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Turner sends letter to Clinton calling for Dayton II Accords

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Third District Rep. Mike Turner has written a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressing his “strong support for taking action to address the political crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

Turner’s letter goes on to state the need for a Dayton Peace Accords II. This follows Turner’s letter sent to Secretary Clinton in October of 2010, encouraging a strong U.S role for advancing regional issues that remain unresolved in the Balkans.  

“Now is the time to reaffirm our dedication to the enduring stability of the [Balkan] region by hosting the Dayton Peace Accords II.  As we are both committed to the success of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Balkans, I look forward to working together toward a common goal of seeking a permanent resolution of these issues,” closed Turner.

The text of Turner’s letter to Secretary Clinton follows.

Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton                              
Secretary, Department of State                                                                                    
2201 C Street, NW                                                                               
Washington, D.C. 20520                                                         

Dear Madam Secretary:

I am writing to express my strong support for taking action to address the political crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). On Monday, May 9, 2011, High Representative Valentin Inzko made clear to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that BiH is in the midst of its worst crisis since the Dayton Peace Accords were signed in 1995. Now is the time for the United States, along with members of the international community, to take swift action and renew our commitment to lasting peace in the Balkans.

This is why I’d like to again propose the need for a Dayton Peace Accords II. I wrote to you on October 7, 2010, encouraging a strong U.S role for advancing some of the Balkan regional issues that remain unresolved.  Under your leadership, inspired by President Clinton’s success in Dayton, Ohio, representatives of the Balkan states and other regional partners should again gather at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton, to tackle the remaining challenges.  We need to take a critical look at what must be done to secure a functioning and viable BiH in the long run.  

In his fifth report to the UNSC, Mr. Inzko highlighted both the absence of a state-level government, and the Republika Srpska’s (RS) planned referendum as imminent threats to the region’s stability. On October 3, 2010, BiH held general elections. However, despite the more than seven months that have passed, there remains no prospect of a new State-level government. The lack of State-level government continues to place institutions under tremendous political, economic, and institutional pressure. The planned June 2011 referendum on the legitimacy of the State-level judiciary and other institutions further signals the need to rapidly address securing a functioning and viable BiH.

Now is the time to reaffirm our dedication to the enduring stability of the region by hosting the Dayton Peace Accords II.  As we are both committed to the success of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Balkans, I look forward to working together toward a common goal of seeking a permanent resolution of these issues.[[In-content Ad]]

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