Joe Biden: Too often, we see nationalism win over national interest in Bosnia

Reuters

The Dayton Peace Agreement brought peace to Bosnia and reaffirmed its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence, yet, a quarter-century later, it is clear that the work to promote justice, reconciliation, and a functional, multi-ethnic Bosnia remains incomplete, US President-elect Joe Biden said Monday on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Dayton Accords.

“Today, I join the international community and the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina in marking the 25th anniversary of the Dayton Accords, which brought an end to the worst conflict on the European continent since World War II. On this day, we celebrate the efforts of the peacemakers, even as we mourn the loss of approximately 100,000 lives and the displacement of millions more,” he said.

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According to him, the Agreement brought peace to Bosnia and reaffirmed its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence.

“Yet, a quarter-century later, it is clear that the work to promote justice, reconciliation, and a functional, multi-ethnic Bosnia and Herzegovina remains incomplete. Too often, we have seen nationalism win out over national interest and the enrichment of a few coming before reforms to benefit the many. This anniversary is an occasion for all the parties to reflect on the possibility of a brighter future and to recommit to the difficult but necessary steps to build a fully-functioning Bosnia and Herzegovina for all its citizens,” Biden said in his statement.
“As president, I look forward to working with the international community and the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina to finally achieve the promise contained in the Dayton Accords — a prosperous, just, and democratic Bosnia and Herzegovina in the heart of a Europe whole, free, and at peace.”
Twenty-five years ago, The Dayton Peace Agreement was signed in Paris, putting an eng to the war that raged in Bosnia from 1992 to 1995.

It also reorganised Bosnia into a country of three constituent peoples and others, dividing it into two semi-autonomous entities – the Bosniak-Croat shared Federation (FBiH) and the Serb-majority Republika Srpska (RS).

The main actors of the peace negotiations and the signing of the agreement were late President of what was then called the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Alija Izetbegovic, President of Croatia, Franjo Tudjman, and Serbia, Slobodan Milosevic.