Latest news with #BosnianWar
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dayton Mayor reflects on NATO spring assembly
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – Dayton's Mayor Jeffrey J. Mims Jr. wrote about his pride for Dayton while hosting the 2025 NATO Spring Parliamentary Assembly. 'I want to express how proud I am of Dayton for once again demonstrating its outsized impact on the international stage. Our city, long recognized for its pivotal role in brokering peace through the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords, was honored to host global leaders and showcase our continued legacy as a place where diplomacy and progress converge,' wrote Mims. He thanked everyone in our community for their patience and flexibility. 'Your hospitality and sacrifice did not go unnoticed,' wrote Mims. 'With NATO Parliamentary Assembly President Marcos Perestrello personally thanking Dayton residents for warmly welcoming his international delegation and staff, and for showing the best of our Midwestern spirit.' He highlighted the crucial role Dayton played in helping to end the Bosnian War 30 years ago. He also spoke on both Dayton's innovative past and lucrative future. Dayton Library to host senior pizza parties with college help Mims then encouraged people to support small businesses. 'They are the heartbeat of Dayton, and now's a great time to support and shop local,' wrote Mims. To read Mayor Jeffrey J. Mims Jr.'s full post, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Al Jazeera
3 days ago
- General
- Al Jazeera
The Human Hunters of Sarajevo
Could the unthinkable be true? In the aftermath of the Bosnian War — a conflict marked by atrocities and genocide — rumors swirled of wealthy outsiders flying into war-torn Sarajevo to pay for a gruesome and forbidden thrill: hunting humans for sport. In this episode: -Mirsad Sijarić, Sniper Alley witness and director of National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina -Azem Kurtić, Bosnian journalist
Arab News
3 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Bosnia-Herzegovina reforms a strategic necessity
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Agreement, a landmark accord that ended the Bosnian War of 1992-1995 and brought a fragile peace to Bosnia-Herzegovina. On this significant occasion, I had the privilege of hosting a panel of experts in Dayton, Ohio — where the agreement was originally signed — that was titled 'Next Steps After Dayton? Getting to Constitutional Reform in BiH,' referring to Bosnia-Herzegovina. The panel, convened by the New Lines Institute, featured distinguished voices including former US Ambassador to Bosnia Michael Murphy; Ensar Eminovic, minister counselor at the Bosnia-Herzegovina Embassy in Washington; Dr. Miomir Zuzul, senior international policy adviser at Arnold & Porter; and Dr. Jasmin Mujanovic, author of the institute's recent report, 'Dayton Plus: A Policymaker's Guide to Constitutional Reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina.' Together, we reflected on Dayton's legacy and the urgent need for reform to secure the country's future. The Dayton Agreement was a monumental achievement, halting a devastating conflict that claimed countless lives and displaced millions. It established a complex constitutional framework under Annex IV, dividing Bosnia-Herzegovina into two entities — the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska — alongside the self-governing Brcko District. However, while Dayton brought peace, it also entrenched a governance structure that has proven to be a barrier to progress. The agreement's rigid ethnic power-sharing mechanisms, designed to balance the interests of Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats, have fostered dysfunction, discrimination and stagnation. Today, Bosnia-Herzegovina's constitutional regime is a labyrinth of inefficiency. The tripartite presidency, entity vetoes and sectarian electoral rules exclude approximately 400,000 citizens — particularly those identifying as 'Others' (e.g., Jews, Roma or those who reject ethnic labels) — from meaningful political participation. The European Court of Human Rights has repeatedly struck down provisions of the constitution as discriminatory, a legal obligation the country is bound to address under its own laws, but progress remains stalled. This de facto constitutional crisis undermines Bosnia-Herzegovina's aspirations for EU and NATO membership, a goal that requires rational governance and accountability — outcomes the current system cannot deliver. The demographic reality in Bosnia-Herzegovina underscores the urgent need for reform. Since the 2013 census, which recorded a population of 3.5 million, estimates suggest that number has plummeted to under 2 million due to mass emigration, particularly among the youth. In Republika Srpska, claims of a 1.4 million population may mask a reality closer to 800,000. This exodus reflects a lack of hope in a system that denies citizens a stake in their future, perpetuating corruption and ethnic division over shared prosperity. Mujanovic outlined a clear case for reform. The current constitution promotes irrational governance, incentivizes sectarian maximalism and allows neighboring states to meddle in Bosnia-Herzegovina's affairs, heightening the risk of renewed conflict. Conversely, constitutional reform could foster accountable governance, ensure equal rights for all citizens and pave a credible path for Euro-Atlantic integration by 2040. The benefits are clear: a shift from zero-sum politics to a system that values individual rights over collective ethnic identities, reduces foreign interference and empowers Bosnia-Herzegovina to stand as a sovereign, democratic state. While the Dayton Agreement brought peace, it also entrenched a governance structure that has proven to be a barrier to progress Dr. Azeem Ibrahim However, the path to reform is fraught with challenges. Political elites, entrenched in the status quo, resist change, fearing a loss of power. The Office of the High Representative, with its expansive Bonn Powers, has intervened in the past — most notably during the 2022 Bosnia-Herzegovina election — but such external impositions are not sustainable. True reform must come from within, supported by international partners like the US and the EU, which have historically expected irrational systems to yield rational outcomes. This flawed premise has led to repeated policy failures in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as our report notes, unless accompanied by sustained international pressure. 