June 27, 2005 – The day of constitution of the International Commission of the Sava River Basin The Interim Sava Commission fulfilled its mission and prepared the grounds for successful work of the International Commission for the Sava River Basin. The sixth session of the Interim Sava Commission was held in Ljubljana, on November 29-30, 2004. The Depositary to the FASRB, the Government of Republic of Slovenia, informed participants about the official submission of the fourth instrument of ratification and distribution of official notification certifying that all four signatories had deposited their instrument of ratification. By this, the process of ratification of the Framework Agreement on the Sava River basin was completed, and in accordance with Article 28, paragraph 4 FASRB, the Agreement entered into force on December 29, 2004. According to the provisions of Article 3, paragraph 7 of Annex I to the FASRB, the Statute of the International Commission of the Sava River Basin, the first session of the Sava Commission was to be held within six months of the date of entry into force of the FASRB, which meant by June 29, 2005. To this end it was agreed that all preparatory activities should be finalised within a very short period of time. The preparation of internal legal documents was selected as a priority issue, and the Group of Legal Experts held meetings in Laktasi, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in March and April 2005. After finalising all internal legal documents, the Interim Sava Commission held its seventh — and last — session in Brcko, BiH on May 11-12, 2005, where it adopted its work report to be submitted to the Sava Commission. Representatives of the Republic of Croatia, as host country, proposed the First Session of the Sava Commission to be held on June 27-29, 2005. The Interim Commission concluded its work and authorised the Secretariat to act on behalf of the Interim Commission until the official submission of the report. During May-June 2005, all Parties to the FASRB nominated their representatives to the Sava Commission, which was the final precondition for constitution of the Sava Commission. In order to prepare the constitutive session, representatives from the parties held an official preparatory meeting in Stubicke Toplice, Croatia, on June 20-21. They discussed how to prepare all the conditions for successful and smooth constitution and work of the Sava Commission. A Draft Agenda for the First Session was agreed. A decision was taken that until selection of the first official chairman to the Sava Commission, the acting chairman will be the Sava Commission member from the host country, the Republic of Croatia, Mr. Branko Bacic. It was also agreed that June 27 would be the Day of Constitution of the Sava Commission. The Government of Croatia, as host country, announced the Ceremony of Opening of the Sava Commission Premises in Zagreb, would be on July 05, 2005, when high officials from the parties, as well as distinguished international guests, will have a chance to welcome the new international organisation, bringing together countries connected by the Sava River Basin: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, and Slovenia.

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