Former US ambassador William Montgomery told RTRS that the Dayton Peace Agreement was a “good thing” when it was signed, but has now become a kind of obstacle.
“It’s hard to say, but I think all of us, in a way, are stuck in the past. The Dayton Agreement was a good thing when it was signed, if you look at it as a peace agreement. It stopped the fighting and restored freedom of movement. Those were very good starting points, but I don’t think it was ever intended to become a permanent document. Too much time has passed and changes are needed,” Montgomery said.
He added that he has been speaking about this issue for nearly fifteen years.
“In the beginning, everyone listened and, in a way, agreed. Few would say that changes are unnecessary. However, it is extremely difficult to introduce any reforms because the three ethnic groups can never fully agree. Something needs to be done, because the Dayton Agreement is outdated — its purpose was to preserve peace and stability in BiH, but now it has become an obstacle,” he noted.
Montgomery stressed that he is convinced BiH should consist of three entities, not two.
“I am certain of that. Even though Croats are fewer in number, I believe they deserved their own entity. That would have created a better foundation for real negotiations compared to what we have today. I regret that this was not done at the time. I understand it would have been complicated and difficult, but it was important. If you are a Croat living in BiH and someone asks where you are from, you would say Herzeg-Bosna, not BiH. That alone shows why that step was needed to ensure equal status with the other two groups,” he said.
Speaking about potential reforms of the Dayton Agreement, Montgomery warned that the process is dangerous because any change will be perceived by at least one group as directed against them.
“It’s extremely difficult to do. I think it can only be achieved with strong support from the international community. It cannot be done locally. It requires robust international backing. I hope that will happen, but the reality is that in today’s world, with other global problems, the West largely ignores BiH. It’s not a major issue on their agenda — which is, in a way, a good thing. Not because there is no violence, but because without international attention it will be almost impossible to implement changes. That leaves you in a real dilemma,” he explained.
Commenting on the current functionality of BiH, Montgomery said the Dayton Agreement was conceived as a peace treaty that should have led to gradual evolution and a different way of functioning.
“Instead, it is treated as a rigid document to which no changes can be made. Thirty years have passed. Probably half of your population wasn’t even born when it was signed, yet the Office of the High Representative still exists. That means you don’t really have your own state in the way others do, because someone else is still overseeing it. All of this must be examined carefully. But whatever happens must be done with full international support to avoid the risk of violence, because things could escalate quickly. This is a very difficult issue,” Montgomery emphasised.
He also elaborated on the new approach of the US administration.
“I had high hopes when Donald Trump was elected. I saw that he approached global issues boldly, launching various initiatives and not hesitating to create disruptions or do things others refused to do. I’ll give you one example: for thirty years, the State Department had an office whose job was to encourage NATO members to allocate two percent of their budget to defence, as agreed. For thirty years we tried. Then Trump came and said: If you don’t do it, don’t ask for our support. Within a month, every country except one raised its defence spending from two percent to five percent. That is the kind of strength, initiative, and boldness I hope he will use to achieve change. I don’t know if he will. I have no idea. But lifting the sanctions is a good starting point — a necessary starting point,” Montgomery concluded.
Source: RTRS
