Bosnia and Herzegovina Overview Country Overview Bosnia and Herzegovina shares borders with Serbia and Montenegro in the east and southeast, and Croatia to the north and west. It has a short Adriatic coastline of 20km (12 miles) in the southeast, but no ports. Travel by road is the usual means of transport in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Many of the roads are still in poor condition but the rail service is gradually being restored. There are a few city centre hotels in Sarajevo. In the recent past it was only foreign journalists who stayed there, but that is slowly changing as the situation stabilises. The cuisine of the region includes Turkish influences. Specialities are bosanski lonac (Bosnian meat and vegetable stew) and lokum (Turkish delight). In past years, the health spas Jahorina, Bjelasnica and Igman were renowned for good skiing. The Adriatic Coast offers unrestricted fishing, although a special permit may be needed for fishing in rivers and lakes with nets or traps. General Information Area: 51,129 sq km (19,741 sq miles). Population: 4,211,000 (1998). Population Density: 82.4 per sq km. Capital: Sarajevo. Population: 526,000 (1998). GEOGRAPHY: Roughly triangular in shape, and the geopolitical centre of the former Yugoslav Federation, Bosnia and Herzegovina shares borders with Serbia and Montenegro in the east and southeast, and Croatia to the north and west, with a short Adriatic coastline of 20km (12 miles) in the southeast, but no ports. Government: Parliamentary Democracy. Under the terms of the 1995 Dayton Peace agreement, Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of two entities: Federacija Bosne i Hercegovine (the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Republika Srpska (the Serbian Republic). Heads of State: The presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of two Members and one Chairperson: one Bosniak, one Serb and one Croat. Current Members and Chairman are: Beriz Belkic (since 2001), Jozo Krizanovic (since 2001) and Safet Halilovic (since 2002). The chair rotates. Head of Government: Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic (since 2002). Language: The official languages are Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian. The Croats and Bosniaks use the Latin alphabet, whereas the Serbs use the Cyrillic. Religion: Forty-four per cent Muslim, 31 per cent Orthodox, 17 per cent Roman Catholic and eight per cent other denominations and religions. Time: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in September). Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Two-pin plugs are in use. Communications:   Telephone Country code: 387. Outgoing international code: 99. All telecommunications services, including facsimile, have been restored. This is also true of internal and international postal services. Mobile telephone GSM 900 network. Coverage is reasonable. Network operators include GSMBIH, Mobilna Srpske and Eronet (website: www.eronet.ba). Internet Local ISPs include bih.net (website: www.bih.net.ba) and Inecco (website: www.inecco.net). There are few, if any Internet cafes; however, hotels may provide facilities. Press The main newspaper for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dnevni Avaz, is published in Sarajevo. Serbian newspapers include Nezavisne Novine and Glas Srpski, both published in Banja Luka. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 17.64 12.10 9.410 6.195 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 15.21 11.82 9.760 1.197 Passport/Visa   Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required? British Yes No Yes Australian Yes Yes Yes Canadian Yes No Yes USA Yes No Yes OtherEU Yes No Yes Japanese Yes No Yes PASSPORTS: Valid passport required by all. VISAS: Required by all except the following for a stay of up to 90 days: (a) nationals of countries referred to in the chart above; (b) nationals of Andorra, Brunei, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Malta, Norway, Qatar, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey, Vatican City and Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). Types of visa and cost: Tourist and Private: £20 (single-entry); £36 (multiple-entry for up to 90 days). Business £36 (multiple-entry for up to 90 days); £40 (more than 90 days). Application to: Consulate (or Consular Section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section. Application requirements: Tourist: (a) Passport or official travel document valid for at least three months beyond the validity of the visa. (b) Two passport-size photos. (c) Return/onward ticket or copy of the invoice from tour operator. (d) Bank statement with proof of sufficient funds for stay. Private: (a)-(d) and, (e) Invitation letter from host, endorsed by the authorities. Business: (a)-(d) and, (e) Invitation letter from the host company in Bosnia and Herzegovina, endorsed by the Chamber of Commerce. Working days required: Two to three weeks, as all applications are now sent to Bosnia and Herzegovina for approval. Temporary residence: Enquire at the Ministry of Interior in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Money Currency: Bosnia and Herzegovina Konvertibilna Marka (KM) = 100 pfenings. Notes are in denominations of KM200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 and 50 pfenings. Coins are available in denominations of KM2 and 1, and 50, 20 and 10 pfenings. Currency