“Ten years after Dayton I: Bosnia still has a way to go”

Ten years ago we negotiated for three weeks in a base in Ohio and despite all the difficulties, an agreement on Bosnia was signed in Dayton. The important thing is not to know how we did it, but why such agreement was not signed before. In 1995, Washington believed an agreement was necessary and this is what made it possible. It’s true that the military action in the autumn had an influence, but the decisive element was the political compromise.
Today, we have no achievements if compared with Dayton. We have realized that the process begun ten years ago is the model upon which the reconstruction of the post war States is based on. Nowadays, the country is pacified and a million displaced people have returned to their homes, but it’s necessary to maintain such efforts. When I left Sarajevo I made emphasis on the implementation of economic efforts. However, Bosnia has not joined yet the NATO Partnership for Peace Programme and the WTO. Unemployment exceeds 40%. At this moment, Croatia is negotiating its inclusion in the European Union; Serbia will join the EU once the Kosovo issue is solved. Bosnia must wake up.
Dayton was a success but the jury is still waiting to make a statement on Bosnia.