Mostar, the most important city of the Herzegovina region of southern Bosnia-Herzegovina, has not had an election for 8 years. The gridlock makes it hard for the city to develop. Mostar takes pride in being the country’s most ethnically diverse city. Since the war, however, Mostar is a divided city. By David Helander Srđan Škoro takes a seat at his restaurant in Mostar and asks for a glass of juice. The place has a garden…
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Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country where the solution became problem. Two decades later, the peace agreement-turned-constitution from 1995 is still preventing post-war progress. In a state where almost half of the population is unemployed, it is clear that some kind of change is desperately needed. By Beata Thor The square outside The National Theatre in central Sarajevo has been named after Susan Sontag, the American writer, director and political activist. The sign indicating her…
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The musical history of Bosnia and Herzegovina can’t be explained without going into the different cultures who have governed the country throughout history. In this video, however, we will take a look at how different types of music sound in the country today. Euroviews went to Mostar and sat down with Dragi Šestić, founder and producer of Mostar Sevdah Reunion, to have a chat about the distinction between sevdah and sevdalinka, what’s special about the Balkan Beat, and why…
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*All identities of women in this article have been changed. When walking around Sarajevo the sense of a patriarchal society is small, the men are courteous and the women are respected but domestic violence affects 42% of women in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and only women are trying to combat this. By Jessica Henderson “He had (a) restraining order but he would still approach me, and nothing. He was never punished” said Dina. Dina*…
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The Winter Olympics 1984 is a source of pride for the people of Sarajevo. The Olympic Museum a symbol of brighter aspects of Bosnia’s history. Its fate also illustrates the struggle that the city underwent during the long siege it was subjected to in the Bosnian war. Today it paints a picture of Sarajevo’s continuous battle to heal the wounds that followed in the wake of destruction. By Beata Thor The inauguration of the games, taking…
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Early this year Bosnia and Herzegovina applied for membership to the European Union but as Jan Snaidauf explains there is a long way before BiH will be singing Ode to Joy. February 2016 saw BiH the Chairman of the Presidency, Dragan Covic sign Bosnia’s application to the European Union with EU’s Foreign Affairs Chief Federica Mogherini and the Netherlands Foreign Affairs Minister Bert Koenders present. But has as EU’s delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina,…
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Diving from the the Stari Most, ‘old bridge’, is an ancient tradition in the city of Mostar, the most important city of the Herzegovina region in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina. The bridge is a symbol of the city, visible on its coat of arms. Mostar is named after the ‘Mostari’, bridge keepers in medieval times. Built in the 16th century, the bridge is a landmark for the entire country. The earliest record of someone diving from the…
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Two decades have passed since the war ended, yet many aspects of Bosnian society still struggles to find its post-war footing. The preservation of culture, architecture and history in the capitol remains far down the list of political priorities. One of the buildings that have been restored is the National Library, previously used as City Hall. However, two years after its reopening, most rooms still echo empty. By Beata Thor The view of Sarajevo from one of…
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Since 1995, Bosnia and Herzegovina has been struggling to rebuild life after the Bosnian War, but in this rebuilding LGBTI rights have been left behind. By Jessica Henderson In the past twenty years most of the countries surrounding Bosnia and Hezegovina have dramatically changes its view and legislation regarding LGBTI rights. But while countries like Croatia and Hungary are at the forefront of this progress (they are still behind Western Europe) Bosnia and Herzegovina are…
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21 years after the genocide, the town of Srebrenica remains. The population is smaller, and the ethnic divide stronger. Serbs and Bosniaks live together, but will there ever be true reconciliation? By David Helander One of the people killed during the genocide in Srebrenica in July 1995 was Fahrudin Smajlović. His name is carved into a stone at the memorial centre in Potočari. In July 1995 he was 12 years old. This was when Bosnian Serb…
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