Draft Security Council Resolution: Recognises the Right of Both EUFOR and NATO Presence to Defend Against Attacks and Threats in BiH

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - NATO forces are mentioned in the draft resolution whose adoption would extend the mandate of EUFOR by the UN Security Council. The draft is currently being harmonised, and it should be on the UN Security Council's agenda no later than 3 November, when the EUFOR mandate formally expires. The draft does not mention the OHR, which last year was a stumbling block between the Russian Federation and Western countries. Russia, we recall, threatened a veto in the Security Council if the OHR were mentioned. Now, however, there is no OHR. Yet, several places mention the presence of NATO forces in BiH.

Istraga.ba is in possession of the draft of this document and will publish the full content below.

“The UN Security Council, determining that the situation in the region of the former Yugoslavia continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security, and acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

1. Authorises the Member States acting through or in cooperation with the EU to establish for a further period of twelve months, beginning from the date of adoption of this resolution, a multinational stabilisation force (EUFOR ALTHEA) as the legal successor to SFOR under unified command and control, which will fulfil its missions related to the implementation of Annex 1-A and Annex 2 of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its annexes in cooperation with the presence of the NATO Headquarters in accordance with arrangements agreed between NATO and the EU as communicated to the Security Council in their letters of 19 November 2004, in which it is recognised that EUFOR ALTHEA will have the main stabilisation role in the military aspects of the Peace Agreement;

2. Decides to renew the authorisation provided for in paragraph 11 of its resolution 2183 (2014) for a further period of twelve months beginning from the date of adoption of this resolution;

3. Authorises the Member States acting under paragraphs 1 and 2 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 equally responsible for compliance with that Annex and shall be equally subject to such enforcement measures 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;

4. Authorises the Member States to take all necessary measures, at the request of EUFOR ALTHEA or the NATO Headquarters, for the defence of the EUFOR ALTHEA or NATO presence, and to assist both organisations in carrying out their missions, and recognises the right of both EUFOR ALTHEA and the NATO presence to take all necessary measures to defend themselves from attack or the threat of attack;

5. Authorises the Member States acting under paragraphs 1 and 2 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 the airspace over Bosnia and Herzegovina with respect to all civilian and military air traffic,” the draft resolution states.