Security Council resolution 2496 (2019) [on renewal of the authorization of the European Union-led Multinational Stabilization Force (EUFOR ALTHEA) in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a period of 12 months]
Symbol: S/RES/2496 (2019)
Date: 2019-11-05
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/ X The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
S/74 [62] BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA SITUATION
S/74 [60] FORMER YUGOSLAVIA SITUATION
Subjects: EUFOR|NATO|Agreement on Implementing the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1995)|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|PEACEBUILDING|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA|BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA SITUATION|FORMER YUGOSLAVIA SITUATION
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: BELGIUM
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: CÔTE D'IVOIRE
vote: yes
country: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
vote: yes
country: EQUATORIAL GUINEA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GERMANY
vote: yes
country: INDONESIA
vote: yes
country: KUWAIT
vote: yes
country: PERU
vote: yes
country: POLAND
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SOUTH AFRICA
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                 S/RES/2496 (2019)
               Security Council                                                Distr.: General
                                                                               5 November 2019




               Resolution 2496 (2019)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 8658th meeting, on
               5 November 2019

                    The Security Council,
                    Recalling all its previous relevant resolutions concerning the conflicts in the
               Former Yugoslavia and relevant statements of its President, including resolutions
               1031 (1995) of 15 December 1995, 1088 (1996) of 12 December 1996, 1423 (2002)
               of 12 July 2002, 1491 (2003) of 11 July 2003, 1551 (2004) of 9 July 2004, 1575
               (2004) of 22 November 2004, 1639 (2005) of 21 November 2005, 1722 (2006) of
               21 November 2006, 1764 (2007) of 29 June 2007, 1785 (2007) of 21 November 2007,
               1845 (2008) of 20 November 2008, 1869 (2009) of 25 March 2009, 1895 (2009) of
               18 November 2009, 1948 (2010) of 18 November 2010, 2019 (2011) of 16 November
               2011, 2074 (2012) of 14 November 2012, 2123 (2013) of 12 November 2013, 2183
               (2014) of 11 November 2014, 2247 (2015) of 10 November 2015, 2315 (2016) of
               8 November 2016, and 2384 (2017) of 7 November 2017, and 2443 (2018) of
               6 November 2018,
                     Reaffirming its commitment to the political settlement of the conflicts in the
               Former Yugoslavia, preserving the sovereignty and territorial inte grity of all States
               there within their internationally recognized borders,
                     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 the relevant
               decisions of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC),
                    Noting the reports of the High Representative, including his latest report of
               28 October 2019,
                     Encouraging the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the support of the
               international community, to accelerate their efforts to address the disposal of excess
               ammunition,
                     Emphasizing its appreciation to the Commander and personnel of the
               multinational stabilization force (EUFOR ALTHEA) and the personne l of other
               international organizations and agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina for their
               contributions to the implementation of the Peace Agreement,
                    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,



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                    Further recalling the provisions of its resolution 1551 (2004) concerning the
               provisional application of the status of forces agreements contained in Appendix B to
               Annex 1-A of the Peace Agreement,
                     Welcoming the continued presence of EUFOR ALTHEA and the EU’s readiness
               to continue at this stage an executive military role to support Bosnia and Herzegovina
               authorities to maintain the safe and secure environment, t he current focus of its
               mandate, and its regular review, including on the basis of the situation on the ground,
                     Reiterating its calls on the competent authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to
               take necessary steps to complete the 5+2 agenda, which remains necessary for closure
               of the Office of the High Representative, as confirmed by the PIC Steering Board
               communiqués,
                     Reaffirming provisions concerning the High Representative as set out in its
               previous resolutions, and further reaffirming Article V of Anne x 10 of the Peace
               Agreement regarding the High Representative’s final authority in theatre in the
               interpretation of the civilian implementation of the Agreement,
                     Recognizing the importance of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s transition to a
               functional, reform oriented, modern and democratic European country,
                     Calling on parties to continue negotiations on government formation at all
               levels, and emphasizing the importance of a stable government, capable of acting in
               the interest of all citizens,
                    Taking note of the Peace Agreement and of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s
               leadership’s commitment towards a European perspective, including through the
               submission of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU membership application in February
               2016 and through the implementation of the recommendations in the EU
               Commission’s Opinion issued in May 2019, and recalling that Bosnia and
               Herzegovina’s commitment needs to be translated urgently into comprehensive
               reform results on the ground,
                    Noting with concern continued polarizing unconstructive policies, actions and
               rhetoric in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and reiterating its calls to political leaders to
               advance reconciliation and mutual understanding,
                    Noting positively that the initial implementation of the Reform Agenda, has
               provided the first steps of structural adjustment to the economy of the co untry,
               welcoming the adoption of guidelines for new socioeconomic reforms in October
               2019 by the entity governments, and calling for all levels of authorities to coordinate
               and implement reforms to the benefit of all citizens,
                     Emphasizing the need for Bosnia and Herzegovina to step up efforts regarding
               the functioning and independence of the judiciary, the fight against corruption and
               organized crime and the fight against terrorism and prevention of radicalization,
                    Underscoring the urgency to implement the rulings of the European Court of
               Human Rights as well as the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and
               emphasizing that progress needs to be made on electoral reform in a spirit of
               consensus within the current legislative period to move the cou ntry towards modern
               democratic standards in accordance with the OSCE-ODIHR recommendations to
               improve the electoral framework,
                    Encouraging the parties to implement Bosnia and Herzegovina’s National
               Action Plan on Women Peace and Security in an inclusive manner and looking
               forward to its continuation,
                    Taking note of EUFOR ALTHEA’s strategic review, conducted in 2019,


