9 July 2004,

Reaffirming its commitment to the political settlement of the conflicts in theformer Yugoslavia, preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all Statesthere within their internationally recognized borders,

Emphasizing its full support for t he High Representative’s continued role inBosnia and Herzegovina,

Underlining its commitment to support the implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Annexes thereto (collectively the Peace Agreement, S/1995/999, annex), as well as therelevant decisions of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC),

Recalling all the agreements concerning the status of forces referred to in Appendix B to Annex 1-A of the Peace Agreement, and reminding the parties of their obligation to continue to comply therewith,

Further recalling the provisions of its resolution 1551 (2004) concerning the provisional application of the status of forces agreements contained in Appendix Bto Annex 1-A of the Peace Agreement,

Emphasizing its appreciation to the High Representative, the Commander andpersonnel of the multinational stabilization force (SFOR), the Organization forSecurity and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the European Union (EU) and thepersonnel of other international organizations and agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina for their contributions to the implementation of the Peace Agreement,

Emphasizing that a comprehensive and coordinated return of refugees anddisplaced persons throughout the region continues to be crucial to lasting peace,

Recalling the declarations of the Ministerial meetings of the PeaceImplementation Conference,

Noting the reports of the High Representative, including his latest report of6 October 2004 (S/2004/807),

Determined to promote the peaceful resolution of the conflicts in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

Recalling the relevant principles contained in the Convention on the Safety ofUnited Nations and Associated Personnel adopted on 9 December 1994 and thestatement of its President of 10 February 2000 (S/PRST/2000/4),

Welcoming and encouraging efforts by the United Nations to sensitize peacekeeping personnel in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS and othercommunicable diseases in all its peacekeeping operations,

Recalling the decisions set out in paragraph 8 of the communiqué of the NATOIstanbul Summit of 28 June 2004, which refers to NATO’s intention to conclude theSFOR operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina by the end of 2004 and to establish aNATO Headquarters in Sarajevo that will constitute NATO’s residual militarypresence,

Recalling further that resolution 1551 (2004) took note of the European Union’sintention to launch an EU mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, including a military component, from December 2004, under the terms set out in the letter of 29 June 2004from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ireland and President of the Council of theEturopean Union to the President of the Security Council (S/2004/522*/Annex),

Taking note of the letters between the European Union and NATO sent to theSecurity Council on 19 November 2004 on how those organizations will cooperate together in Bosnia and Herzegovina in which both organizations recognize that the EUFOR will have the main peace stabilization role under the military aspects of thePeace Agreement (S/2004/916; S/2004/915),

Further taking note of the confirmation by the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including its constituententities, of the arrangements for EUFOR and the NATO Headquarters presence(S/2004/917),

Welcoming in the light of the forthcoming EU Mission the European Union’s increasing engagement in Bosnia and Herzegovina,

Further welcoming tangible signs of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s progress towards European integration,

Determining that the situation in the region continues to constitute a threat tointernational peace and security,

Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

I

1. Reaffirms once again its support for the Peace Agreement, as well as forthe Dayton Agreement on implementing the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovinaof 10 November 1995 (S/1995/1021, annex) and calls upon the parties to complystrictly with their obligations under those Agreements;

2. Reiterates that the primary responsibility for the further successful implementation of the Peace Agreement lies with the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina themselves and that the continued willingness of the internationalcommunity and major donors to assume the political, military and economic burdenof implementation and reconstruction efforts will be determined by the complianceand active participation by all the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina inimplementing the Peace Agreement and rebuilding a civil society, in particular infull cooperation with the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, instrengthening joint institutions, which foster the building of a fully functioning self-sustaining state, able to integrate itself into the European structures and infacilitating returns of refugees and displaced persons;

3. Reminds the parties once again that, in accordance with the PeaceAgreement, they have committed themselves to cooperate fully with all entitiesinvolved in the implementation of this peace settlement, as described in the Peace Agreement, or which are otherwise authorized by the Security Council, including the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, as it carries out responsibilities for dispensing justice impartially, and underlines that full cooperation by States and entities with the International Tribunal includes, inter alia,the surrender for trial of all persons indicted by the Tribunal and provision of information to assist in Tribunal investigations;

4. Emphasizes its full support for the continued role of the High Representative in monitoring the implementation of the Peace Agreement and giving guidance to and coordinating the activities of the civilian organizations and agencies involved in assisting the parties to implement the Peace Agreement, and reaffirms that under Annex 10 of the Peace Agreement the High Representative is the final authority in theatre regarding the interpretation of civilian implementation of the PeaceAgreement and that in case of dispute he may give his interpretation and makerecommendations, and make binding decisions as he judges necessary on issues aselaborated by the Peace Implementation Council in Bonn on 9 and 10 December 1997;

