Moscow counters London: What the Russian resolution on BiH states

The Draft Resolution on BiH, submitted by Russia to the UN Security Council, expresses regret over crimes committed against persons of different ethnic and religious backgrounds. The resolution also expresses support for the Dayton Peace Agreement, reports the Patria news agency, citing Serbian media.

The draft Russian resolution expresses condolences to the victims on all sides of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, as well as their families, and calls on the member states of the Security Council to continue providing long-term support to survivors, as foreseen.

It emphasizes the responsibility of states to comply with relevant international law obligations to end impunity and prosecute those responsible for very serious crimes concerning the international community as a whole.

The draft, which has been distributed to all Security Council members, and a facsimile of which was published on the Sputnik agency's website, recalls the judgments of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the International Court of Justice concerning crimes committed by various parties in the conflicts on the territory of the former Yugoslavia.

The document recalls the responsibility of states to end impunity and prosecute those responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and other crimes.

The document from the Russian delegation most strongly condemns the very serious crimes concerning the international community as a whole, committed during the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia against people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds.

In the draft resolution, the Russian delegation welcomes the work of the International Commission on Missing Persons and the Institute for Missing Persons of BiH, which locates and identifies the remains of victims in BiH, and which has made a significant contribution to bringing perpetrators to justice.

The document reaffirms support for the Peace Agreement, as well as the Paris-Dayton Agreement on the establishment of the Federation of BiH of November 10, 1995, and calls on the parties to strictly adhere to their obligations under these agreements.

It is re-emphasized that the primary responsibility for the further successful implementation of the Peace Agreement lies with the authorities in BiH itself.

The Draft Resolution calls on Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs, and all citizens of BiH from both entities – Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH – to promote peace, justice, tolerance, and reconciliation, based on the Peace Agreement.

The Draft reaffirms the commitment to preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries in the territory of the former Yugoslavia within their internationally recognized borders.

It emphasizes the commitment to supporting the implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in BiH and its annexes, as well as relevant decisions of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC).

The document emphasizes the role of the Peace Agreement in post-conflict reconciliation in BiH, as well as in the wider region.

It draws the attention of all states to the full range of justice and reconciliation mechanisms, including national, international, and "mixed" criminal courts and tribunals, and truth and reconciliation commissions, and notes that such mechanisms can promote not only individual responsibility for serious crimes but also peace, truth, reconciliation, and the rights of victims.

The draft confirms the relevant provisions of the Outcome Document of the 2005 World Summit concerning the protection of civilians in armed conflict, including paragraphs 138 and 139 on the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity.