States parties to Dayton arms control agreement on the way to assuming full responsibility

The Parties to a key arms control agreement involved in the 1995 crisis in South Eastern Europe are ready to take over from the international community, reported Brig. Gen. Costanzo Periotto of Italy, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for Article IV of Annex 1B of the Dayton Peace Accords, to the OSCE Permanent Council on 8 September 2011.

The Agreement on Article IV of the Dayton Peace Accords was signed in 1996 under the auspices of the OSCE. Now there are four Parties to this sub-regional accord: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia. The agreement, which aims to establish balanced and stable defence force levels at the lowest numbers consistent with security, provides for arms reduction, information exchange and inspections.

Emphasizing that the Parties “continue to execute all the activities in an atmosphere of trust, friendship, transparency and co-operation”, Periotto told the participating States that a roadmap and timetable for the second phase of transferring full ownership should be agreed this year. The conclusion of this process is expected by the end of 2014.

The Personal Representative has assisted the Parties in the implementation and verification of the agreed arms control measures by providing support, brokering political consensus and ensuring a smooth flow of the process since its inception.

Periotto also reported on the number of inspection missions as well as reductions in heavy armaments and in the armed forces. The address marked his final report to the Permanent Council as Personal Representative. He will be succeeded by Maj. Gen. Michele Torres of Italy.