'Dayton Plus' proposes a model for limited constitutional reform that balances pragmatism with ambition. It suggests a single, non-ethnically designated president with ceremonial powers, elected through a two-round system to encourage moderate outcomes. Executive authority would shift to the Council of Ministers, with a redefined entity veto mechanism to prevent abuse. Unicameral legislatures at all levels, caucus-based vital national interest protections and electoral reforms like ranked-choice voting aim to dismantle the winner-takes-all mentality. These changes would not overhaul Bosnia-Herzegovina's structure entirely but would normalize constitutional reform as a routine democratic process, building momentum for future progress. Today, that reform is not just necessary — it is achievable. The original Dayton Agreement proved that, with political will, even the most intractable conflicts can be resolved. Today, the task of amending Bosnia-Herzegovina's constitution in line with European Court of Human Rights rulings is far less daunting than ending a war in 1995. What is needed now is the same determination, coupled with imagination, to chart a new course for Bosnia-Herzegovina. As we look to the future, the Euro-Atlantic community must recommit to Bosnia-Herzegovina's stability. The Western Balkans remains a geopolitical flashpoint, with Russia and China exploiting governance weaknesses to sow discord. Constitutional reform in Bosnia-Herzegovina is not just a domestic imperative but a strategic necessity for regional security. By supporting it in this endeavor, the US and the EU can help complete the vision of a Europe whole and free — a vision Dayton began but cannot fulfill without change. The 30th anniversary of Dayton is a moment to celebrate peace, but also to act. Bosnia-Herzegovina's citizens deserve a system that reflects their shared hopes, not their divided past. Let us work together to make that vision a reality. *Dr. Azeem Ibrahim is the director of special initiatives at the Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy in Washington, DC. X: @AzeemIbrahim
LeMonde
5 days ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
Writer Jean Hatzfeld: 'By destroying Gaza, Israel destroys Judaism'
A former journalist at the French daily Libération, where he notably covered the Bosnian War (1992–1995), Jean Hatzfeld is a writer and the author of six significant books on Rwanda, including Dans le nu de la vie, Une saison de machettes ("In the Nakedness of Life: A Season of Machetes," untranslated); La Stratégie des antilopes (The Antelope's Strategy: Living in Rwanda After the Genocide); Englebert des collines ("Englebert of the Hills", untranslated); Un papa de san g ("A Blood Dad," untranslated); and Là où tout se tait ("Where Everything is Silent," untranslated). Through the testimonies of various participants, his work examines the measures at play in the 1994 genocide of the Tutsi. What does the destruction of Gaza mean to you today? For the first time, I fear the worst, both for Israel and Palestine. The Palestinian people face a looming threat and are being massacred, but it is also Israel turning away from what it once was. It marks a turning point in the destinies of these two peoples, in which Israel could self-destruct. What is Israel turning away from? It is abandoning Jewish values. By destroying Gaza, Israel destroys Judaism. It may sound like a cliché, since every Jew can embrace Judaism in their own way, after interpreting religious texts, as a believer or an atheist. For me, it is a humanist philosophy – what a rabbi once described as humanity's aspiration to live with as much dignity as possible.
Associated Press
26-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
At commemoration of Dayton Peace Accords, NATO leader urges military spending to counter Russia
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Representatives from NATO-aligned nations concluded a gathering in Dayton, Ohio, Monday to mark the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords, the agreement that ended the Bosnian war, amid Russia's unprecedented drone offensive in Ukraine. NATO formed in 1949 to provide collective security against the Soviet Union. It now includes 32 countries. Ukraine is not a member, but participants in NATO gatherings over the past week have said a victory against Russia in the 3-year-old war is crucial to European and global stability. The anniversary was framed as a celebration of diplomacy and peace. The original accords were negotiated at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, in Ohio, and signed in Paris later that year. 'The Western Balkans has shown that peace is possible. But today Europe is not at peace. Russia has brought war back to Europe,' said NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at Monday's meeting of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the culmination of the five-day gathering. Rutte called on NATO member leaders to make the case at home for increasing military spending, suggesting that an increase to 5% of gross domestic product over the next few years could be reached in an agreement next month, in line with demands from the NATO member U.S. Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Italy, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain do not currently spend at least 2% of GDP on national defense budgets, a goal agreed to in 2023 as Russia's war on Ukraine entered its second year. So far, 22 of the 32 member countries have done so. Next month, the members will debate increasing that percentage to 3.5%, plus another 1.5% in spending on defense-related projects like roads and cybersecurity infrastructure. Cultural events accompanied the official meetings in Ohio, including art and history exhibits, public lectures, and a Concert for Peace featuring musicians from Dayton and Bosnia's capital of Sarajevo. A downtown 'NATO Village' displayed flags from member nations, and additional exhibits highlighted the city's international ties.
