Derek Chollet writes that 26 years after the Dayton Peace Agreement was signed, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnia and Herzegovina) is facing its most severe challenge since the end of the war.
Derek Chollet is an advisor to the US State Department.
The three basic pillars of maintaining the delicate peace of Bosnia and Herzegovina — the sharing of power among the three constituent nations, the protection of the rights of all citizens, and the ability to use the constitutional framework to empower the institutions necessary for the functioning of the country — are breaking down.
Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina travel to European countries in droves, where the rule of law protects their rights, and corruption does not threaten their future.
On Tuesday, when I sat down with a group of young people, I heard the news with my own ears-this is only a small part of the generation that has grown up after the war. I was inspired by their decision to stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina and their creativity and commitment to improving the country.
Then I was frustrated to hear them talk about how difficult it is to make changes here, because political leaders are concerned about their own destiny and not the future of their people.
The common-sense reforms now on the table will greatly help change this situation. They will ensure that all citizens have the right to run for public office, correct the imbalance in the distribution of power, give citizens more confidence in their votes, improve the investment environment, and establish better anti-corruption safeguards.
The leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina must seize this moment and provide the young people I meet today with the future they deserve.
The United States supports the prosperity of the entity of the Republic of Serbia, the entity of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a Brčko district within Bosnia and Herzegovina. Unfortunately, some party leaders are not seeking common interests, but are trying to disrupt a functioning country.
As threatened by the ruling coalition of the entities of the Republika Srpska, withdrawing from state-level institutions will lead the economy to a dead end, further weaken the rule of law, and undermine the prospects for economic recovery and regional integration. This will undermine regional stability and will not help improve the lives of ordinary people.
There is another way. If Bosnia and Herzegovina achieves the necessary reforms and consensus, the United States supports the steps to promote Bosnia and Herzegovina’s integration into the EU and NATO.
This is why Secretary of State Brinken and European Union High Representative Borel reiterated in their October 20 joint statement that the United States and the European Union believe that Bosnia and Herzegovina will have the future in Europe.
They emphasized that we are united, firmly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and work together to promote democratic reforms and ensure that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s state institutions play their due role.
The international community must also address the serious threat that corruption poses to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider region.
President Biden’s recent executive order to expand the sanctions regime in the Western Balkans has brought attention to those who undermine Dayton or other international peace agreements and the promoters of corruption.
The United States and European partners will continue to impose consequences on destabilizing behavior and target and disrupt corrupt networks, while supporting the expectations of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina that leaders will implement common-sense rule of law, elections, and economic reforms.
None of this is easy. But the United States is committed to close contact with the leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina and our partners in the international community to end the political crisis and restart the important work of ensuring functional institutions and basic reforms to achieve stability and prosperity in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
We strongly support Senior Representative Christian Schmidt’s efforts to involve all parties and help Bosnia and Herzegovina meet the standards required to end international supervision. Nearly 30 years ago, then Senator Joe Biden called for action to end a terrible war that claimed nearly 100,000 lives.
Today, as President, his government remains committed to a stable and peaceful future in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s own leaders are responsible for the future of their country—building consensus, participating in dialogue, easing tensions, empowering existing institutions and inspiring citizens to build a better tomorrow.
