Monday, November 5, 2007

US HELSINKI COMMISSION TO HOLD HEARING ON 1992-95 SERBIAN,MONTENEGRIN AND CROATIAN AGGRESSIONS AGAINST BOSNIA

WASHINGTON, USA (November 5,2007) - The US Helsinki Commission will hold a hearing entitled, "Bosnia: Outstanding Issues in Post-Conflict Recovery and Reconciliation," on Thursday, November 8.

The hearing will focus on outstanding issues from the 1992-95 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia and how they shape politics, society and economic development in Bosnia today.

Issues of particular interest include bringing those responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide to justice, the successful return of displaced persons and refugees, and the identification of missing persons.

Like virtually all European countries, Bosnia has strong aspirations for European integration, but the legacy of the 1992-95 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia has made a popular consensus to necessary reform efforts exceedingly difficult to obtain.

Raffi Gregorian - Principal Deputy High Representative and Brcko Supervisor Office of the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia,Douglas Davidson - Head of the OSCE Mision to Bosnia,Adam Boys - Chief Operating Officer International Commission on Missing Persons and Professor Diane Orentlicher - Professor of Law at the American University and Special Counsel Open Society Justice Initiative will testify at the hearing.

The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, is a U.S. Government agency that monitors progress in the implementation of the provisions of the 1975 Helsinki Accords. The Commission consists of nine members from the United States Senate, nine from the House of Representatives, and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense and Commerce.

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