GORNJI VAKUF/USKOPLJE

Bosnia Herzegovina

BiH Flag: Created in 1998

Stars: represent Council of Europe

Triangle pnts: Bosnia’s 3 main ethnic groups

Half Stars: Bosnia’s 2 regions

Brief Recap on BiH

Location: South-eastern Europe on Balkan Peninsula

Surrounding Countries: Croatia (N&W); Serbia (E); Montenegro (S)

Capital: Sarajevo

Placement: Gornji Vakuf/Uskoplje (W of Sarajevo)

Diverse ethnicity: Bosnians; Croatians; & Serbians

History

Illyrian: 1st people to settle

First century AD: Romans conquered most of country

7-12th century: Croats & Serbs ruled

1180-1463: Hungary controlled Bosnia BiH united until 1448

Late 1400s: Turks captured Bosnia Expanded to Herzegovina Most people converted to Islam

Late 1800s: Austro-Hungarian Empire took over Bosnia Following Russo/Serbian-Turk war (1876), Turks were expelled Influx of non-Muslims from North to BiH ( contributing to present-day

ethnic mix)

History Cont’d

1904: Austria-Hugary annexed Bih To prevent BiH from becoming independent Yugoslavia Caused two events:

First Balkan war of 1912-1913 1914: Serbian killed heir to Austro-Hungarian throne: WWI was

declared

After war (1929): Bosnia became a part of Yugoslavia 1940s (WWII):Josip Broz Tito helped free Bosnia from

German control and created communist-ruled Yugoslavia (1945)

1980: Tito died & federation fell apart 1992: BiH claimed independence & ethnic/civil war

followed First in Slovania, then Croatia & finally in BiH

Central Bosnian Conflict

Bosnian War: 1992-1995 Serbians vs. Croatians & Bosnians

Serbs wanted to reunite all Yugoslav territories but eliminate non-Serbs

Fought over territory

Summer 1995: NATO intervenes: Germans & U.S. armed and trained Croat & Muslim armies

so they could reclaim their territory

1995: divided BiH into Serb Republika Srpska & the Federation of BiH

Eastern Bosnian Conflict

Conflict between Muslims and Croats

Fought in main street in Gornji Vakuf- Uskolje

Physical conflict began from January- February 2003, then July 2003 (when city was split)-March 2004

Fought over territory & ethnic differences

City, especially Muslim area, was destroyed HVO (Croat separatist army) used the nearby hills to snipe

and bomb the city City split created primarily homogenized areas, apart from the

previously formed cross-cultural families

1995: Dayton Accord (Pease Agreement) was signed

Post- War : Social Implications

Gornji Vakuf split in middle (lower part “Uskoplje”: Croats; Upper part: Muslims

Violence hasn’t erupted since 2004; however, the mixing of ethnic groups isn’t has prominent, families torn

Tension = demonstrations

Separate city structures: city councils (2); mayors (2); post offices (2); schools systems (2); & health centers (2)

I.e., 2007 Alumni noticed that schools have separate entrances for Bosnian and Croatians

Mixed city structures: bus station; police force; & public market (both sides shop on Wednesdays)

4% of land has unexploded landmines Limits social and economic activities (also causes health concerns)

Post War: Economic Implications Economy: destroyed from war

Refocus from primary sector Pre-war: ½ revenuewas generated from agriculture & mineral resources (i.e.,

iron, coal, zinc, etc.) Present: focus on education, transit, banking & health care 40% unemploeyment rate; those employed mostly work as construction

workers and or own or work in cafes

Foreign Aid: ~$ 15 billion thus far Unequally distributed (primarly goes to Croatian side) Used for reconstructing cities, power lines & telecommunicaion and

transportation systems

Ethnic rift = economic stagnation & deteriorated international position

General Government Info Independent from Yugoslavia in either March or April 1992

Became Federal Democratic Republic

Under terms of 1995 Dayton Accord: BiH consists of 2 First-order administrative divisions (federal governments): Muslim/ Croat Federation of Bosnia & Herzegovina (Federacija Bosnia

Hercegovina) (2 presidents) Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska (1 president)

BiH also has 1 Internationally supervised district: NE Bosnia: Brcko District Responsible for national functions (i.e., foreign, external trade and financial

policies)

3-member rotating presidency: Each member is elected by popular vote for 4 year term (similar to the States) Rotates ever 8 months Presidents appoint Chairman of Council of Ministers

Last election date: Oct 1st 2006

National Statehood Day: 25 Nov (1943) (commemorates the day BiH became free of Germans & became communist Yugoslavia: Tito’s reign)

Omladinsky Centar Founded:

Spring 1996

Location: Middle of Gornji Vakuf, central Bosnia Formal front line where the war of Muslims & Croats fought

Major Organizations Involved: Local NGO; National NGO; International NGO; & Local

Leaders Project for: UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief);

UNDP (U.N. Development Project) until 1997; and locals Runs without government assistance, in order to work towards

multi-culturalism ~12 staff members & 15 volunteers

Cost of Operation: Runs on ~7000 KM /month

Omladinsky Centar Goal: “Encourage youth to take major roles in peace building”

A location where students, teachers and parents can safely interact cross-culturally

Target Demographic: 500+ 7-18 yr olds take part in the educational and recreational programs

Hours of Operation: 9am-8pm

Some programs and courses offered at the center: 4 Computer classes in computer lab for 10-17 yr olds English & German Photography Drama Conflict Resolution & Non-Violent Communication

Currently, classes are intermixed

Highlights from Former BB Students’ Placements (2006)

Omladinsky Centar

Canada Day at Omladinsky Centar2006 Alumni Created this Program

(I would like my group to reintroduce this event; I’m going with 4 other Intercordia students this year: Chelsea from King’s college; Ryan from Saskatoon; and the newbies to our group being Jillian from

Fredericton & Bridgette from Toronto)

"Banana is Unite!"

Massive Cdn Word Search

Canadian Family Feud

Fear Factor

Bosnia Herzegovina

Vacant hotel

Structure with evidence of war: locals don’t like people taking pictures of these

memories of the war

Field with unexploded mines (also prominent in deserted buildings

Vacant hotel

Locals hard at work: example of jobs in BiH

View of the Gornji-Vakuf from the hillside

Buildings near Alumni’s host family’s house. Evidence of war: bullet holes in the side of the buildings. (Muslim side of town)

Bosnia Herzegovina

July 13, 2006

One of only a hand full of times 2006 Alumni saw a large crowd of people. Usually the town is fairly deserted.

Diving competition: They made a dam a couple days before so it would be more safe to dive of the bridge. The winner (best diver) received 100 KMs

Weekend Trips to Surrounding Cities

Sarajevo

Dubrovnik

Travnik

Weekend Trips to Surrounding Cities Cont’d

SplitBashka Voda

Mostar Tucepi (tu-che-pi)

Websites:

http://mikeinbosnia.blogspot.com/2006/08/summer-end-wrap-up.html

http://picasaweb.google.com/JMikeLittle/PicturesFromCroatiaSouthernBosnia#4977629112991088658

http://www.iexplore.com/dmap/Bosnia-Herzegovina/Dining&nav=next

Mulla-Feroze, Gabrielpillai. Welcome to my Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina. 2002 N.A. Gareth Stevens Publishing