Daniel Serwer

Washington – USIP Vice President for Post-Conflict Peace and Stability Operations Daniel Serwer testified yesterday before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe ("U.S. Helsinki Commission") about "Balkans Progress: Who Stands in the Way?"

In his testimony, Serwer criticized current conditions in Bosnia, Serbia, and Kosovo and outlined concrete measures that the local political leadership and the international community should take. "While none of these places is going to war," he said, "none of them has established peace on a firm foundation." Serwer also said it is time to identify those individuals who should be held accountable for the lack of progress in the Balkans.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, efforts to "solidify [its] democratic institutions and take the country…closer to European integration" have been stalled by three key problems; Republika Srpska’s failure to arrest Radovan Karadzic, continued support by Croat political leaders for their own entity, and the failure by the Bosnian parliament to amend the constitution. USIP strongly supported the Bosnian initiative to revise the constitution.

Serbia, Serwer, stated, needs to complete democratic reforms, undertake "real reform of the security sector" and "look forward to a future inside the European Union." He commended the U.S. decision to withhold aid and suggested the transferring the funds to Serbian civil society.

Serwer emphasized the need for "a clear and unequivocal" final status decision on Kosovo this year. He criticized the failure of Kosovo’s Provisional Institutions of Self Government to "get Serbs back to their homes safely and securely" and urged greater responsibility by the Kosovar elected leadership and the international community.

The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, is a U.S. Government agency that monitors progress in the implementation of the provisions of the 1975 Helsinki Accords.