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                 Recognizing that the security environment has remained calm and stable, and
           noting that the Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities have so far p roven capable to deal
           with threats to the safe and secure environment,
                 Determining that the situation in the region continues to constitute a threat to
           international peace and security,
                Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
                 1.   Reiterates that the primary responsibility for the further successful
           implementation of the Peace Agreement lies with all the authorities in Bosnia and
           Herzegovina themselves and notes the continued willingness of the international
           community and major donors to support them in implementing the Peace Agreement,
           and calls upon all the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to fully cooperate with
           the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals;
               2.  Welcomes the EU’s readiness to maintain an EU military operation
           (EUFOR ALTHEA) in Bosnia and Herzegovina from November 2019;
                 3.   Authorizes the Member States acting through or in cooperation with the
           EU to establish for a further period of twelve months, starting from the date of the
           adoption of this resolution, a multinational stabilization force (EUFOR ALTHEA) as
           a legal successor to SFOR under unified command and control, which will fulfil its
           missions in relation to the implementation of Annex 1 -A and Annex 2 of the Peace
           Agreement in cooperation with the NATO Headquarters presence in accordance with
           the arrangements agreed between NATO and the EU as communicated to the Security
           Council in their letters of 19 November 2004, which recognize that EUFOR ALTHEA
           will have the main peace stabilization role under the military aspects of the Peace
           Agreement;
                 4.   Decides to renew the authorization provided by paragraph 11 of its
           resolution 2183 (2014) for a further period of twelve months starting from the date of
           adoption of this resolution;
                 5.    Authorizes the Member States acting under paragraph 3 and 4 above to
           take all necessary measures to effect the implementation of and to ensure compliance
           with annexes 1-A and 2 of the Peace Agreement, stresses that the parties shall
           continue to be held equally responsible for the compliance with that annex and shall
           be equally subject to such enforcement action by EUFOR ALTHEA and the NATO
           presence as may be necessary to ensure implementation of those annexes and the
           protection of EUFOR ALTHEA and the NATO presence;
                 6.   Authorizes Member States to take all necessary measures, at the request of
           either EUFOR ALTHEA or the NATO Headquarters, in defence of the EUFOR
           ALTHEA or NATO presence respectively, and to assist both organizations in carrying
           out their missions, and recognizes the right of both EUFOR ALTHEA and the NATO
           presence to take all necessary measures to defend themselves from attack or threat of
           attack;
                 7.   Authorizes the Member States acting under paragraph 3 and 4 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 command and control
           of airspace over Bosnia and Herzegovina with respect to all civilian and military air
           traffic;
                 8.    Urges the parties to proceed with government formation at all levels and
           to prioritize the implementation of comprehensive reforms, in an inclusive manner,
           to the benefit of all citizens and in line with the European perspective the country is
           committed to, and, in this regard, further calls on them to refrain from any polarizing
           unconstructive policy, action and rhetoric;

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                    9.    Urges the parties, in accordance with the Peace Agreement, to abide to
               their commitment to cooperate fully with all institutions involved in the
               implementation of this peace settlement, as described in the Peace Agreement,
               including Annex 4;
                     10. Reaffirms that under the Peace Agreement, Bosnia and Herzegovina
               consists of two entities, which exist legally by virtue of the Bosnia and Herzegovina
               Constitution, and further reaffirms that any change to the Constitution must be made
               in accordance with the amendment procedure prescribed therein;
                    11.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.




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