Dayton Peace Accords (1995)

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The Dayton Peace Accords, also known as the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, were reached on November 21, 1995, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. This agreement brought an end to the Bosnian War, a conflict that lasted from 1992 to 1995 and was part of the broader Yugoslav Wars. The negotiations were led by U.S. diplomat Richard Holbrooke, with significant contributions from other international figures. The agreement was formally signed in Paris on December 14, 1995, by the presidents of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia. The Dayton Accords established Bosnia and Herzegovina as a single state divided into two entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska. The agreement recognized a multi-ethnic government structure and established the Office of the High Representative to oversee its implementation. It also mandated the respect for human rights and cooperation with international bodies to prosecute war crimes. Despite criticisms of its complex governance structure, the agreement has maintained peace in the region and serves as a foundation for Bosnia and Herzegovina's path towards European integration.