After the initiative for Dayton 2: BiH needs to speed up its path to the EU and NATO

Congressman of the US state of Ohio Michael Turner, who was the mayor of Dayton at the time of the signing of the peace agreement, addressed the US Congress three days ago and expressed his fear that the peace established by the Dayton Agreement is in danger. He called on Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to host the Dayton Peace Agreement II.

- I stood here today to honor two things from Dayton, Ohio's history. First, last week marked the 22nd anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement. The Dayton Peace Agreement ended years of bloodshed and created a framework for lasting peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I served as mayor of Dayton during the signing of the agreement and witnessed that American diplomacy can bring adversaries to the negotiating table. Recently, however, I fear that the peace created in Dayton is in danger. This is a critical time for the region. This week I wrote to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urging him to host the Dayton Peace Agreement II. The United States has an obligation to lead and support the peace we created in 1995. - said Congressman Turner.

Reactions from BiH officials followed this initiative. The President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, believes that Dayton II is not needed, but rather an "internal agreement without foreign interference."

Šefik Džaferović, SDA Vice-President and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliament, believes that "BiH will survive, but peace and stability will be called into question."

He said that the international community has relaxed its role towards BiH, and that our country needs to join the EU and NATO as soon as possible.

Analysts believe that the US still has a focus on BiH, and that their support is not in question. Also, such initiatives followed turbulent relations among political leaders who are not giving up on "entity secession, the idea of a third entity, a different territorial organization of the Federation of BiH."