Exactly 24 years ago, the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and its 12 annexes were initialed at the Wright-Patterson American base in Dayton, ending the war in BiH and establishing the current administrative structure of our country.
To recall, the Dayton Agreement was initialed by the President of the Republic of BiH Alija Izetbegovic, the President of Croatia Franjo Tudjman and the President of Serbia Slobodan Milosevic.
The agreement was initialed after weeks of negotiations in the presence of former Secretary of the United States Warren Christopher, with head U.S. mediators Richard Holbrooke and General Wesley Clark.
However, the Dayton Agreement was formally signed on December 14th, 1995 at the Elysee Palace in Paris.
Following the signing ceremony of the Dayton Peace Agreement on December 14, 1995, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, President of the Republic of BiH Alija Izetbegovic said:
‘’This is not rightful peace, but it is better than continuing the war. In this situation as it is, and in this world as it is, better peace could not be achieved.’’
The Dayton Peace Agreement has a total of 12 annexes, covering military, political and civilian aspects of the peace agreement, as well as the regional stabilization.
Annex four to that agreement is the Constitution of BiH today. Establishment Day of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in BiH – November 21st is an entity holiday and non-working day in the Republika Srpska (RS) entity, Radio Sarajevo reports.