Clinton accepts peace prize

Former US President Bill Clinton accepted the Dayton Peace Prize for his efforts to end the war in Bosnia and said the United States must finish the job through financial support.

The award was presented to Mr Clinton on Wednesday night at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, where the Dayton Peace Accords that ended the conflict in the Balkan nation were reached nearly six years ago.

At the ceremony, Clinton said Bosnia can emerge as an independent nation only through privatisation of its economy.

‘‘All too often those of us who have the resources to help them succeed in the long run don’t do our part. We cannot let that happen in the Balkans,’’ he said.

‘‘There is still not enough effort by the United States and Europe to open our markets and direct our investments to people who could be great partners with us in the 21st century.’’

More than 400 people, including the ambassadors of Bosnia and Croatia, attended the dinner and ceremony.

The US government brought the leaders of Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia to Wright-Patterson in late 1995 to negotiate an end to the war in Bosnia.

The Dayton Peace Accords were signed on November 21 1995, ending a conflict that had cost more than 200,000 lives and led to the displacement of nearly a million people.

Peacekeeping troops remain in the region.

The award includes a $25,000 cash prize, which Clinton will donate to a charity in Bosnia.