Bosnia: Information from December 1995 to present on whether the Dayton peace accord directed the Bosnian authorities to expel foreign armed groups, particularly Arabs, from Bosnia, and on whether the Bosnian authorities have expelled any Arabs who obtained Bosnian citizenship
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 January 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BOS28564.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Bosnia: Information from December 1995 to present on whether the Dayton peace accord directed the Bosnian authorities to expel foreign armed groups, particularly Arabs, from Bosnia, and on whether the Bosnian authorities have expelled any Arabs who obtained Bosnian citizenship, 1 January 1998, BOS28564.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abea3.html [accessed 7 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Information on whether the Dayton peace accord's requirement of the Bosnian authorities to expell foreign fighters from Bosnia applies particularly to Arabs could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, several news articles mention the people to be expelled.
The 5 December 1995 Los Angeles Times News Service attachment states, "At a news conference Monday, U.S. Secretary of Defense William Perry said he has assurances from Bosnian Prime Minister Haris Silajdzic that all 2,000 foreign Muslim fighters, called Mujahedeen, would be removed within 30 days, as stipulated by the Dayton, Ohio, peace accords." The 17 November 1996 Associated Press (AP) attachment states, "Under terms of the Dayton peace accord, Islamic fighters had to leave Bosnia." The 27 June 1996 Agence France Presse attachment states, "A key condition of the Dayton peace accord was that all foreign troops were to leave Bosnia, the [White House] communiqué noted.
Information on whether the Bosnian authorities have expelled any Arabs who had obtained Bosnian citizenship could not be found among the additional sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Agence France Presse (AFP). 27 June 1996. "Urgent No More Foreign Islamic Fighters in Bosnia: US." (NEXIS)
The Associated Press (AP). 17 November 1996. Aida Cerkez. "Rumored New Deputy Defense Minister Also Had Ties to Mujahedeen." (NEXIS)
Los Angeles Times News Service. 5 December 1995. All Editions. Robin Wright. "Iranian Troops in Bosnia Ae Seen as Threat Role Raises Fear of Attack on U.S. Peace-Keepers." (NEXIS)
Attachments
Agence France Presse (AFP). 27 June 1996. "Urgent No More Foreign Islamic Fighters in Bosnia: US. (NEXIS)
The Associated Press (AP). 17 November 1997. Aida Cerkez. "Rumored New Deputy Defense Minister Also Had Ties to Mujahedeen." (NEXIS)
Los Angeles Times News Service. 5 December 1995. All Editions. Robin Wright. "Iranian Troops in Bosnia Are Seen as Threat Role Raises Fear of Attack on U.S. Peace-Keepers." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
CSCE Digest [Washington]. Monthly.
Electronic sources: IRB databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD (UNHCR database), World News Connection (WNC).
News from Helsinki Watch [New York]. Monthly.
Resource Centre country file on Bosnia.
Transition [Prague]. Twice monthly.
Uncaptive Minds [Washington]. Quarterly.
