Ensuring Bosnia's Future

Despite almost 13 years of intensive international effort there has been a failure of reform in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Government at all levels remains largely dysfunctional and driven by ethnic imperatives and thus incapable of providing essential services to its citizens. The uncertainty over the OHR-led (Office of the High Representative) International Mission and the growing realization that European Union membership is a long process should be a cause for renewed concern about the future stability of Bosnia. The limited reforms that have been implemented to date remain dependent on the capabilities of the government, which so far has failed in pushing through its agenda of much-needed change. The conference will address the most urgent problems facing Bosnia-Herzegovina and aim to generate concrete recommendations especially in the area of constitutional reform to push forward the process of EU accession.

Agenda

9.00-9.30am: Registration

Janusz Bugajski, CSIS
Bruce Hitchner, DPAP
Svetozar Miletic, BiH Embassy

Back to the Future? Bosnia’s Failures
Moderator: Bruce Hitchner
Donald Hays, United States Institute of Peace
James Lyon, Democratization Policy Council
Douglas Davidson, German Marshall Fund of North America
Milan Nic, Consultant to Special EU Representative

Stefan Simosas, OHR/EUSR Representative
James Dobbins, RAND National Security Research Division

1.15- 3.15pm: Panel 2:

Bosnia's Trans-Atlantic Solutions
Moderator: Janusz Bugajski
Vera Rihackova, EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy
Angelos Pangratis, Delegation of European Commission in U.S.
Sead Numanovic, Dnevi Avaz Daily
Nida Gelazis, Woodrow Wilson Center
Matthew Parish, Hogan & Hartson LLP

3.15-3.30pm: Concluding Comments

Janusz Bugajski
Bruce Hitchner