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Released by the Bureau of European and Canadian Affairs,
April 4, 1997
1995:
November 1.
The United States and other Contact Group countries convened the
parties to Dayton, Ohio to begin "Proximity Peace Talks."
November 21.
The participants in the Dayton Talks initial peace accord.
December 14.
With President Clinton and the other Contact Group leaders present,
the Presidents of Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia signed the Dayton
Peace Agreement in Paris.
December 16.
The North Atlantic Council approved deployment of the IFOR main
force and General George Joulwan formally ordered NATO forces
to deploy to Bosnia.
December 20.
The transfer of authority from UNPROFOR to IFOR took place.
1996:
January 19.
As called for in the Dayton Peace Agreement, the Parties completed
the withdrawal of their forces behind the Zones of Separation
patrolled by IFOR.
February 1.
International Police Task Force (IPTF) Commissioner Fitzpatrick
arrived in Sarajevo to head what would become a force of 1,700
police monitors, including 160 Americans.
March 25.
The First Lady traveled to Bosnia. During her trip, she announced
a $29-million Emergency Shelter Repair Program to be implemented
by USAID.
April 3.
The Federation Forum was inaugurated. The Forum brought Muslim
and Croat leaders together to help cement the institutions of
the Federation, one of the two entities of the Bosnian state.
April 14.
At a donors' conference in Brussels, pledges by the international
community reached
$1.8 billion for the reconstruction of Bosnia. The United States
pledged $282 million.
April 18.
The Parties largely completed the withdrawal of heavy weapons
and forces to cantonment/ barracks areas and demobilized their
forces.
April 25.
The Provisional Election Commission (PEC) published election rules.
May 14.
During a Blair House meeting of the Federation Forum, the President
and Vice President met with Federation leaders and key defense
issues were decided.
June 14.
The Parties signed the Agreement on Sub-regional Arms Control
of the Former Yugoslavia at the mid-term review conference in
Florence, the first verifiable arms control pact in the history
of the region.
June 17.
The arms embargo on Bosnia was ended.
June 25.
OSCE Chairman Flavio Cotti certified that Bosnian elections would
take place on
September 14.
June 26.
The President certified to the Congress that all foreign forces
had left Bosnia.
July 9.
The Federation passed the Defense Law, clearing the final barrier
for the "Train and Equip" program. This program will
provide military support to the Federation in order to reestablish
the military balance in the region.
July 19.
Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke negotiated an agreement under
which Radovan Karadzic withdrew from public life and all positions
of influence.
August 15.
Secretary of State Christopher traveled to Sarajevo and reopened
the international airport.
August 23.
Croatia and the Former Yugoslavia signed a treaty normalizing
relations.
August 27.
The OSCE announced that, due to voter manipulation, municipal
elections scheduled for September 14 would be postponed. However,
elections at the national, entity, and cantonal levels went forward
on September 14 as scheduled and refugee voting by absentee ballot
began as scheduled.
August 31.
The administrative structure "Herceg-Bosna" was legally
dissolved and its functions turned over to the Federation.
September 14.
Nation-wide elections were held in Bosnia without incident
September 25.
NATO Defense Ministers met informally in Bergen, Norway to discuss
possible Bosnian security needs after IFOR's withdrawal.
September 30.
The OSCE certified the Bosnian Elections and the three-member
Presidency convened in "preliminary session" for the
first time.
October 2.
The UN Security Council lifted economic sanctions against Serbia
and Republika Srpska. The "outer wall" of sanctions
against Serbia remain in place pending movement by Belgrade on
improving the situation in Kosovo, cooperation with the War Crimes
Tribunal and resolving successor-state issues.
October 3.
The deployment order for the "Covering Force" was signed,
the first step in securing IFOR's withdrawal.
October 3.
Presidents Milosevic and Izetbegovic have their first bilateral
meeting since the beginning of the conflict and agreed to establish
diplomatic relations.
October 5.
The Bosnian Parliamentary Assembly had its inaugural session,
which was boycotted by the Serb delegation. Bosniak and Croat
members of the Presidency and Assembly take the oath of office.
October 22.
The Bosnian Presidency met for the second time at the National
Museum in Sarajevo. Presidency member Krajisnik signed the oath
of office.
October 22.
The OSCE postponed municipal elections until 1997, citing non-cooperation
by the Bosnian Serbs.
October 24.
The final shipment of military equipment for the Bosnian Federation
arrived at Ploce, Croatia. Final delivery was suspended pending
resolution of staffing questions at the Bosnian Ministry of Defense.
October 25. The
Special Group, a decision-making body for Federation issues, made
important progress including deciding on a flag and seal, resolving
remaining differences on cantonal structures, and making arrangements
for the structure of the Sarajevo city government.
November 13. Peace Implementation
Council Steering Board ministerial meeting held in Paris. The
U.S. and key allies identified top priorities for 1997 civilian
implementation efforts. Secretary Christopher met with members
of the newly-elected Bosnian Presidency for the first time together.
November 30. Bosnian Presidency
agreed on configuration of Bosnian Council of Ministers, to include
two rotating Co-Chairs, a permanent vice Chair and three other
Minister-level positions.
December 4-5. The full
Peace Implementation Council met in ministerial session at the
London Peace Implementation Conference to approve an international
implementation action plan for 1997. Deputy Secretary Talbott
headed the United States delegation to the conference.
December 10-12. The North
Atlantic Council approved deployment of SFOR.
December 12. The UN Security
Council authorized deployment of SFOR.
December 18. New Bosnian
Federation cabinet sworn in.
December 20. IFOR mission
ends; SFOR mission begins.
1997:
January 4. Bosnian Parliamentary
Assembly approved nominations for the Bosnian Council of Ministers,
headed by rotating Co-Chairs Haris Silajdzic and Boro Bosic.
February 14. Presiding
arbitrator Roberts Owen announced final decision in Brcko arbitration
in Rome. The arbitral decision mandated an Office of the High
Representative-led supervision of the Brcko area for not less
than one year to ensure full implementation of the Dayton Agreement.
March 7. Representatives of the Peace Implementation Council, Steering Board governments, the parties, and international organizations met in Vienna to establish mechanisms for implementation of the Brcko arbitral decision. U.S. diplomat Robert William Farrand appointed to serve as Deputy High Representative for Brcko.
[end of document]
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