oiip

02.12.2025
17:00 - 19:00

Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria, Alois Mock Saal
Minoritenplatz 8, 1010 Vienna

Thirty years after the Dayton Peace Agreement ended the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria’s role in the peace process remains a notable part of its legacy as a regional peace actor.
From 1996 to 2004, Austria contributed troops to the NATO-led Implementation Force (IFOR) and its successor, the Stabilisation Force (SFOR). It was also politically engaged with two Austrian diplomats, Wolfgang Petritsch (1999-2002) and Valentin Inzko (2009-2021), serving as High Representatives to BiH. While Austria’s contributions shaped the post-war environment and supported dialogue among communities, the country’s broader peace has continued to face significant political and social challenges. Looking back, what impact has Austria’s engagement had on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s path toward stability? And what lessons from its involvement can
inform peacebuilding today?

17:00 – 17:05
Welcome:
Hannes Swoboda
President, International Institute for Peace (IIP)

17:05 – 17:15
Opening Speech:
Beate Meinl-Reisinger
Federal Minister for European and International Affairs

17:15 – 19:00
Panelists:
Wolfgang Petritsch
Former High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1999 – 2002
Armina Galijas
Assistant Professor, University of Graz
Andreas Herdina
Former Member of the Office of the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina (1996–1999)
Joseph Marko
Former International Judge of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1997 – 2002)
Dženeta Karabegović
Associate Professor, University of Salzburg

Moderator:
Vedran Džihić
Senior Researcher, Austrian Institute for International Affairs (oiip)

The Organisers:

• International Institute for Peace (IIP)
• Austrian Institute for International Affairs (oiip)
• University of Graz
• Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria