Bosnia: Overview of Current Issues

Publication Date: August 2006

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

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Research Area: International relations

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Abstract:

Over ten years since the signing of the Dayton accords that ended the Bosnian war, Bosnia-Herzegovina is in a transitional state from post-Dayton peace implementation to Euro-Atlantic integration. In November 2005, the United States hosted a meeting with Bosnia's collective leadership to commemorate Dayton's 10th anniversary. In Washington, Bosnia's leaders pledged to carry out major constitutional reforms to strengthen Bosnia's central state institutions; however, a reform package narrowly failed to pass Bosnia's legislature in April 2006. Upcoming elections in October 2006 are considered crucial for the next stage of Bosnia's development, although they will occur under the Dayton constitutional structure. Reflecting Bosnia's progress to date and a broad international consensus, the international community plans to substantially reduce its presence and role in Bosnia. This report provides an overview of prominent current issues concerning Bosnia and may be updated. For further background information, see CRS Report RL32392, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Issues for U.S. Policy, by Steven Woehrel.