[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 542 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 542

 Concerning the implementation of the General Framework Agreement for 
                    Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 26, 1996

 Mr. Hoyer (for himself, Mr. Mascara, Mr. King, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Moran, 
Mr. Markey, Mr. Richardson, Mr. Lantos, and Mr. Clement) submitted the 
     following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                        International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Concerning the implementation of the General Framework Agreement for 
                    Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Whereas relative peace has come to Bosnia and Herzegovina and tensions have been 
        reduced throughout the region as a result of the implementation of the 
        General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 
        associated annexes (hereafter referred to as the ``Peace Agreement''), 
        negotiated in Dayton, Ohio, and signed in Paris, France, on December 14, 
        1995, and as a result of the work of the NATO-led Peace Implementation 
        Forces (IFOR);
Whereas the Peace Agreement provides that Bosnia and Herzegovina continue as a 
        single state, with full respect for its sovereignty by its neighbors, 
        and the parties thereto have agreed to a constitution for Bosnia and 
        Herzegovina that creates federal institutions including a presidency, a 
        bicameral legislature, a constitutional court and a central bank;
Whereas, the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, under the auspices of the 
        Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and observed 
        by international and domestic monitors participated in national 
        elections on September 14, 1996 as required by the Peace Agreement and 
        elected representatives charged with creating the democratic 
        institutions of a unified Bosnian state;
Whereas the parties to the Peace Agreement accepted the obligation ``to 
        cooperate in the investigation and prosecution of war crimes and other 
        violations of international humanitarian law'';
Whereas the apprehension and prosecution of indicted war criminals is essential 
        for peace and reconciliation to be achieved and democracy to be 
        established throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina; and
Whereas the parties to the Peace Agreement accept the need for a balance of 
        armed forces and weapons and have entered into ``The Agreement on Sub-
        Regional Arms Control'' pursuant to which the parties are required to 
        report their holdings and allow inspection of certain categories of 
        weapons, and to undertake the destruction of those weapons above agreed 
        ceilings, in order to contribute to regional stability: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) the United States is committed to the goals enunciated 
        in the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and 
        Herzegovina, and associated annexes (hereafter referred to as 
        the ``Peace Agreement''), negotiated in Dayton, Ohio, and 
        signed in Paris, France, on December 14, 1995, and to the 
        unified state of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
            (2) calls by certain political parties, organizations and 
        individuals within Bosnia and Herzegovina for secession by the 
        Republika Srpska from the unified state of Bosnia and 
        Herzegovina are inconsistent with the provisions of the Peace 
        Agreement and should be condemned;
            (3) the United States and the international community 
        should oppose any efforts to advocate secession and should 
        actively support the work of the parties to the Peace Agreement 
        to establish democratic institutions and the rule of law in 
        Bosnia and Herzegovina;
            (4) the signatories to the Peace Agreement and those 
        nations and organizations participating in the implementation 
        of the Peace Agreement, in accordance with the relevant 
        mandates of the United Nations and United Nations Security 
        Council, should make it an urgent priority to bring to justice 
        persons indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the 
        former Yugoslavia;
            (5) the signatories to the Peace Agreement and those 
        nations and organizations participating in the implementation 
        of that Agreement should ensure full and faithful 
        implementation of the arms control and confidence building 
        agreements reached as part of the Peace Agreement including 
        ``The Agreement on Sub-Regional Arms Control'' pursuant to 
        which the parties are required to report on and allow 
        inspection of certain categories of weapons, and to undertake 
        the destruction of those weapons above agreed ceilings; and
            (6) the members of the NATO-led Peace Implementation Forces 
        (IFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina are to be commended for their 
        hard work, effectiveness and diligence in carrying out their 
        mandate and for the pivotal role which they played in ensuring 
        a calm and orderly election process.
                                 <all>