House Backs Bill on Bosnia Sanctions

The House on March 19 passed a bill that would impose property-blocking sanctions on foreign persons who undermine the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement, which ended the Bosnian War.

The legislation, which the chamber approved by a 365-30 vote, also would provide statutory authority for June 2001 and June 2021 executive orders that impose sanctions on people threatening stability in the Western Balkans.

Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., who reintroduced the bill in July, said her legislation is needed to protect the peace agreement, which is threatened by pro-secession Bosnian Serb leaders.

“If we let the Dayton Accords, a symbol of American leadership and commitment, collapse, then we risk seeing violence return to Bosnia,” Wagner said. “Adversaries like Russia and China would welcome these upheavals and solidify a stronger economic [and] security foothold.”

The bill was passed days after the Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned three people for helping Serb Republic President Milorad Dodik undermine the “peace and stability” of Bosnia and Herzegovina (see 2403130032).