IV

107TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. RES. 520

Congratulating Bosnia and Herzegovina on the 10th anniversary of its

independence.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEPTEMBER 10, 2002

Mr. GILMAN submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the

Committee on International Relations

RESOLUTION

Congratulating Bosnia and Herzegovina on the 10th

anniversary of its independence.

Whereas Bosnia and Herzegovina declared its independence

on March 1, 1992, was recognized by the United States

on April 6, 1992, and became a member of the United

Nations on May 25, 1992;

Whereas during the 10 years since the recognition, the people

of Bosnia and Herzegovina have made significant steps

to overcome the legacy of the radical political forces hostile to coexistence of multiethnic society and persevered

in building a democratic society, based on the rule of law,

respect for human rights, and a free market economy, as

shown by the results of the democratic elections held in

November 2000;
2

•HRES 520 IH

Whereas the United States has supported the sovereignty,

legal continuity, and territorial integrity of Bosnia and

Herzegovina within its internationally recognized borders

and also reaffirms its support for the equality of the 3

constituent peoples and others in Bosnia and

Herzegovina as a united multiethnic country, according

to the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and associated Annexes negotiated

in Dayton, Ohio, and signed in Paris on December 14,

1995 (commonly referred to as the ‘‘Dayton Peace Agreement’’);

Whereas the people and the authorities of Bosnia and

Herzegovina share the democratic values of the international community and the responsibility to uphold

them, actively promoting democratic principles in international relations and in the functioning of international

organizations;

Whereas Bosnia and Herzegovina, cooperating on the basis of

partnership and solidarity, committed to the common values of security and democratic stability by declaring the

commencement of the process of joining the Partnership

for Peace program of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO);

Whereas Bosnia and Herzegovina is a reliable friend and ally

of the United States, actively contributing to the stabilization of South Eastern Europe; and

Whereas Bosnia and Herzegovina immediately positioned

itself within the antiterrorism coalition of nations, sharing the common interests and values of the free and

democratic world: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
3

•HRES 520 IH

1 (1) commends Bosnia and Herzegovina for the

2 significant progress it has made during the past dec3 ade, the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agree4 ment and implementation of the Constituent Peo5 ples’ Decision of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia

6 and Herzegovina, and encourages its democratic ori7 entation and the further strengthening of respect for

8 human rights, the rule of law, and a free market

9 economy;

10 (2) supports the aspirations of Bosnia and

11 Herzegovina to become a member of the Partnership

12 for Peace, welcomes the commitment to Partnership

13 of Peace membership declared by the Presidency of

14 Bosnia and Herzegovina, and affirms the importance

15 of the earliest possible fulfillment of the Partnership

16 for Peace membership requirement of the creation of

17 a joint military command of the armed forces of

18 Bosnia and Herzegovina;

19 (3) encourages continuous contributions of Bos20 nia and Herzegovina toward (A) speeding up the re21 turn process, and (B) bringing peace, stability, and

22 prosperity to the region of South Eastern Europe,

23 including by intensifying its cooperation with the

24 International Criminal Tribunal for the former
4

•HRES 520 IH

1 Yugoslavia, in particular with regard to surrendering

2 war crime indictees;

3 (4) reaffirms the importance for the future of

4 Bosnia and Herzegovina of its successful participa5 tion in the European integration process, welcomes

6 significant improvement of the overall mutual co7 operation among the successor states of the former

8 Yugoslavia and strengthening cooperation within the

9 region as a whole, which is important for long-last10 ing peace and stability in South Eastern Europe;

11 (5) encourages the strengthening of Bosnia and

12 Herzegovina state institutions, which will enhance

13 the rule of law and foster additional foreign direct

14 investment, thus advancing its economic recovery

15 and development; and

16 (6) recognizes the important role of the Bosnia

17 Herzegovinian-American community in the further

18 improving of bilateral relations between the United

19 States and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Æ