exchange: The Euro and US Dollar are the preferred foreign currencies. The Pound Sterling is of relatively little value in the republic and rarely used. Included in the Dayton Peace Agreement, signed in 1995, were provisions for a Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This bank acts as a currency board and is the sole authority for the issue of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Konvertibilna Marka. Credit & debit cards: These are not readily accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability. There are a few ATMs (in Sarajevo and Mostar). Travellers cheques: Bosnia and Herzegovina is generally a cash-only economy and travellers cheques are not easily exchanged. Currency restrictions: The import and export of local currency are limited to KM200,000. There are no restrictions on the import and export of foreign currencies. Exchange rate indicators The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Konvertibilna Marka against Sterling and the US Dollar: Date May ’02 Aug ’02 Nov ’02 Feb ’03 £1.00= 3.20 3.07 3.09 2.89 $1.00= 2.26 2.02 1.95 1.81 Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1700. Duty Free The following goods may be imported into Bosnia and Herzegovina without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 20 cigars or 200g of tobacco; 1l of alcohol; 1 bottle of perfume; gifts to the value of €76. Public Holidays Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Jan 7 Orthodox Christmas. Jan 14 Orthodox New Year. Mar 1 Independence Day. May 1 Labour Day. May 6 St George’s Day. Jun 28 St Vitus’ Day. Jul 12 St Peter’s Day. Aug 2 St Elijah’s Day. Aug 15 Veliika gospa (Western Christian Assumption). Aug 28 Velika gospojina (Orthodox Assumption). Sep 8 Mala gospa (Western Christian Nativity of the Virgin Mary). Sep 21 Mala gospojina (Orthodox Nativity of the Virgin Mary). Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Nov 2 All Souls’ Day. Nov 8 St Dimitrios’ Day. Nov 25 National Statehood Day. Dec 25 Christmas. Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Jan 7 Orthodox Christmas. Jan 14 Orthodox New Year. Mar 1 Independence Day. May 1 Labour Day. May 6 St George’s Day. Jun 28 St Vitus’ Day. Jul 12 St Peter’s Day. Aug 2 St Elijah’s Day. Aug 15 Veliika gospa (Western Christian Assumption). Aug 28 Velika gospojina (Orthodox Assumption). Sep 8 Mala gospa (Western Christian Nativity of the Virgin Mary). Sep 21 Mala gospojina (Orthodox Nativity of the Virgin Mary). Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Nov 2 All Souls’ Day. Nov 8 St Dimitrios’ Day. Nov 25 National Statehood Day. Dec 25 Christmas. Note: In addition to the above dates, the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina has decided to allow its citizens two working days per year to fulfil their religious needs. These days are not considered official holidays and the measure has been introduced to respect the religious and ethnic diversity of the country. Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever No No Cholera No No Typhoid and Polio 1 No Malaria No N/A 1: Immunisation or tablets against typhoid and polio are recommended; immunisation against typhoid may be less important for short stays in first-class conditions. Food & drink: Water is generally considered safe to drink. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat, although it is advisable to peel vegetables and fruit and only eat cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Other risks: Hepatitis A occurs and vaccination is usually recommended. Immunisation against hepatitis B and diphtheria is sometimes advised. Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information consult the Health appendix. Health care: There is a reciprocal health agreement with the UK. Hospital treatment, some dental treatment and other medical treatment is normally free upon presentation of the following: a UK passport (for UK nationals); a certificate of insurance, obtainable from the Department of Social Security Contributions Agency, Overseas Branch, Newcastle upon Tyne (tel: (0191) 225 4811) (for non-UK nationals who are resident in the UK). Prescribed medicines must be paid for. All other international travellers are advised to take out full medical insurance. Travel - International AIR: The national airlines are Air Bosna (JA),which operates regular flights from Düsseldorf, Berlin, Belgrade, Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart, Stockholm, Istanbul and Vienna to Sarajevo; and Air Srpska (R6), which operates regularly from Banja Luka to Belgrade and other destinations. Other airlines serving Sarajevo include Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Adria Airways, Lufthansa, Malev Hungarian Airlines, Croatia Airlines and Turkish Airlines. Flights from London are operated by Adria Airlines (via Ljubljana) and Croatia Airlines (via Zagreb). International airports: Sarajevo (SJJ) is the main international airport. Mostar (OMO) (website: www.mostar-airport.com) and Banja Luka (BNX) also receive a small number of international flights (from Vienna and Zagreb). Departure tax: US$12. Transit passengers not leaving the airport transit area are exempt. RAIL: The railway system was badly damaged during the civil war and links to Eastern and Central European cities are currently being restored. There is a daily Sarajevo–Zagreb train; the journey takes around nine hours. ROAD: Bosnia and Herzegovina’s