Bosnia and Herzegovina: Parsing the Options
Vice President Biden warned politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina that failure to adhere to the "only real path" ahead could bring a descent into "ethnic chaos." Yet the threat of violence for Bosnia and the corresponding actions that the leaders of Bosnia, the US, and the EU should take are hotly contested.
Event Summary
- Read the USIPeace Briefing Bosnia and Herzegovina: Parsing the Options summarizing this event.
Overview
Vice President Biden warned politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina that failure to adhere to the "only real path" ahead could bring a descent into "ethnic chaos." Yet the threat of violence for Bosnia and the corresponding actions that the leaders of Bosnia, the US, and the EU should take are hotly contested. Balkans experts discussed their differing assessments of the situation and how the US should respond:
- How serious is the current situation in Bosnia? Is there potential for violence?
- What is needed to overcome ethnic divisions and provide effective governance?
- What should the goal of the new EUSR mission be and what powers should it possess?
- Should Bosnia's accession to the EU be conditioned on constitutional reform?
- What options exist to promote stability or to avert a crisis?
Speakers
- Mitar Kujundzic
Ambassador to the United States, Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Washington - Stuart Jones
Deputy Assistant Secretary, US Department of State - Obrad Kesic
Senior Partner, TSM Global Consultants, LLC - Kurt Bassuener
Senior Associate, Democratization Policy Council - Edward Joseph
Visiting Senior Fellow, Center for Transatlantic Relations - Daniel Serwer, Moderator
Vice President, Center for Post-Conflict Peace and Stability Operations, U.S. Institute of Peace