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The United States does want to go and it does want to leave this problem to the European Union. At the same time, it now fears that a premature departure by the Office of the High Representative will make it much more difficult to deal with a Bosnia grown restive from developments in Kosovo.
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Looks like Americans have some serious business to do at some oil rich places nowadays and simply can't baby-seat your nasty kids any more...
by vbo on Wed Feb 7th, 2007 at 11:22:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I don't understand what you mean. The High Representative for Bosnia has been an EU official for a long time now
The High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the Office of the High Representative (OHR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was created in 1995 immediately after the Dayton Peace Agreement to oversee the civilian implementation of this agreement. The High Representative and the OHR represent the international community through the United Nations. The High Representative is now also the European Union's Special Representative.
Which is to say, Bosnia has been an EU protectorate for 10 years now. Maybe you should get your facts straight, too.

What exactly is the involvement of the US in Bosnia right now?

"It's the statue, man, The Statue."

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Feb 7th, 2007 at 11:31:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Your quote:
The High Representative and the OHR represent the international community through the United Nations.
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The fact that NOW he's European does not matter.
On the other hand Mr. Montgomery certainly has his facts straight. HE IS talking about USA wanting to leave. If it wants to leave - it must be there. And we all know who is who and who is in charge...and where...so
by vbo on Wed Feb 7th, 2007 at 11:50:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Whatever. It is a European operation and all the High Commissioners have been European. You still have not answered my question, what exactly is the US role. I was not aware they were needed for anything any longer.

I mean, look at the Office of the High Representative website. It looks 100% EU to me.

Okay, maybe not 100%

The OHR is funded by the PIC. Its budget in 2007 is 6,6 million Euros. Contributions to the OHR budget break down as follows: EU 53 %, USA 22%, Japan 10%, Russia 4%, Canada 3.03 %, OIC 2.5%, others: 5.47%.

Maybe they're talking about NATO?

The mandate of the High Representative is set out in Annex 10. It declares the High Representative the final authority in theatre to interpret the agreement on the civilian implementation of the peace settlement. The Peace Implementation Council (PIC), a group of 55 countries and international organisations that sponsor and direct the peace implementation process, has subsequently elaborated on his mandate. The High Representative has no authority over the NATO-led military Stabilisation Force (SFOR).
But even that is outdated, as
The SFOR operated under the code name Operation Joint Guard (December 21, 1996 - June 19, 1998) and Operation Joint Forge (June 20, 1998 - December 2, 2004). ...

...

It took over from IFOR and was replaced by the European Union's EUFOR, on the 2nd of December 2004. Small numbers of US troops continue involvement (about 250 total) in a limited capacity to hunt down alleged Bosnian Serb war criminals Radovan Karadžić and Ratko Mladić.

See Here for EUFOR.

Mr Montgomery is exaggerating the importance of the US role, and you're all too happy to believe it because you need to convince us that the EU doesn't know what's going to hit it in Bosnia. I think you're wrong.

"It's the statue, man, The Statue."

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Feb 7th, 2007 at 02:37:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Ok. Bosnia is "haven"...but mostly for mujahedins/terrorists...
Thing is you have too much faith in EUFOR. Hopefully after Kosovo catastrophic "solution" to illegally chop piece of land of one sovereign state the reaction of Bosnian Serbs is not going to be violent. They will probably make referendum and declare independence and will not take arms. But if they for some reason take arms you will cry for USA to come and bomb them again because EUFOR is just a joke in that kind of situation and with experienced Serbian solders (all of male population) you can imagine situation. Look what USA is now having on its hand in Iraq...Do not wish for that. I don't!
I am not HAPPY because of situation in Bosnia. I KNEW that your "multiethnic Bosnia" is NOT going to work - EVER!!!It hardly worked under the strong man Tito. It's just a matter of you Europeans acknowledging what Americans already know. Or you may inform them of your "reality".
by vbo on Wed Feb 7th, 2007 at 08:13:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]
You are still not giving me any new information. Just bogiemen. The multi-ethnic Bosnia does not exist any longer, there is a confederation of two separate parts (the Western part could be called multi-ethnic) under an EU protectorate where the High Representatives have had to be rather heavy-handed on occasion interfering with the domestic politicians. So, no, a sovereign liberal democracy with respect for minorities and the rule of law it is not. It is a protectorate, bt it is an EU protectorate and the role of the US is minimal to non-existent. So, if the US departs I don't know that I would expect much of anything to change. It was Bosnia of all things that motivated the EU to coordinate its foreign policy and defence apparatus a bit more, and pull its act together. The mistakes of 15 years ago won't be repeated.

As for EUFOR being a joke, that is quite possible. But what do you base that on?

"It's the statue, man, The Statue."

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Feb 8th, 2007 at 05:47:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]

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