H. Res. 171 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
May 12, 2009. 
Whereas a brutal conflict marked by aggression and ethnic 
cleansing, including the commission of war crimes, crimes 
against humanity, and genocide, was brought to an end 
by the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bos-
nia and Herzegovina (commonly referred to as the ‘‘Day-
ton Peace Accords’’), which was agreed to at Wright-Pat-
terson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, on November 
21, 1995, and signed in Paris, France, on December 14, 
1995; 
Whereas in the 13 years since the signing of the Dayton 
Peace Accords, the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina 
have worked in partnership with the international com-
munity to achieve considerable progress in building a 
peaceful and democratic society based on the rule of law, 
respect for human rights, and a free market economy; 
Whereas political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina have 
agreed to significant reforms of public administration and 
broadcasting, the creation of state-level law enforcement 
and judicial institutions, the establishment of a unified 
armed services and Ministry of Defense, and the creation 
of an Indirect Taxation Authority; 
Whereas the United States has continued to support the sov-
ereignty, legal continuity, and territorial integrity of Bos-
•HRES 171 EH 
nia and Herzegovina within its internationally recognized 
borders as well as the equality of the three constituent 
peoples and others within a united, multi-ethnic country 
in accordance with the Dayton Peace Accords; 
Whereas the full incorporation of Bosnia and Herzegovina 
into the Euro-Atlantic community is in the national inter-
est of the United States and important for the stabiliza-
tion of southeastern Europe; 
Whereas Bosnia and Herzegovina committed to the shared 
values of democracy, security, and stability by joining the 
Partnership for Peace program of the North Atlantic 
Treaty Organization (NATO) in December 2006; 
Whereas NATO recognized Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 
progress in achieving political and defense reforms by in-
viting the country to begin an Intensified Dialogue at the 
Bucharest Summit in April 2008; 
Whereas Bosnia and Herzegovina took the first step on the 
road toward European Union (EU) membership by sign-
ing a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) in 
June 2008; 
Whereas NATO successfully preserved peace and stability in 
Bosnia and Herzegovina after the signing of the Dayton 
Peace Accords through its Stabilization Force (SFOR), 
which was succeeded by a European Union Force 
(EUFOR) in December 2004; 
Whereas the Office of the High Representative (OHR) has 
similarly promoted peace and stability by facilitating im-
plementation of the civilian aspects of the Dayton Peace 
Accords, including through use of the extensive powers 
given it by the international Peace Implementation Coun-
cil (PIC), with the goal of transitioning to a European
•HRES 171 EH 
Union Special Representative (EUSR) at the appropriate 
time; 
Whereas, these notable accomplishments notwithstanding, the 
citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to face sig-
nificant challenges in their efforts to progress toward 
Euro-Atlantic integration; 
Whereas the Dayton Peace Accords included many com-
promises imposed by the need for quick action to pre-
serve human life that have hindered efforts to develop ef-
ficient and effective political institutions; 
Whereas the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission has con-
cluded that the current constitutional arrangements of 
Bosnia and Herzegovina are neither efficient nor ration-
al, and that the state-level institutions need to become 
more effective and democratic if the country is to move 
toward EU membership; 
Whereas the ‘‘April package’’ of reforms, agreed upon by five 
major political parties in 2006, failed to achieve the req-
uisite two-thirds majority in parliament; 
Whereas in February 2008, the PIC stipulated five objectives 
(resolution of state property, resolution of defense prop-
erty, completion of Brcko Final Award, fiscal sustain-
ability, and entrenchment of rule of law) and two condi-
tions (signing of SAA with the EU and a ‘‘positive as-
sessment’’ by the PIC) that must be met before the OHR 
is closed; and 
Whereas in March 2009, the PIC determined that Bosnia 
and Herzegovina has not yet met the five objectives and 
two conditions that will determine when the OHR should 
be closed and oversight power transferred to the EUSR: 
Now, therefore, be it
•HRES 171 EH 
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Represent-
atives that— 
(1) it is increasingly urgent that Bosnia and 
Herzegovina work toward the creation of an efficient and 
effective state able to meet its domestic and inter-
national obligations with more functional institutions, in-
cluding a state government capable of making self-sus-
taining reforms and fulfilling European Union (EU) and 
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) require-
ments; 
(2) any agreement on constitutional reform in Bos-
nia and Herzegovina should take as its basis the Dayton 
Peace Accords, advance the principles of democracy and 
tolerance, rectify provisions that conflict with the Euro-
pean Charter of Human Rights, include the general pub-
lic in the process, provide the conditions to enable eco-
nomic development and the creation of a single economic 
space, and be consistent with the goal of EU member-
ship; 
(3) continued efforts should be made domestically 
and at the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugo-
slavia (ICTY) to achieve justice for victims of war 
crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, as well 
as to promote reconciliation among ethnic groups;
•HRES 171 EH 
(4) the United States should continue to provide as-
sistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina to build effective 
state-level law enforcement and judicial institutions that 
can combat and investigate international terrorism, orga-
nized crime, and corruption; 
(5) the United States should appoint a Special 
Envoy to the Balkans who can work in partnership with 
the EU and political leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina 
to facilitate reforms at all levels of government and soci-
ety, while also assisting the political development of 
other countries in the region; 
(6) the Office of the High Representative (OHR) 
should not be closed until the Peace Implementation 
Council (PIC) can definitively determine that Bosnia 
and Herzegovina has met the five objectives and two 
conditions; 
(7) the EU should carefully consider any future 
plans for the reduction or redeployment of the European 
Union Force (EUFOR) given the psychological reassur-
ance of security and deterrence of violence provided by 
its continued presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and 
(8) the United States should work closely with and 
support the EU in the transition to a European Union 
Special Representative (EUSR) to ensure that the 
EUSR has the authority and tools to manage effectively
•HRES 171 EH 
post-OHR Bosnia and Herzegovina, including a clear set 
of EU candidacy and membership conditions with ex-
plicit and objective yardsticks and a precise list of bench-
marks to increase the functionality of the Bosnian state 
to be achieved by constitutional reform. 
Attest: 
Clerk.