Anniversary of the U.S. Recognition of BiH

April 7, 2013 – Washington, D.C. – The Advisory Council for Bosnia and Herzegovina (ACBH) would like to celebrate the anniversary of the United States recognition of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) independence on April 7, 1992.

The United States was one of the first nations in the world to recognize BiH's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity when the George H.W. Bush Administration announced the decision in a White House statement. Due to the fact that the capital city of BiH was under siege, a physical U.S. Embassy was not established until November 10, 1993 in Austria where it shared the building with the U.S. Embassy in Vienna. The U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo was finally established on July 4, 1994.

As the former Yugoslavia was dissolving, the United States emphasized its commitment to democracy by fully supporting the government of BiH in its political transition despite the fact that BiH was engulfed in a war of aggression and genocide.

The United States has remained a committed and loyal ally of BiH, its people, and its Bosnian American citizens. In partnership with the international community, the United States is a leading voice in support of BiH's Euro-Atlantic integration. Notably, Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Bosnia introduced House Resolution 199 in the 109th United States Congress which recognized that from April 1992 to November 1995 aggression and genocide was committed against BiH and its population by the Serb paramilitary forces aided by the Yugoslav People's Army. The United States Congress unanimously approved the resolution, reaffirming its commitment and support of BiH in its efforts towards reconstruction, post-conflict reconciliation and democratization as a united and sovereign country.

Today, ACBH pays tribute to the heroic leadership of the United States as it intervened to stop the ethnic cleansing and genocide in BiH and honors the innocent victims and salutes the service of the United States military in maintaining peace after the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords.

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ACBH is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the interests of Bosnian Americans and works to improve relations between the United States and BiH. ACBH advocates for a democratic, multiethnic, and indivisible BiH with a primary goal of advancing the integration of BiH into the EU and NATO.

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