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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release December 18, 1997

FACT SHEET

BACKGROUND ON BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

During 46 months of the worst war in Europe since World War II, Bosnia-Herzegovina was devastated. During the 24 months since the signing of the Dayton Agreement on November 21, 1995 there has been substantial progress in rebuilding the lives of the people of Bosnia and creating conditions for a sustainable peace.

MILITARY STABILITY:

Before Dayton (November 1995)

410,000 troops under arms, deployed throughout country at war. 200,000 killed, including 150,000 civilians. Sarajevo and other major population areas under siege. 7,700 heavy weapons deployed including long range artillery. Over 1 million mines in the ground.

Progress Since Dayton

A stable military environment has been created and warring parties separated 350,000 troops have returned to civilian life. 80,000 active duty military troops and their equipment are under SFOR supervision. 6,600 heavy weapons systems have been destroyed; 2,600 remain in supervised contonment. More than 1,600 minefields have been identified. During November alone, 2,500 mines and unexploded ordnance were lifted, bringing the total since March to over 21,000. Established Federation Joint Military *being trained for defensive capability and military command has been integrated, and illegal foreign forces have been expelled.

ECONOMIC GROWTH:

Before Dayton (November 1995)

Industrial production less than 10% of pre-war output. Unemployment at 90%. Basic services largely non-existent. $15-20 billion worth of productive capacity destroyed. 2.8 million Bosnians receiving food assistance at height of war. No cross-entity trade.

Progress Since Dayton

Federation Industrial production almost doubled in 1996 with GDP growth 53% in 1996. and an estimated 35% in 1997. Unemployment reduced to 44% in the Federation. 400 schools repaired and fully opened. 600,000 Bosnians receiving food aid. More than 200 miles of roads and 21 bridges repaired. Electric power service in all major cities and many rural areas restored. Water and sewage systems in 40 cities restored. 15,000 housing units rebuilt, and heating for 32,000 others restored. US AID money has created over 11,000 jobs and provided $68 million in loans to 140 medium-sized Bosnia enterprises. Agreement reached on a nation-wide integrated telecommunications system and inter-entity links have been established. Sarajevo and Banja Luka airports have been opened to civil air traffic.

INDEPENDENT MEDIA:

Before Dayton (November 1995)

State-controlled, nationalist media served as primary vehicle for stirring ethnic hatred, mobilizing public action. Media dominated by three ruling parties with opposition having little or no access.

Progress Since Dayton

Independent media is being strengthened with international support, and state-controlled broadcasters in the Republic of Srbska are being restructured and subjected to oversight by the Office of the High Representative (OHR), in cooperation with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and SFOR. The internationally -funded Open Broadcast Network (OBN) has become a cross-IEBL network -- will reach 80% of Bosnia by spring 1998. U.S. grant assistance has been provided to 20 newspapers and 27 radio and 12 TV stations throughout Bosnia; journalists being trained in all media by the U.S. and NGOs. State-controlled Serb Radio and TV (SRT) is being restructured after SRT Pale broadcasts of threats against SFOR and international community officials. OHR/OSCE ensured equitable access of all candidates to RS electronic media in the campaign for the November 23 RS Assembly elections. Initial steps have been taken to establish a transitional public body at the national level to allocate broadcast frequencies and develop internationally recognized journalism standards for the entire country.

WAR CRIMES:

Before Dayton (November 1995)

3,500 villages ethnically cleansed. 500 mass graves. 40 camps/detention centers. More than 1,600 persons missing and unaccounted for.

Progress Since Dayton

Of the 78 person publicly indicted for war crimes, 21 are in the custody of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague.

DEMOCRATIZATION:

Before Dayton (November 1995)

Nationalist party control throughout Bosnia; weak opposition parties. No elections since 1990. Martial law prevails. Rubber-stamp parliaments. Opposition harassed.

Progress Since Dayton

Held democratic elections for all levels of government. Turnout above 70 percent. Established Joint Presidency, Council of Ministers, Supreme Court, Standing Committee on Military Matters, Civil Aviation Authority, and Central Bank and integrated financial institutions. New municipal assemblies have been convoked in 107 towns following municipal elections in September. Extremists have been removed from government positions in Federation and Republic of Srbska cities, including Mostar, Srbac, Sipovo, Drvar, Glamoc, Bosanski Petrovac. President Plavsic created an opposition party to take on the hard-liners in Pale. Karadzic-led SDS party lost its overwhelming majority in November 1997 RS assembly election. Turnout above 70 percent.

PUBLIC SECURITY:

Before Dayton (November 1995)

Police tool of ethnic cleansing and repression. Police under political control. Police force comprised of demobilized military and paramilitary personnel. Police armed with heavy weapons.

Progress to Date

Public security is being strengthened through the restructuring and training of local, ethnically-integrated police forces in accordance with democratic standards. 8 of 10 Federation cantons have implemented the initial phases of restructuring and integrated police forces are operating. Human dignity and basic skills train-the-trainer programs sponsored by the United States have begun in areas implementing police reform. Paramilitary Special Police forces -- the hard-liners' muscle -- have been brought under SFOR oversight, and their heavy weapons placed in cantonment. Restructuring is underway in the rest of the Federation and has begun in the RS. 3,000 RS police -- of a projected force of 8,500 -- registered to be certified by the IPTF so far; restructuring has begun in Banja Luka, Trebinje, Brcko, Mrkonjic Grad. IPTF checkpoint policy has dramatically reduced illegal checkpoints and improved freedom of movement.

RETURN OF REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS:

Before Dayton (November 1995)

Estimated 1.7 million Bosnians ethnically cleansed. Estimated 2 million Bosnians displaced by war. No municipality willing to allow ethnic minorities to return.

Progress Since Dayton

Over 350,000 refugees and displaced persons returned home -- more than 30,000 in July and August alone. Ten municipalities are participating in U.S.-funded projects that facilitate minority return. Bosniak and Croat authorities in Central Bosnia Canton developed plan for phased return of refugees and displaced persons. Returns recently accelerated in the town of Bugojno, Drvar, and Stolac.

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