road network is still in the process of being reconstructed, following massive damage during the 1992-1995 civil war. It is possible to enter the country by car from Croatia. There are frequent bus services from Sarajevo to many Eastern and Central European cities. Eurolines, departing from Victoria Coach Station in London, serves destinations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. For further information, contact Eurolines (4 Cardiff Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, L41 1PP; tel: (08705) 143 219; fax: (01582) 400 694; website: www.eurolines.com or www.gobycoach.com). Note: The border crossing from Croatia at Bosanski Brod is now open. Travel - Internal RAIL: Rail links between the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska have been restored. In addition, a few local services are operating. ROAD: Travel by road is the usual means of transport in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Road conditions are still poor, but many roads are now being restored. The risk of landmines has decreased in the last few years as most mines remaining from the war are now clearly marked. However, visitors are still advised to exercise caution when travelling outside main cities and towns, especially in winter. Drivers should keep to the main roads. The capital, Sarajevo, is the nodal point for all Bosnia and Herzegovina’s main communications routes, which go west to Banja Luka, and then to Zagreb, capital of Croatia; north to Doboj, and then to Osijek in Croatia; east to Zvornik, and then to Belgrade in Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro); south to Mostar, and then the Adriatic Sea; and southeast to Foca, and then to Podgorica (formerly Titograd), capital of Montenegro. Documentation: An international driving permit is required. Accommodation There is a number of national and international hotels, particularly in Sarajevo and the major cities. Other types of accommodation, including bed & breakfast and guest-houses, are also available. Facilities in the smaller towns have improved in recent years and it is now possible to find hotels and other types of accommodation in most areas. Introduction Note: The civil war not only caused numerous deaths and casualties but led to the devastation of the country’s historic towns. However, the rebuilding process is underway and travellers are again visiting the country. Historically, Bosnia and Herzegovina was a melting pot of different cultures, with Christians, Muslims and Jews co-existing peaceably in this area for many centuries. The country’s architecture was diverse and fascinating – beautiful churches and mosques existed in equal measure. The 500 years of Turkish rule left their trace mainly in the capital, Sarajevo. The Turkish quarter and the town centre have been largely rebuilt, and the city, although scarred by war, is coming back to life. The colourful bazaars are also part of the Ottoman heritage. Travnik in Bosnia was known as the town of the wazirs at the time of the Ottoman Empire. Much of the town was spared in the war, and it is still possible to visit the medieval castle. The many-coloured mosque near the base of ul Hendek is alleged to contain hairs from Muhammad’s beard. The reconstruction of Mostar, once a prime tourist destination, has begun, but most of the town’s monuments were destroyed in the war. A few medieval buildings and cobbled streets remain. Banja Luka, the capital of the Republika Srpska, still contains a 16th-century fort and an amphitheatre. There are several spas in the Republika Srpska area, most of which are operating again. Visegrad, Telic, Bijeljina, Dubica, Laktasi and Srebrenica all have natural mineral springs and medical facilities. Sport & Activities Opportunities for outdoor activities, especially hiking, rafting and fishing, exist in Bosnia and Herzegovina. But even though the country’s large areas of forest, streams and mountains have much to offer to nature and outdoor enthusiasts, the effects of the civil war are still burdening Bosnia and Herzegovina with difficult transport links, poor roads and the considerable danger of landmines (which are apparently taking a heavy toll on wildlife). It will therefore take some years before the country’s potential for activity holidays can be further developed. In past years, mountain health spa resorts such as Jahorina, Bjelasnica and Igman were renowned for good skiing, while the Adriatic Coast was known for its beaches, many of them suitable for swimming and other types of watersports. Fishing is unrestricted on the coast. For rivers and lakes, a special permit (which can be issued by hotels and regional authorities) is needed, with regulations differing in individual regions. Social Profile Food & Drink: The traditional cuisine of the region includes obvious Turkish influences. Specialities are bosanski lonac (Bosnian meat and vegetable stew), lokum (Turkish delight) and rakija (old Serbian brandy) as well as halva (crushed sesame seeds in honey). Shopping: Traditional purchases include wood-carvings, brass coffee-pots, ceramics, handmade carpets, woollen goods, wines, folk-art, tapestries, embroidery and leather boxes. Shopping hours: 0800-2000. Special Events: Mar 21-23 Festival of Bosnian Orchestras. Jun-Jul Days of Culture, New Town Sarajevo. Jul International Festival of Folklore; Biennial of the Mediterranean Youth; Sarajevo Days of Poetry; Bašèarsijske