MOSTAR/SARAJEVO, July 29 (Hina) - Bosnia-Herzegovina's Council of Ministers on Tuesday evening drew up a draft protocol between it and Croatia's government on launching a procedure for amending Article 9 of the 1998 agreement on free
transit through the seaport of Ploce, Croatian territory, and through the coastal town of Neum, Bosnian territory.
MOSTAR/SARAJEVO, July 29 (Hina) - Bosnia-Herzegovina's Council of
Ministers on Tuesday evening drew up a draft protocol between it and
Croatia's government on launching a procedure for amending Article
9 of the 1998 agreement on free transit through the seaport of
Ploce, Croatian territory, and through the coastal town of Neum,
Bosnian territory. #L#
The protocol defines a text of the amended Article 9 that envisages
that Bosnia and Croatia will set up a six-member commission, that
would be entrusted with the task to interpret and implement the
bilateral agreement, according to a press release issued by the
public relations office of the ministerial council, the namely
Bosnian government, on Tuesday evening.
The commission, consisting of three members from each country, will
make decisions by agreement. In case when it fails to agree on a
matter and does not make a decision within three months after it
starts discussing a certain issue, every side has the right to ask
an ad-hoc arbitration to settle the matter.
Zagreb and Sarajevo each would appoint one arbiter to the
commission. These two arbiters would then together choose the third
member, who will be the chairman of arbitration.
The decisions of the arbitration are final and binding.
The previous agreement on Ploce Port envisaged the establishment of
a seven-member managing board (of the port), consisting of three
representatives from each Bosnia and Croatia, while the seventh
member should be a foreigner. The Croatian parliament has never
ratified the document, as it regards the possible introduction of a
foreign arbiter as an act of violation of Croatia's sovereignty.
During his recent visit to Sarajevo, Croatian Prime Minister Ivica
Racan said that Zagreb would accept a modified agreement on free
transit.
The draft protocol, drawn up by the Council of Ministers, will be
forwarded to Bosnia's three-man Presidency. It has been proposed
that the Council's chairman, Adnan Terzic, sign the proposal.
Under the draft protocol, Bosnia and Croatia commit themselves to
change Article 9. The changes are to be performed with an annex on
amendments to the said article, which will be signed by the two
countries within 10 days after the Croatian parliament ratifies the
agreement, the press release said.
(hina) ms