Role Of The United States

Since 1991, U.S. has provided one billion dollars to Bosnia. Mostly to humanitarian services. Such services include providing food, shelter and other emergency services to war victims. In 1996, U.S. plans to provide 162 million dollars in furthering humanitarian assistance. The aim of these contributions are to revitalize the Bosnian economy. Such a desire meant that a consensus must be met amongst disagreeing leaders. This called for the U.S. to propose a meeting in Dayton, Ohio. This meeting held in November of 1995, proposed on neutral soil, was designed to allow the leaders to communicate their concerns as well as for the UN to express it's desire for some type of agreement.

As a result of the debates Dayton Peace Agreement was created. It called for all parties to fully respect and promote fulfillment of the commitments made in various annexes, cooperate fully with all entities, including those authorized by the United Nations Security Council, in implementing the peace settlement and investigating and prosecuting war crimes and other violations of international humanitarian law, respect human rights and the rights of refugees and displaced persons. According to the agreement, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (F.R.Y.) should fully recognize the sovereign equality of one another. Discussion of further aspects of their mutual recognition was to be held. Annex 1-A of the Agreement stated that the cease-fire thatbegan on October 5, 1995 should continue and foreign combatant forces in Bosnia should be withdrawn. It also invited in Bosnia and Herzegovina a military Implementation Force, the IFOR, authorized by the UN, under the command of NATO. The IFOR was given the right to monitor the compliance with the military aspects of the agreement. Use of force was granted, if necessary.

The agreement also guaranteed universally recognized civil rights for all persons in Bosnia, along with the refugees who were granted right to safely return to their homes. Commission on Human Rights composed of a Human Rights Ombudsman and a Human Rights Chamber, was found. To coordinate civilian aspects of the peace settlement, the parties agreed on designating a High Representative consistent with relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Some aspects that were to be monitored by High Representative, were humanitarian aid, economic reconstruction, holding of free elections and protection of human rights. Elections were to be held under international supervision within six to nine months and all citizens of Bosnia, including refugees would be eligible to vote. Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) took responsibility to monitor the preparation and supervise conduct of these elections.

In order for the Dayton Peace Agreement to work it depends on financial support of the International community. It was estimated that Bosnia needs roughly six (6) billion dollars in financing over the next three years. Japan and other European allies along with other financial institutions such as World Bank contribute towards the costs, but the U.S. provides most of the resources. In the fiscal year of 1996, Clinton Administration plans to spend a total of $539 million in support of civilian implementation of Dayton Peace Accords. Another $200 million is necessary for the Defense Department to successfully carry out the cease-fire and hold peace. The money is to come from the already appointed budget and will be offset by the financial difficulties of the Defense Department. President Clinton in Paris also pledged $86 million dollars as humanitarian aid to reconstruct the fallen economy of the region. The purpose of this is to rapidly improve the living conditions for the Bosnian people, help revive industrial and agricultural productivity, sustain development by restoring the infra structure, help resettle people and refugees and foster inter-ethnic collaboration.

However, despite the creation of the Agreement, the U.S. remained the major forerunners of contributions by deploying military aid to enforce United Nation regulations and those laws outlined in the above agreement. Over 30,000 U.S. troops will be responsible for upholding peace and seize fire orders imposed by the UN. as a sort of "international police". Other troops include those provided by France and Great Britain. These troops are also responsible for attending to the needs of the people of Bosnia as well as protecting them from the present conflicts between the Croates and the Serbs.

Following the Dayton Peace Agreement, the U.S. took even a greater stand trying to maintain peace and stability in the Balkans. In December 1995 the transfer of authority from the United Nations to NATO has begun. The UN. Security Council voted unanimously to authorize NATO to send 60,000 troops to relieve 20,000 UN solders in Bosnia, therefore shutting down a UN. mission that failed to restore the peace in the war-torn Balkans. The United States sent some 20,000 troops as part of NATO forces, in order to maintain stability. More troops and military equipment is to be deployed in future. As Pentagon officials state, so far, the deployment of all troops is on schedule.

Map of implimantation force disposition in Bosnia (courtesy of the U.S. Department of State) (Click on the map)

Richard Holbrooke, the top U.S. mediator for Bosnian affairs, visited Sarajevo in February to try to restore full compliance with the Dayton peace agreement. Holbrooke returned to the Balkans after a week marked by a lack of cooperation by the Bosnian Serb military with NATO. Both events threatened the stability of the peace accord that Holbrooke brokered. Holbrooke, along with his negotiating team, tried to find consensus with Bosnian Serb leaders. After his visit the crisis seemed to resolve and Serbian side showed strong willingness to cooperate with NATO.

So far there is only little progress made toward the settlement, but the cease-fire is somewhat holding on in Bosnia. The NATO involvement after the Dayton Peace Agreement clearly showed the signs of improvement of situation. However, as the conflict goes on, it is becoming clear that the level of U.S. involvement is essential to promoting stability in the Balkans and to maintaining overall leadership of the Dayton peace initiative.

Go To:

Basis of the Conflict
Un Involvment in the Conflict
Statistics about Bosnia
Back to the Homepage