Noæi - Nights of Bašèaršija. Aug Sarajevo Film Festival. Sep Theater Fest. Oct International Theater Festival; Jazz Fest Sarajevo. Dec SIMF – International Music Festival; Festival of Song for Children. Social Conventions: Bosnia and Herzegovina is charaterised by its ethnic and religious diversity, and visitors should respect the customs and traditions of the various ethnic and religious groups. The main ethnic groups are the Bosniaks (44 per cent, also sometimes referred to as Bosnian Muslims), the Serbs (31 per cent) and the Croats (17 per cent). As a sign of acknowledgement of the three main religious communities, eg Islamic, Orthodox and Roman Catholic, the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina allows its citizens to take off two working days per year for religious purposes. Visitors should be aware that drinking alcohol in public may be considered offensive by Muslims. Visitors should avoid expressing opinions about the war or other sensitive issues. Tipping: Tipping is customary for taxis, and in hotels and restaurants; the bill is often rounded up. Business Profile Economy: The collapse of the internal Yugoslav market at the beginning of the 1990s placed the Bosnian economy in serious difficulty, especially as it relied heavily on the sale of its agricultural produce and mineral ores to the rest of the Yugoslav federation. The civil war that broke out in 1992 then brought the economy to a virtual standstill. Reconstruction has been supported by US$5 billion dollars of international aid. Although the division of the economy between two jurisdictions has made economic policy-making difficult, the Bosnian economy as a whole recorded exceptional growth during the 1990s, (at some stages, exceeding 30 per cent annually). A central bank has been set up and a common currency, Konvertibilna Marka (fixed in value to the Deutschmark) successfully introduced. Most international aid was directed to the Muslim-Croat region. Nonetheless, the Republika Srpska had managed to get much of its industrial sector working again, although it relied heavily on the support of Yugoslavia. The war between NATO and Yugoslavia in the late 1990s set the Bosnian Serb economy back once again. The main agricultural products are tobacco and fruit; livestock-rearing is also important. There are extensive mineral resources, particularly of copper, lead, zinc and gold, plus iron ore and lignite coal. In both parts of the country, the economic outlook depends largely on short-term political developments. Commercial Information: Information can be obtained from the following organisations: Chamber of Economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Branislava Djurdjeva 10, Sarajevo (tel: (33) 663 370 or 663 636 or 663 631; fax: (33) 663 634/5 or 214 292; e-mail: cis@komorabih.com; website: www.komorabih.com); or Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Marsala Tita 25, 71000 Sarajevo (tel: (33) 278 100; fax: (33) 278 299; e-mail: contact@cbbh.ba; website: www.cbbh.gov.ba). Climate Dominated by mountainous and hilly terrain, and drained by major rivers to the north (Sava) and east (Drina), Bosnia and Herzegovina has a climate that is as variable as the rest of the former Yugoslav federation, with moderate continental climatic conditions generally the norm (very cold winters and hot summers). Required clothing: In winter, heavyweight clothing and overcoat. In summer, lightweight clothing and raincoat required, with mediumweight clothing at times in the colder and wetter north, and at higher altitudes elsewhere. History and Government History: In the time of the Roman empire, modern-day Bosnia was part of the Roman province of Dalmatia. Then, after brief occupation by the Goths, the territory was ruled for the next six centuries as a semi-autonomous outpost of the Byzantine Empire. From 1180, when Byzantine rule came to an end, and 1463, when the Ottoman Turks took control, Bosnia was more or less an independent state under a succession of strong rulers who expanded the territory southwards to take in the province of Hum (now Herzegovina). As a province of the Ottoman Empire, Bosnia and Herzegovina had two distinguishing characteristics: firstly, much of the population converted to Islam; secondly, as a frontier province, it was the first line of defence against incursions into the Ottoman sphere of influence. Consequently, the country suffered from repeated invasions, resulting in destruction and dislocation. Bosnia and Herzegovina also became susceptible to Turkish efforts to expand northwards (for example, the 16th-century Hungarian campaigns of Suleyman the Magnificent). Under pressure from Austria, Ottoman rule began to weaken during the 18th and 19th centuries until the Turks were finally expelled following the Russo/Serbian-Turkish war of 1876, and Bosnia was assigned to the Austro-Hungarian Empire by the Congress of Berlin. An influx of non-Muslims from the north around this time brought Bosnia to something close to its present-day ethnic mix. The decision by Vienna to annex Bosnia fully in 1908 produced a destabilising chain of events contributing to the First Balkan war of 1912-13, and then to the assassination of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, in June 1914 by a Serb revolutionary, Gavrilo Princip. This single event led directly to the outbreak of World War I. At the end of the war, with the approval of the