Latest News from Bosnia and Herzegovina
Torrential Rain Overflowing Rivers, Cause Chaos in Bosnia, Croatia
A state of natural disaster has been declared in Una-Sana Canton, one of ten cantons in Bosnia's Federation entity, after heavy rain.
"Our citizens have had a sleepless night, the situation is extremely difficult," Una-Sana Canton's Prime Minister, Mustafa Ruznic, said, N1 reported.
Many roads have been flooded, cutting off towns from the rest of the country. Photo: N1
Turkish Citizens in Balkans Give Majority of Votes to Erdogan’s Rival
In most Balkan countries excluding Bosnia and Kosovo, where Turkish state influence is stronger, a majority of Turkish expatriate citizens voted for President Erdogan's rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu and for opposition parties at the weekend's elections.
Migrant Numbers Increase Despite Decline of ‘Balkan Route’ to EU
New data published by European border security agency Frontex on Monday showed that detections of irregular border crossings at the EU's external borders reached a total of nearly 80,700 in the first four months of 2023.
Serbian Wartime State Security Chiefs’ Appeal Verdict Due on May 31
The UN's International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals in The Hague announced on Tuesday that the verdict on Jovica Stanisic and Franko Simatovic's appeal against their conviction for war crimes in Bosnia will be handed down on May 31.
Bosnians Mourn Journalist Whose War Reports ‘Promoted the Truth’
Salih Brkic, a doyen of journalism in Bosnia and Herzegovina who was known for his coverage of the 1992-95 war, died on Friday in the city of Tuzla after a short illness.
Bosnian Pupils Taken on Religious March ‘for the Unborn’
High school pupils in the city of Mostar in south-west Bosnia and Herzegovina were taken by their school on Thursday on a 'Walk of Love for the Unborn', a Catholic religious march through the city, media reported.
It was not clear from the media reports if the pupils' consent or that of their parents was sought for their participation.
Bosnian Ministers Approve Controversial Gas Pipeline from Serbia
Bosnian Council of Ministers, the country's state-level executive government, voted on Thursday in favour of a construction of a new gas pipeline from Serbia.
The so-called Eastern Interconnection will bring natural gas to cities and towns in the Serb-dominated Republika Srpska entity.
LGBT Watchdog Chides Balkan, Central Europe Countries for Rights Setbacks
Europe's leading LGBT rights organisation, ILGA-Europe has criticised Serbia and Turkey for their handling of LGBT community rights in its latest Rainbow Map and Index.
The report says the pushbacks LGBT communities are facing in these countries "can also be seen in the challenge to freedom of assembly amid the rise of anti-democratic forces".
Bosnian Canton’s Move to Penalise ‘Fake News’ Worries Critics
The government of Sarajevo Canton, one of ten in Bosnia's Bosniak- and Croat-dominated Federation entity, has introduced a new draft Law on Public Order and Peace that would impose penalties of up to 2,100 Bosnian marks, around 1,000 euros, for spreading fake news.
Politicians in Bosnia’s Federation ‘Glorified’ War Criminals, Victims Claim
Two war victims' associations in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday urged the prime minister of the Croat- and Bosniak-dominated Federation entity, Nermin Niksic, to condemn statements made by the Federation's president Lidija Bradara and minister of culture and sport, Sanja Vlaisavljevic, claiming that they expressed support for convicted war criminals.
"I hope that Serbia will endure. We are kinfolk"
That West imposed sanctions on Russia.
"We can see it and we know what kind of political wisdom and resilience President [Aleksandar] Vucic has to show. We know how he has to look for subtle balances. We also hope that Serbia is strong enough, is sovereign enough not to join the ranks of the mainstream collective West," the Kremlin spokesman said for ATV.
Montenegro War Victims Legislation Criticised as ‘Discriminatory’
A Montenegrin parliament session in Podgorica. Photo: Parliament of Montenegro.
On Monday, parliament adopted the amendments proposed by the ruling Peace is Our Nation bloc enabling monthly compensation to be paid to family members of civilian war victims who were killed, died or disappeared during armed conflicts on the territory of Montenegro.
Bosnian Serbs Hold WWII Victory Day Parade with Russians
A Russian-style 'Immortal Regiment' parade to commemorate the Day of Victory over Fascism in World War II was held on Tuesday in Banja Luka, the main city of Bosnia's Serb-dominated Republika Srpska, attended by Bosnian Serb president Milorad Dodik and Moscow's ambassador to the country, who used the event to justify Russia's war against Ukraine.
Turkish contractors turning to Balkan countries
Turkish contractors are focusing more on the markets in the Balkan nations amid the war between Russia and Ukraine, projects in Romania in particular, business daily Dünya has reported.
Recently, Turkish companies won a tender worth 266 million euros to build a section of a highway in Romania.
New and Better Generation of Politicians in Bosnia is a Myth
Though there are still a number of politicians over 60 with considerable influence, Bosnia is no gerontocracy. Across the multiple levels of governance in the country, many politicians are in their late twenties, thirties and forties. In other words, there has been a generational change among politicians. But, has this led to a substantial change in Bosnia's politics?