The first meeting of the Permanent Joint Commission for the Implementation of the Agreement...

The first meeting of the Permanent Joint Commission for the Implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina on Border Traffic and Cooperation, took place in Zagreb on 13 June 2003. The Agreement, which the Ministers of Foreign Affairs had signed in Sarajevo on 5 March 2003, has come into force with the date of its signature. Its full implementation, that is the establishment of the border regime which for 300,000 people on the Croatian side alone of the 5 km wide border area will mean a number of facilities, is still expected.

At the meeting in which the working method for the Committee has been determined, and information have been exchanged about the authorities and agencies of both states responsible for the implementation of the Agreement in individual areas where its provisions apply, a Working Group for Border Regime and Issuing Border Documents has been established, and other Working Groups have been prepared to be established, for example for the adjustment of road infrastructure and construction of border crossings, for customs and inspections etc.

It has been arranged that until border passes have been issued, the border will be crossed with valid passports, consistently with the Joint Statement of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs.

At the meeting, the Rules of Procedure have been adopted.

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