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U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman Press Statement

Press Statement by James P. Rubin, Spokesman
November 16, 1998

Special Relations Agreement: Federation and Croatia

The United States has learned that the planned signing today, November 16, of the Agreement on Special Relations between the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Croatia has been postponed indefinitely due to the refusal of Bosniak authorities to proceed to implement this agreed-upon document.

The United States is deeply disappointed that the government of the Federation has failed to follow through on its commitments concerning this Agreement. Such agreements have been contemplated since the 1994 Washington Agreement, were anticipated at Dayton, and have been carefully negotiated and completed by the parties with international assistance.

The Agreement on Special Relations was negotiated and initialed by competent officials of the Federation and the Republic of Croatia. It was to be signed by both parties today, after already having been postponed one week. Ejup Ganic, President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, failed to sign the agreement. This failure calls into question the reliability of the Federation, and most particularly the Bosniak leadership and the SDA, as a negotiating partner, and damages its reputation in the international community.

In practical terms, the Federation’s failure to follow through on the Special Relations Agreement will make it extremely difficult for the parties to proceed with an agreement on the Port of Ploce and Neum. This agreement would give Bosnia and Herzegovina access to a port on the sea -- a direct and significant economic benefit to all Bosnian citizens.

The United States and the Office of the High Representative acted as mediators at the request of both the Federation and the Republic of Croatia. The U.S. and the OHR did so in good faith. However, at this point, the Bosniaks are acting in bad faith by refusing to proceed.

Therefore, the United States will review on an urgent basis all its policies and programs in support of the Federation.

Special relationships are intended to allow Bosnian Entities to build cultural and other ties to states outside Bosnia and Herzegovina, and must be consistent with BiH’s political independence, territorial integrity and constitution.

The United States calls on the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to sign immediately the Agreement on Special Relations.

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