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Order Code RS22324
Updated December 20, 2006
O CRS Report for Congress
Bosnia: Overview of Current Issues
Julie Kim
Specialist in International Relations
Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
Summary
Over 11 years since the signing of the Dayton accords that ended the Bosnian war,
Bosnia-Herzegovina continues to make gradual progress toward integration into Euro-
Atlantic institutions. In December 2006, Bosnia formally joined NATO's Partnership
for Peace (PfP) program. Bosnia is in talks with the European Union on finalizing a
stabilization and association agreement, a first step toward eventual EU accession.
Bosnia held nationwide elections on October 1; the results highlighted opposing ethnic
positions and produced no clear consensus (and possibly greater divisiveness) on many
key issues regarding Bosnia's foundations and future. Notably, a U.S.- backed package
of major constitutional reforms to strengthen Bosnia's central state institutions narrowly
failed in April 2006 to pass parliament and now appears to be largely on hold.
Meanwhile, the international community plans to substantially reduce its presence and
role in Bosnia in 2007. This report provides an overview of prominent current issues
concerning Bosnia that may be of interest to Members of the 110'h Congress.
Introduction and U.S. Policy
The Dayton peace agreement,' reached in November 1995 with U.S. leadership,
ended a brutal three and one-half year ethnic and territorial conflict in Bosnia-
Herzegovina that erupted after the dissolution of the state of Yugoslavia. The Dayton
agreement outlined a common state of Bosnia and Herzegovina comprised of two entities,
the Bosniak (Muslim)-Croat Federation and the Republika Srpska (RS), under the
authority of an international representative and a NATO-led peacekeeping presence.
Central Bosnian governmental institutions include a three-member presidency, Prime
Minister and Council of Ministers, and bicameral state Parliament. Under Dayton, central
governing powers were kept weak, with many governing functions remaining at the
Federation and RS entity level, which have their own governments and parliaments.
1 Full text of the Dayton accords can be found at [http://www.oscebih.org]. The constitution is
in Annex 4. The accords were signed in Paris on December 14, 1995.
Congressional Research Service The Library of Congress
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.crs/crsmthabdsm0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)