The Office of the High Representative (OHR) and the UN Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina commemorated the anniversary of the tragic deaths of their colleagues in a helicopter crash at Prokoško Lake in 1997.

Marking the 27th anniversary of the accident that claimed the lives of twelve colleagues—Peter Backes, Livio Beccaccia, Andrzej Buler, David Kriskovich, Leah Melnick, Charles Morpeth, William Nesbitt, Marvin Padgett, Thomas Reinhardt, Jurgen Schauf, Georg Stiebler, and Ambassador Gerd Wagner—Louis Crishock, the First Deputy High Representative, stated:

“With deep gratitude, we remember the OHR and UN colleagues who tragically lost their lives on September 17, 1997, in a helicopter crash near Fojnica. Their commitment to a prosperous and peaceful Bosnia and Herzegovina is a guiding star for all of us. The success of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be the best way to honor their sacrifice. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends today.”

UN Resident Coordinator in BiH, Ingrid Macdonald, added:

“Today we honor our colleagues, twelve brave men and women who gave their lives working for a better future for Bosnia and Herzegovina. We pay tribute to their professionalism, dedication, and efforts to secure lasting peace for this country. By keeping their memory alive and honoring their families, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring their legacy is never forgotten.”