victorious Great Powers, Serbia annexed Bosnia as part of the new ‘Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes’, which was renamed ‘Yugoslavia’ in 1929. After Yugoslavia’s dismemberment by the Axis powers during World War II, the area was incorporated into a so-called ‘Independent State of Croatia’, ruled by the fascist Ustasa movement, under the joint sponsorship of both Nazi Germany and its ally Italy, with the Vatican also giving its support. Among other things, this resulted in an Ustasa policy of genocide against the local Serbs (henceforth a numerical minority as a result), often supported and aided by the Slavic Muslims who had strongly resented Serb rule before the war. Concomitantly, the area was also the major battleground of the Yugoslav civil war proper between royalist Chetnik forces loyal to the exiled King Peter II and his Government in London, and Partisans under the control of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia led by Josip Broz Tito. Following the communist takeover in 1945, Bosnia and Herzegovina became a constituent republic of the new Yugoslav federation (see Yugoslavia section). The ethnic rivalries characteristic of the region’s politics were largely suppressed during communist rule. However, they resurfaced once the Yugoslav federation began to unravel from 1990 onwards. At the November 1990 elections, extreme nationalists were voted into power by each of the republic’s three constituencies and the following year Bosnia and Herzegovina effectively fell apart as a functioning and recognisable polity. At the time, this was one aspect of the wider disintegration of the Yugoslav federation as civil war took hold, first in Slovenia, then Croatia and finally in Bosnia. With a population split almost equally three ways between Serbs, Croats and Muslims, Bosnia was always likely to be the centrepiece of the struggle for influence in former Yugoslavia between the two most powerful republics: Serbia and Croatia. In the initial stages, the Serbs were dominant, with their military forces taking control of two-thirds of the territory as part of a wider plan to establish a ‘Greater Serbia’. This racial project started to go wrong when the United Nations imposed sanctions on Serbia as evidence mounted of atrocities inflicted upon the civilian population. In the summer of 1995, NATO forces intervened. The Croat and Muslim armies, discreetly armed and trained by Germany and the USA, rapidly retook much of the Serb-occupied territory in Bosnia. Robust American diplomacy then produced a deal under which Bosnia was split almost equally between Serbs and a Muslim-Croat federation. The war ended at an estimated cost of 200,000 lives. The long-besieged capital of Sarajevo became the seat of a new central government protected by a multinational military force, the Stabilisation Force (S-FOR). An international mediator, with wide-ranging powers, was installed to oversee the political process. The Dayton Accord – named after the American city where the bulk of the pre-settlement negotiations took place – has been reasonably successful in returning Bosnia to normality; a number of war criminals on the Serb and Croat sides have been captured prior to trial before an international court in The Hague. The elections that eventually took place in October 1996 asked voters to elect a three-person Presidency (Presidium) for the nation as a whole, as well as individual Presidents and parliaments for the two component entities, the Muslim-Croat Federation and Republika Srpska (see the Government section). The poll produced comprehensive victories for the main nationalist parties representing the three communities: the Party of Democratic Action (KCD) for the Muslims, the Croat Democratic Party (HDZ) and the Serb Democratic Party (SDS). Subsequent polls in the Republika Srpska (1998) and the Muslim-Croat Federation (2000) saw the emergence of effective opposition parties: Sloga on the Serb side (which is now in power) and the Social Democratic Party on the Croat side which has mounted a serious challenge to the HDZ. The KCD remains the dominant party representing the Muslims. During 2000, the Croat-Muslim alliance, which had vanquished the Serbs five years earlier, started to disintegrate as hardliners in the Croat HDZ started to push for an independent Croat territory within Bosnia. The hostility between the two brought a dangerous new element into the already fragile Bosnian political situation, although international diplomatic pressure seems to have defused the conflict for the time being. In April 2002, the international mediator further undermined militant nationalists by enforcing a court ruling giving equal civil and political rights to all Bosnian citizens in all parts of the country. Government: Under the terms of the Dayton deal (see above), Bosnia is divided into two distinct entities: Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation. A central government, based in Sarajevo, is responsible for national functions including foreign, external trade and finance policies. It consists of a three-person executive Presidency and a National Assembly in which two-thirds of the seats are reserved for Federation candidates and one-third for Serbs. In addition, Republika Srpska elects its own President and National Assembly while the Federation elects a National Assembly. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.