Revered U.S. foreign policy expert Ambassador Richard Holbrooke passed away last night following complications from aortic surgery. He served in various high-level positions in the U.S. government since the Vietnam War. Ambassador Holbrooke was praised by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as “the consummate diplomat,” reflecting his significant contribution to U.S. foreign policy.

Ambassador Holbrooke is best known for his role in brokering the Dayton Peace Accords, which ended the war and genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Although Ambassador Holbrooke helped lead BiH into a state of relative peace, a united and prosperous BiH remains a distant dream and constitutional reform is handcuffed by some of the provisions set in the Dayton Accords.

BAACBH remembers Ambassador Richard Holbrooke’s commitment to the Balkan region and, in his spirit, hopes that we can use this moment to work for lasting peace in BiH.