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Bosnia and Hercegovina (or Bosnia Hezegovina as some prefer it) is a crossroads country. Sandwiched between Croatia and Serbia, it's been a zone of contention since Occident and Orient first began arm-wrestling for it. It's been through Christian, Muslim and Orthodox hands; for a while its people seemed to enjoy their multi-cultural milieu.
Then in 1992, after a disputed vote for independence, Bosnian Serb nationalists shattered social harmony with the help of the federal army and Serb officials. The resulting three-way civil war pitted Muslim Slavs, Orthodox Serbs and Catholic Croats - all former neighbours - against one another.
The war devastated the country's infrastructure and already deflated economy, left refugees numbering in the millions and gave its partisans the ignominious distinction of having introduced the phrase 'ethnic cleansing' into modern parlance. Although travellers are beginning to return to Bosnia and Hercegovina, especially the gorgeous Sarajevo, it will be many years before the scars heal and the country again boasts a significant tourist draw.
Warning
Though the civil war in Bosnia and Hercegovina ended with the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords in November 1995, some of the rancour lingers. There is still a low level of risk from occasional localised political violence, so travellers are advised to avoid demonstrations and political gatherings.
Other risks involve unexploded landmines and petty crime brought on by the high unemployment rate. Use caution when travelling in the Republika Srpska, where anti-Western sentiments are never far below the surface. Maintain a low profile, and keep to paved areas, especially around Sarajevo.
Full country name: Republic of Bosnia and
Hercegovina
Area: 51,129 sq km
Population:
4,359,800
Capital City: Sarajevo
People: Serb (40%),
Bosniak (38%), Croat (22%)
Language: Bosnian, Serbian,
Croatian
Religion: Muslim (40%), Orthodox (31%), Catholic (15%),
Protestant (4%), other (10%)
Government: Emerging federal
democratic republic
Head of State: President Sulejman
Tihic
Head of Government: Chairman, Council of Ministers Adnan
Terzic
GDP: US$7.3 billion
GDP per capita:
US$1,900
Inflation: 3.5%
Major Industries: mining,
vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco, wooden furniture, tank and aircraft
assembly, domestic appliances, oil refining (most heavily damaged or shut
down)
Member of EU: No