SARAJEVO, Aug 19 (Hina) - The international supervisor for north-eastern Bosnian town Brcko, Robert Farrand, on Thursday told reporters in Sarajevo a recently expanded arbitration decision on the town's status makes it possible for
the area to become one of the most prosperous in Bosnia in the near future. Talking to the press about the contents of the decision, which creates assumptions for the establishment of a district in the Brcko area, Farrand said all changes in the area would be carried out peacefully, gradually, systematically, and methodically, so as not to endanger anybody's interests, but contribute to the local population's well-being. The decision made nobody a loser, while all Brcko residents did benefit, Farrand asserted. The final decision was made public in Washington on Wednesday, and represents the Arbitration Tribunal's standpoint regarding remarks made in March b
SARAJEVO, Aug 19 (Hina) - The international supervisor for north-
eastern Bosnian town Brcko, Robert Farrand, on Thursday told
reporters in Sarajevo a recently expanded arbitration decision on
the town's status makes it possible for the area to become one of the
most prosperous in Bosnia in the near future.
Talking to the press about the contents of the decision, which
creates assumptions for the establishment of a district in the
Brcko area, Farrand said all changes in the area would be carried
out peacefully, gradually, systematically, and methodically, so as
not to endanger anybody's interests, but contribute to the local
population's well-being.
The decision made nobody a loser, while all Brcko residents did
benefit, Farrand asserted.
The final decision was made public in Washington on Wednesday, and
represents the Arbitration Tribunal's standpoint regarding
remarks made in March by Bosnia's two entities, the Croat-Muslim
federation and the Bosnian Serb republic, to a decision according
to which a the district of Brcko was established, and which ended a
dispute ongoing since the signing of the Dayton peace agreement
four years ago.
According to the binding decision, the Brcko area will be entirely
demobilised, security will be provided by special police under the
jurisdiction of local bodies of authority, the district's
residents will be neither allowed nor able to do military service, a
special tax and tariff supervision system will be set up, and
finally, the district will function on the basis of a special
statute and without the influence of one of the two entities.
District residents will retain extant entity citizenship and will
exercise the right to vote accordingly.
Farrand said he was sure the latest solution would strengthen a
multiethnic organisation of Brcko which, he added, would be of
great significance for the entire Bosnia.
The ambassador announced it was possible nationalist political
forces might obstruct the project, but pointed out that authorities
in both entities were willing to cooperate in the implementation of
the decision.
(hina) ha