Citizenship Reform: General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Implementations
Citizenship Reform – 1995
No information was available on the implementation of the citizenship provisions in the Dayton Accord.
Citizenship Reform – 1996
The Office of the High Representative (OHR) facilitated the proper initiation for the functioning of government institutions. This consisted of establishing the minimal legislative basis for the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina to operate, which included citizenship and passport regulations.1 Further information was not available.
- “3rd Report of the High Representative for Implementation of the Bosnian Peace Agreement to the Secretary-General of the United Nations,” Office of the High Representative (OHR), 1996, accessed April 29, 2011, http://www.ohr.int/other-doc/hr-reports/default.asp?content_id=3666.
Citizenship Reform – 1997
In May, the International conference in Sintra, Portugal, established the deadline of Friday, August 1 for Bosnia and Herzegovina to agree on common citizenship, passports, and common ambassadors. Parties failed to reach an agreement by the stipulated deadline. When the deadline was not met, the High Representative extended the deadline until Monday, August 4. If the parties did not meet this deadline, they would face possible international penalties. As Bosnia’s ruling Council of Ministers failed to reach an agreement, International High Representative Carlos Westendorp announced on August 4 that he had recommended a series of new penalties.1 To avoid these penalties, the Council of Ministers met on Tuesday to try to agree on common citizenship policies, but failed.2
In a press conference organized by the OHR on 1 October 1997, the High Representative suggested that no progress had been made on issues related to common citizenship and passports.3
The High Representative reported to the UN Secretary General that the Council of Ministers had finalized the draft laws on travel documents and forwarded them to the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Parliament, however, failed to reach a consensus on the draft law on citizenship. Because of this failure, the High Representative took action to bring this law into force as of 1 January 1998.4 The High Representative promulgated the law on citizenship on 18 December. The law was not adopted by the Bosnia-Hercegovina Parliament. As soon as the law was promulgated, a member of the Bosnia-Hercegovina Presidency Momcilo Krajisnik had described the High Representative’s decision as a bad move, dictated by the behavior of the Muslim side.5
- “Last chance for Bosnia to agree citizenship and passports,” Agence France Presse, August 4, 1997.
- “Bosnia’s leaders try to escape sanctions by agreeing common citizenship,” Agence France Presse, August 5, 1997.
- “Press Conference by the High Representative, Mr. Carlos Westendorp and the Principal Deputy High Representative, Amb. Jacques Paul Klein following the Meeting of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council,” Office of the High Representative (OHR), accessed April 29, 2011, http://www.ohr.int/ohr-dept/presso/pressb/default.asp?content_id=4855.
- “8th Report of the High Representative for Implementation of the Bosnian Peace Agreement to the Secretary-General of the United Nations,” Office of the High Representative (OHR), 1998, accessed April 29, 2011, http://www.ohr.int/other-doc/hr-reports/default.asp?content_id=3671.
- “Leader says citizenship law is dangerous for future of Bosnia,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, December 19, 1997.
Citizenship Reform – 1998
It was reported that the Yugoslav government approved a bill on January 29, 1998, “ratifying an accord on citizenship between Yugoslavia and Bosnia-Hercegovina.” The ratification of the accord would enable citizens of Bosnia, in particular Serbs and Montenegrins, to request Yugoslav citizenship as well.1 The citizenship agreement was then ratified by the Yugoslavia Parliament on 3 March 1998.2 Bosnian Croats also had dual citizenship rights with Croatia.
In a report to the UN Secretary General dated 14 October 1998, the High Representative said that “a draft Law on Citizenship of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been finalised (sic) and is to be adopted. A similar procedure will be used for drafting the equivalent law for the RS.”3
- “Government approves bill on citizenship accord with Bosnia,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, January 31, 1998.
- “Assembly ratifies dual citizenship law with Bosnia,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, March 5, 1998.
- “11th Report of the High Representative for Implementation of the Peace Agreement to the Secretary-General of the United Nations,” Office of the High Representative (OHR), 1998, accessed April 29, 2011, http://www.ohr.int/other-doc/hr-reports/default.asp?content_id=3674.
Citizenship Reform – 1999
The citizenship law was adopted in 1998. No further developments were reported.
Citizenship Reform – 2000
The citizenship law was adopted in 1998. No further developments were reported.
Citizenship Reform – 2001
The citizenship law was adopted in 1998. No further developments were reported.
Citizenship Reform – 2002
The citizenship law was adopted in 1998. No further developments were reported.
Citizenship Reform – 2003
The citizenship law was adopted in 1998. No further developments were reported.
Citizenship Reform – 2004
The citizenship law was adopted in 1998. No further developments were reported.
Citizenship Reform – 2005
In cooperation with an OHR expert, the Bosnia and Herzegovina government amended the citizenship bill and forwarded it to the state parliament on adoption by urgent procedure. The revised law set up “a state commission for revision of decisions on naturalization of foreign citizens” (BBC Monitoring Europe, 2005).1