BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 2 C

Cantonal Court, Tuzla, 15 January 2003 

(Inkometal AG v. Koksno Hemijski Kombinat d. d. Lukavac)

15 - 01 - 2003

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 2 C

Yearbook Yearbook Commercial Arbitration, A.J. van den Berg (ed.), Vol. XLI (2016)
Jurisdiction Bosnia and Herzegovina
Summary

The Bosnian courts first granted and then denied recognition of an ICC award rendered in Austria in respect of an agreement for the lease of industrial property in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Tuzla Cantonal Court granted recognition (BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 2 A). The Supreme Court reversed and remanded, finding that the national state court have exclusive jurisdiction over disputes concerning real estate located in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 2 B). By the present decision, the Cantonal Court denied recognition of the ICC award on the grounds set out by the Supreme Court. This decision was later affirmed by the Supreme Court (BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 2 D). 

Related topics
101

The court discusses the determination and relevance of the place where the award was made (in a foreign State or another contracting State.

Award made in the territory of another (Contracting) State (paragraphs 1 and 3 - first or "reciprocity" reservation)
401

The court discusses the general conditions the Convention imposes on a petitioner for seeking recognition and enforcement of an arbitral award – namely, the submission of the original arbitration agreement or arbitral award or a certified copy thereof – and examines in general whether these conditions were complied in the case at issue.

Conditions to be fulfilled by petitioner in general
501

The court discusses questions relating to the general approach taken by the Convention to the grounds for refusal of recognition and enforcement, including its pro-enforcement bias, as well as the system of the Convention, under which recognition and enforcement may only be denied on seven listed grounds and the petitioner has only the obligations set out in Art. IV.

Grounds are exhaustive
503

The court discusses the burden of proof of the grounds for refusing enforcement under the Convention.

Burden of proof on respondent
514 Ground e: Award not binding, suspended or set aside - "Binding"
519

Public policy: The court discusses cases in which the subject matter of the award was not arbitrable in the enforcement State on public policy grounds.

Ground a: Arbitrability
601

The court discusses the conditions for granting adjournment of a proceeding relating to the recognition and enforcement of an arbitral award, and the court’s discretionary power to do so, as well the determination of “suitable security” and the power to request it.

Adjournment of decision on enforcement
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 2 C