Shaheen Statement on the Unanimous Authorization of the EUFOR Althea Mandate

(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), chair of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation and a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement following the United Nations Security Council’s unanimous authorization of the EUFOR Althea mandate, a peacekeeping mission which has contributed to the security and stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

“I welcome the unanimous authorization of the EUFOR Althea mandate in Bosnia and Herzegovina by the United Nations Security Council. Recently, some political actors in the country have engaged in corrupt and anti-democratic behavior that often violates the Bosnian constitution and threatens to engulf the country and region in a serious conflict reminiscent of the violence that occurred in the 1990s. As a peace stabilization force, EUFOR Althea plays a critical role in supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European future and keeping those bad actors in check. We support the EU’s efforts to ensure a safe and secure environment on Bosnia and Herzegovina.  

Last month, Senator Shaheen led a congressional delegation with Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) to the Western Balkans to engage with partners amid continued Russian interference and to convey support for their Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Last year, Senator Shaheen led bipartisan legislation in the U.S. Senate to strengthen U.S.-Balkan ties with Senator Wicker (R-MS). In the fall of 2022, Shaheen led a bipartisan letter with Senators Tillis (R-NC), Murphy (D-CT) and Wicker to the Biden administration on the importance of the EUFOR mandate and urged the development of a comprehensive strategy towards Bosnia and Herzegovina. Shaheen traveled to the Western Balkans to serve as an election monitor for the Bosnia and Herzegovina elections, which followed a separate trip to the region with both Senators Murphy and Tillis. Shaheen shared her experience as an election monitor on ‘Balkans Debrief’ with Ilva Tare. In 2015, Senators Shaheen and Wicker traveled to Srebrenica to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the genocide. Shaheen has condemned democratic backsliding in Bosnia and Herzegovina and has worked to Bolster their Euro-Atlantic Aspirations. 

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