Reconstruction and Peace Building in the Balkans: The Brčko Experience – January 19, 2012

This is a special event to mark Rowman & Littlefield’s publication of Bill and Allison’s Book detailing Amb. Farrand’s work in Brčko, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In the tense aftermath of the 1992-95 Bosnian War, Amb. Bill Farrand was assigned the daunting task of implementing the Dayton Peace Accords in ethnically divided Brčko. On the gound between 1997-2000, he exercised wide authority in efforts to restore travel across former cease-fire lines, return thousands to their destroyed and confiscated homes, conduct free and fair elections, and re-establish multiethnic government bodies-all in a climate of obstruction and fear. His story is rich in lessons for all those engaged in or studying peace building abroad.

Opening Words: Dean Edwards Rhodes, School of Public Policy, GMU

Host: Amb. (ret.) Robert W. “Bill” Farrand, Peace Operations Policy Program, SPP/GMU