5. Expresses its support for the declarations of the Ministerial meetings of the Peace Implementation Conference;

6. Reaffirms its intention to keep implementation of the Peace Agreement and the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina under close review, taking into account the reports submitted pursuant to paragraphs 18 and 21 below, and any recommendations those reports might include, and its readiness to consider the imposition of measures if any party fails significantly to meet its obligations under the Peace Agreement;

II

7. Acknowledges the support of the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the EU force and the continued NATO presence and their confirmation that both are the legal successors to SFOR for the fulfilment of their missions for the purposes of the Peace Agreement, its Annexes and Appendices and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and can take such actions as are required,including the use of force, to ensure compliance with Annexes 1-A and 2 of The Peace Agreement and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions;8. Pays tribute to those Member States which participated in the multinational stabilization force established in accordance with its resolution 1088(1996), and expresses its appreciation of their efforts and achievements in Bosnia and Herzegovina;

9. Welcomes the EU’s intention to launch an EU military operation toBosnia and Herzegovina from December 2004;

10. Authorizes the Member States acting through or in cooperation with theEU to establish for an initial planned period of 12 months a multinationalstabilization force (EUFOR) as a legal successor to SFOR under unified commandand control, which will fulfil its missions in relation to the implementation of Annex1-A and Annex 2 of the Peace Agreement in cooperation with the NATO HQpresence in accordance with the arrangements agreed between NATO and the EU ascommunicated to the Security Council in their letters of 19 November 2004, whichrecognize that the EUFOR will have the main peace stabilization role under themilitary aspects of the Peace Agreement;

11. Welcomes the decision of NATO to conclude the SFOR operation inBosnia and Herzegovina by the end of 2004 and to maintain a presence in Bosniaand Herzegovina through the establishment of a NATO Headquarters in order tocontinue to assist in implementing the Peace Agreement in conjunction withEUFOR and authorizes the Member States acting through or in cooperation with NATO to establish a NATO Headquarters as a legal successor to SFOR unidentified command and control, which will fulfil its missions in relation to theimplementation of Annex 1-A and Annex 2 of the Peace Agreement in cooperationwith EUFOR in accordance with the arrangements agreed between NATO and theEU as communicated to the Security Council in their letters of 19 November 2004,which recognize that the EUFOR will have the main peace stabilization role underthe military aspects of the Peace Agreement;

12. Recognizes that the Peace Agreement and the provisions of its previous relevant resolutions shall apply to and in respect of both EUFOR and the NATOpresence as they have applied to and in respect of SFOR and that therefore references in the Peace Agreement, in particular in Annex 1-A and its appendices,and relevant resolutions to IFOR and/or SFOR, NATO and the NAC shallhenceforth be read as applying, as appropriate, to the NATO presence, EUFOR, the European Union and the Political and Security Committee and Council of theEuropean Union respectively;

13. Expresses its intention to consider the terms of further authorization as necessary in the light of developments in the implementation of the Peace Agreement and the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina;

14. Authorizes the Member States acting under paragraphs 10 and 11 aboveto take all necessary measures to effect the implementation of and to ensurecompliance with Annexes l-A and 2 of the Peace Agreement, stresses that the partiesshall continue to be held equally responsible for compliance with that Annex andshall be equally subject to such enforcement action by EUFOR and the NATOpresence as may be necessary to ensure implementation of those Annexes and theprotection of EUFOR and the NATO presence;

15. Authorizes Member States to take all necessary measures, at the request of either EUFOR or the NATO Headquarters, in defence of EUFOR or NATO presence respectively, and to assist both organizations in carrying out their missions,and recognizes the right of both EUFOR and the NATO presence to take all necessary measures to defend themselves from attack or threat of attack;

16. Authorizes the Member States acting under paragraphs 10 and 11 above,in accordance with Annex 1-A of the Peace Agreement, to take all necessary measures to ensure compliance with the rules and procedures governing commandand control of airspace over Bosnia and Herzegovina with respect to all civilian andmilitary air traffic;

17. Demands that the parties respect the security and freedom of movementof EUFOR, the NATO presence, and other international personnel;

18. Requests the Member States acting through or in cooperation with the EUand the Member States acting through or in cooperation with NATO to report to theCouncil on the activity of EUFOR and NATO HQ presence respectively, through theappropriate channels and at least at three-monthly intervals;

19. Invites all States, in particular those in the region, to continue to provideappropriate support and facilities, including transit facilities, for the Member Statesacting under paragraphs 10 and 11 above;

20. Reiterates its appreciation for the deployment by the EU of its PoliceMission (EUPM) to Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1 January 2003;

21. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to submit to the Councilreports from the High Representative, in accordance with Annex 10 of the PeaceAgreement and the conclusions of the Peace Implementation Conference held inLondon on 4 and 5 December 1996 (S/1996/1012), and later Peace Implementation Conferences, on the implementation of the Peace Agreement and in particular on compliance by the parties with their commitments under that Agreement;

22. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

Adopted by the Security Council at its 5085th meeting,on 22 November 2004.