; Whereas the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, established in 2006, remains the only literary peace prize awarded in the United States and recognizes the power of the written word to promote peace, and after the death of Ambassador Holbrooke in 2011, the Lifetime Achievement Award was renamed the Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award; Whereas the peace negotiations were strongly supported by the City of Dayton, Ohio, its leaders, and community, creating strong relationships between all parties involved, including a sister city relationship with Sarajevo; Whereas the United States Government reaffirms support for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s sovereignty and upholds the commitment to equality for all ethnicities according to the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and Whereas, since the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords, the Government and people of Bosnia and Herzegovina have been working in partnership with the international community towards building a peaceful and democratic society based on the rule of law, respect for human rights, and a free-market economy: Now, therefore, be it