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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1680 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1680

     Recognizing the 15th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 29, 2010

   Mr. Turner (for himself and Mr. Delahunt) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
     Recognizing the 15th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords.

Whereas, on December 14, 1995, the General Framework Agreement for Peace in 
        Bosnia and Herzegovina, known as the Dayton Peace Accords, ended a 
        conflict that threatened to destabilize Europe and resulted in the death 
        of approximately 250,000 people, and the displacement of more than 
        2,000,000 men, women, and children;
Whereas negotiations began on November 1, 1995, at Wright-Patterson Air Force 
        Base in Dayton, Ohio, and concluded there on November 21, 1995, when the 
        leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia all agreed to a 
        breakthrough peace settlement that sought to halt conflicts that began 
        in Bosnia and Herzegovina in April 1992;
Whereas previous attempts to negotiate peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina had been 
        unsuccessful;
Whereas the negotiations were initiated under intense pressure by many of the 
        world powers, particularly the United States and Russia, prompting the 
        leaders of the three sides to attend the negotiations in Dayton, Ohio;
Whereas the United States negotiating team led by Ambassador Richard Holbrooke 
        guided peace negotiations endorsed by members of the European Union (EU) 
        and Russian Federation;
Whereas 21 days of intense negotiations occurring at the Hope Hotel at Wright-
        Patterson Air Force Base brought hope and an opportunity for peace;
Whereas the negotiations succeeded, against all predictions, due to the 
        visionary leadership, the determination of all involved, the desire for 
        peaceful resolution of the conflict, and the extensive community 
        support;
Whereas Wright-Patterson Air Force Base was chosen as the site of the 
        negotiations due to its diversity and security, which offered an 
        environment where the warring parties could focus on negotiating peace 
        out of the spotlight of the media and away from distracting geopolitical 
        pressures;
Whereas the Dayton community unexpectedly became part of the process as its 
        people became proud to be part of history, holding candlelight vigils, 
        placing ``candles of peace'' in their front windows, congratulating and 
        praying for the negotiators, forming a human peace chain around Wright-
        Patterson Air Force Base, and continuing to study peace and human rights 
        based on the community's experiences hosting these historic 
        negotiations;
Whereas the negotiators highlighted Ohio's ethnic diversity to show the warring 
        parties that people from disparate ethnic histories could live everyday 
        life in peace;
Whereas the Dayton Peace Accords provided a framework and common agreement to 
        the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) implementation and 
        stabilization force missions which provided security for the citizens of 
        Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia;
Whereas the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, established in 2006, remains the only 
        literary peace prize awarded in the United States, and continues the 
        legacy of the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords by honoring authors who write 
        about peace and whose work provides enduring literary value;
Whereas the Dayton International Peace Museum in downtown Dayton, a nonprofit, 
        all-volunteer organization, is one of the few community-based 
        institutions with a focus on peace in the United States, and the Museum 
        honors Dayton's history as the host of the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords, 
        offering nonpartisan educational programs and exhibits featuring themes 
        of nonviolent conflict resolution, social justice issues, international 
        relations, and peace;
Whereas the Dayton, Ohio, community supported the peace negotiations and worked 
        to create a strong, lasting relationship with Bosnia and Herzegovina by 
        hosting numerous visiting delegations, creating a sister city 
        relationship with Sarajevo, and hosting an international anniversary 
        commemoration;
Whereas Bosnia and Herzegovina has received a conditional Membership Action Plan 
        to join NATO pending continued progress on reforms, and will deploy 
        personnel with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in the 
        coming months;
Whereas Croatia is progressing on the path to join the EU, became a NATO member 
        in 2009, and has deployed troops around the world, including in 
        Afghanistan, fighting alongside the United States Armed Forces to bring 
        peace, stability, and prosperity to others;
Whereas the Montenegrin Parliament declared independence from Serbia on June 3, 
        2006, and thus created a multi-ethnic country with a viable economy, 
        professional military, and democratic institutions;
Whereas Serbia has recently cleared a major obstacle to EU integration by 
        committing to negotiate with Kosovo on practical issues involving the 
        two countries, and is making strong efforts to arrest the last two war 
        crimes fugitives sought by the International Criminal Tribunal for the 
        former Yugoslavia, Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic;
Whereas the entire State of Ohio has contributed to stability and prosperity in 
        the Balkan region by fostering an exemplary relationship between the 
        Ohio National Guard and the Serbian Armed Forces; and
Whereas the Dayton Peace Accords effectively ended the conflict, created a 
        multi-ethnic country in the Balkans, and addressed topics critical to 
        the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including regional stabilization, 
        a constitutional framework, the repatriation of refugees, and internal 
        security: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends Bosnia and Herzegovina for the significant 
        progress it has made over the past 15 years on the 
        implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords;
            (2) welcomes and supports the aspiration of Bosnia and 
        Herzegovina to become a member of the North Atlantic Treaty 
        Organization (NATO);
            (3) reaffirms the importance of the successful 
        participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European 
        integration process for the future freedom and prosperity of 
        its citizens;
            (4) encourages the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina to 
        continue reforms on economic and constitutional issues; and
            (5) recognizes the role of the State of Ohio as well as the 
        Greater Dayton community in fostering and promoting the Dayton 
        Peace Accords and its ideals, and continuing to support 
        diplomacy, security, and peace around the world.
                                 <all>
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