Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, founder of the Clinton Foundation and 42nd President of the United States, will be among the current and former world leaders participating in regional events Nov. 18-21 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords.

The accords, finalized on Nov. 21, 1995, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base's Hope Hotel and Conference Center, ended the war and brought peace to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Igor Crnadak, Bosnia and Herzegovina foreign affairs minister; Maureen Cormack, U.S. ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina; Josip Paro, Croatian ambassador to the U.S.; Valentin Inzko, the High Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina; Mate Granić, former Croatian vice president; and U.S. Ambassador Christopher Hill, who helped negotiate the Accords, also are among the world leaders scheduled to attend and participate in events.

President Clinton will be the keynote speaker at a luncheon on the first day of the two-day Dayton Peace Accords at 20 Conference Nov. 19-20 on the University of Dayton's River Campus.

"An entire generation of children in Bosnia and Herzegovina has had the benefits of peace because of what happened in Dayton 20 years ago. We are proud of Dayton's place in world history," said Matt Joseph, Dayton city commissioner and co-chair of the Dayton Peace Accords at 20 committee. "We are extremely honored to have President Clinton, Foreign Minister Crndak, Vice President Granić and Ambassadors Cormack, Paro, Inzko and Hill, and many others here to commemorate that achievement.”

As president during what has been called one of the most challenging U.S. diplomatic efforts since the Civil War, Clinton's leadership helped bring an end to the brutal, three-and-a-half-year war, which cost 100,000 lives and drove 2 million people from their homes. Clinton was awarded the Dayton Peace Prize in 2005 for his efforts to end the war in Bosnia and build a lasting peace in the Balkan nation.

Dayton Peace Accords at 20 commemorations kick off at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, with the public dedication of the Ambassador Richard Holbrooke Plaza near the intersection of Salem Avenue and Edwin C. Moses Boulevard. Holbrooke helped broker the accords. Richard Holbrooke’s widow, Kati Marton, will be present to assist with the dedication. Dayton History will host an invitation-only welcome event that evening.

Following the first day of the conference, David Holbrooke, son of Ambassador Richard Holbrooke and filmmaker of The Diplomat, which chronicles the 50-year diplomatic career of his father, will lead a screening and discussion of the film at 6 p.m. at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. A public reception will precede the screening and discussion.

After the conference concludes on Friday, the Dayton Peace Accords at 20 committee will host a reception for the distinguished visitors starting at 6 p.m. at the Dayton Art Institute.

The commemorations end with a 20th anniversary brunch and wreath-laying from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 21, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base's Hope Hotel and Richard C. Holbrooke Conference Center. The event is open to the public, but seating is limited.

The Dayton Peace Accords at 20 committee is organizing the celebrations with support from the University of Dayton, Wright State University, Miami University, Dayton History, Dayton International Peace Museum, Montgomery County, and the City of Dayton, among others.

In addition to Dayton Peace Accords at 20 events, numerous other organizations will host related events. For more information on the conference, related events, event sponsorship and to register for events and the conference, visit go.udayton.edu/daytonpeaceaccordsat20.

For general information about Dayton Peace Accords at 20 events and interviews with committee members, contact Jim Bucher at 937-274-2882 or buchtvguy@yahoo.com.

For information about University of Dayton events and interviews, contact Shawn Robinson, associate director of media relations, at 937-229-3391 or srobinson1@udayton.edu.