Witness History

How the Bosnian war ended

14 snips
Nov 21, 2025
Milan Milutinović, former Yugoslav foreign minister, shares his gripping firsthand accounts of the Dayton negotiations that ended the Bosnian war. He recounts the tense moment of waking Slobodan Milosevic at 2 a.m. when talks felt doomed. Milan delves into the complex dynamics between the Serbian delegation and U.S. negotiators, explaining how personal relationships influenced decisions. He also reflects on the emotional pressure on Bosnian leaders to sign the agreement and the immediate relief felt at the signing, paving the way for fragile peace.
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ANECDOTE

Waking Milosevic To Rescue Talks

  • Milan Milutinović recounts being asked to wake Slobodan Milošević at 2am after talks seemed to fail.
  • He initially hesitated but then woke him and called the Americans back, restarting negotiations.
INSIGHT

Dayton's Structural Compromise

  • The Dayton Plan split Bosnia into a Muslim-Croat federation and a Serbian Republic to halt fighting.
  • The arrangement created complex political structures that reduced violence but entrenched ethnic divisions.
INSIGHT

US Focused On A Durable Deal

  • US negotiators stressed they wanted a durable, interest-aligned agreement, not any deal.
  • That stance added pressure and framed the talks around practical US and party interests.
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