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