Sen. Kerry: NATO membership would stabilize Bosnia

Bosnian policemen guard the newly built bridge, a replica of Mostar Old Bridge, in the southern town of Mostar, July 23, 2004. The 95-foot long white-marble bridge was erected in place of the famous 16th century Old Bridge (Stari Most) that Bosnian Croat artillery sent plunging into the water 11 years before. (Danilo Krstanovic/Reuters)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Fourteen years ago, at the height of the Balkan wars, many feared that all of Southeastern Europe could be engulfed in sectarian violence. Thankfully, bold diplomacy in Dayton, Ohio, and NATO airstrikes over Sarajevo brought an end to genocide.

The worst predictions of the 1990s didn’t come true. Unfortunately, neither did the vision of a prosperous Bosnia at peace with itself.

That job remains unfinished. As American, European and Bosnian officials discuss Bosnia’s present political problems and future integration into Europe, the transatlantic community must once again act boldly to help the country overcome its grisly past.

Since the Dayton Accords ended the war, the international community has spent more than $17 billion in aid. And yet the country’s ethnic Croat, Serb and Bosniak politicians squabble in stalemate as their people suffer endemic corruption. Unemployment hovers around 40 percent. The acrimony and lack of progress carry with them a haunting sense that, for all its progress, Bosnia is not quite out of the woods.

The way forward is clear. Bosnia must be better integrated with its European neighbors. Bosnia’s integration into the European Union and NATO promises to enhance security, reduce unemployment, eliminate travel barriers and deepen cooperation in the Western Balkans.

I support Bosnia’s accession to the European Union, but unfortunately that process has made little headway. NATO membership has a proven record of promoting political progress across Eastern and Central Europe, and it could do the same for Bosnia-Herzegovina, too.

Several months ago I introduced the “Western Balkans Support Act of 2009” in the Senate. It called on the allies to leverage the prospect of eventual NATO membership for Bosnia. Along with EU membership, this can help bring about much-needed political and institutional reforms required to meet conditions for membership.

American, EU and Bosnian officials recently met at Camp Butmir to seek just such an agreement. While details of the proposal remain unclear, the statements of Western diplomats suggest that a grand bargain may be in the works to remove existing international oversight mechanisms to offer Bosnia greater sovereignty in exchange for an agreement between its factions to end Bosnia’s political deadlock and agree on vitally-needed reforms.