[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 400 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 400

Expressing the sense of the Senate on the constitutional reform process 
                       in Bosnia and Herzegovina.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 13, 2006

Mr. Biden (for himself, Mr. Smith, Mr. Lugar, and Mr. Durbin) submitted 
      the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Senate on the constitutional reform process 
                       in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Whereas the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina 
        (commonly referred to as the ``Dayton Peace Accords'') was agreed to at 
        Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, on November 21, 1995;
Whereas the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords was a historic accomplishment 
        that was made possible through the strong leadership of the United 
        States;
Whereas the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords ended a brutal 3\1/2\-year 
        conflict marked by aggression and genocide in which many tens of 
        thousands lost their lives;
Whereas the Dayton Peace Accords created a framework for a common state in 
        Bosnia and Herzegovina, but was crafted amidst the exigencies of war and 
        included many compromises imposed by the need for quick action to 
        preserve human life;
Whereas in the 10 years since the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords, there has 
        been considerable progress in building a peaceful society in Bosnia and 
        Herzegovina;
Whereas this progress in building a peaceful society has been facilitated by 
        both the citizens of the country and the international community;
Whereas, during the 9 years that the peacekeepers of the North Atlantic Treaty 
        Organization worked to keep order in Bosnia and Herzegovina, their 
        forces suffered no intentional casualties and never fired a single shot 
        in combat;
Whereas Bosnia and Herzegovina has demonstrated a willingness to contribute to 
        the work of the international community and sent 36 troops to assist in 
        efforts to stabilize the country of Iraq;
Whereas the full incorporation of Bosnia and Herzegovina into the Euro-Atlantic 
        community is in the national interest of the United States;
Whereas, past accomplishments notwithstanding, the citizens of Bosnia and 
        Herzegovina continue to face significant challenges on their road toward 
        further Euro-Atlantic integration;
Whereas the Council of Europe's Venice Commission has concluded that the current 
        constitutional arrangements of Bosnia and Herzegovina are neither 
        efficient nor rational, and that the state-level institutions need to 
        become more effective and democratic if Bosnia and Herzegovina is to 
        move toward membership in the European Union;
Whereas Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said that the people of Bosnia 
        and Herzegovina need ``a stronger, energetic state capable of advancing 
        the public good'' and pledged that the United States will remain a 
        dedicated partner to Bosnia and Herzegovina as it moves toward further 
        Euro-Atlantic integration;
Whereas leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina have already agreed to significant 
        reforms of the budget process, intelligence services, criminal 
        prosecution offices, justice ministry, border and customs services, and 
        defense sector;
Whereas, on November 22, 2005, political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina met 
        in Washington and signed a Commitment to Pursue Constitutional Reform in 
        which members pledged to continue working toward the creation of 
        stronger and more efficient democratic institutions; and
Whereas it is imperative that changes to the constitution of Bosnia and 
        Herzegovina be agreed to by April 2006 to take effect prior to national 
        elections in October 2006: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) it is time for Bosnia and Herzegovina to work toward 
        the creation of a state with more functional, self-sustaining 
        institutions;
            (2) any agreement on constitutional reform in Bosnia and 
        Herzegovina should advance the principles of democracy and 
        tolerance;
            (3) the constitutional reforms of Bosnia and Herzegovina 
        should be consistent with, and bring the country closer to, the 
        goal of membership in the European Union;
            (4) the United States supports the development of Bosnia 
        and Herzegovina as a unified, fully democratic, and stable 
        state on the path toward Euro-Atlantic integration;
            (5) all parties to negotiations on the reforms of the 
        Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina should work together and 
        seek compromises so that a first set of revisions to the 
        Constitution can take effect before national elections in 
        October 2006;
            (6) all groups responsible for past violence and atrocities 
        in Bosnia and Herzegovina must accept responsibility for their 
        actions and promote reconciliation among the different ethnic 
        groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina; and
            (7) all levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina must 
        comply with the directives of the International Criminal 
        Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), arrest persons 
        indicted for war crimes, and turn over fugitives to face 
        justice at the International Criminal Tribunal.
                                 <all>