Latest News from Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brcko Bridge Blast Deaths Commemorated in Bosnia
This year's commemoration of the April 30 1992 Brcko bridge massacre was organised by the Association of Families of the Missing, Forcibly Taken away and Killed Bosniaks of Brcko District of BiH and the Association of Families of the Missing, Forcibly Taken away and Killed Croats in collaboration with associations for helping victims and survivors of sexual violence and detainees.
Important: Bulgaria Announces New Rules for Entry as of May 1
The Bulgarian Health Minister Thursday issued an order with new rules for entry in Bulgaria from May 1.
Donkey Milk Firm Bucks Downward Trend for Bosnian Businesses
"Through the experience of my daily customers I have noticed that it helps with lung diseases and asthma," he told BIRN. "In situations like this, people are desperate to find a cure, so that's why they buy donkey milk."
"I have had positive numbers during the pandemic," he said.
The Financial Times: A perfect recipe for the war in Balkans
Commenting on the infamous "non-paper", the one that allegedly originated from the Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, the FT states that mere defending the inviolability of borders in the Western Balkans is far from sufficient when it comes to the West's policy towards that region.
Albanian Port Hosts Start of Defender Europe 21 Exercise
A massive US-led military exercise including 28,000 forces from 26 nations, including the United States, NATO countries and their allies, started this week, and will conduct exercises in more than 30 training areas in 12 countries during April, May and June, including Western Balkan countries.
Croatian President Defends Bosnian Croat War Crime Convicts
Croatian President Zoran Milanovic on Tuesday defended his decision to receive in his office former Croatian Defence Council, HVO officers, including Tihomir Blaskic, who served a prison sentence for his role in crimes committed during the Bosnian war after being convicted by the UN court in The Hague.
Small is Beautiful: Citizens’ Movements Are Bringing Democratic Change to Balkans
However, even in these countries, the challenges are huge and are not made easier by the fact that the whole region remains volatile - and that a spirit of corruption, authoritarianism and power-politics remains vivid in so many parts of the Western Balkans.
On top of that, it has to be acknowledged, even if it hurts, that the European vision for the region has seen better days.
BIRN Fact-Check: Is the Bosnian Serb Report on the Sarajevo Siege Accurate?
The commission was founded as an attempt to "offer a more balanced depiction of the events in Sarajevo based on facts", the report says. It was chaired by Israeli historian and writer Raphael Israeli, a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
A ‘Greying’ Western Balkans Must Look to Robots
Those who remain are mainly younger retirees, or people waiting to retire, whose children have moved to Belgrade or abroad, ending the traditional system of inter-generational solidarity in family care. The youngest is 35 years old. Recently, the oldest dweller passed away at the age of 90; her carers at the end were also pensioners.
Johansson to broach issue of media freedom on visit to Slovenia
Brussels – European Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson will start a two-day visit to Slovenia on Thursday to discuss the country’s EU presidency preparations. She intends to raise the issue of media freedom and pluralism as well. Slovenia should not underestimate the risk to its international reputation when it comes to this, Johansson has told the STA.
Disputed Non-Paper is Stirring Dangerous Dreams in the Balkans
The latest discussions about territorial reorganization in the Balkans have shaken the region, once again underlining its deep ethnic and political divisions and unresolved tensions.
Freed War Crimes Convicts Become Public Servants in Bosnia
Researcher Hikmet Karcic cites the Simic case in his report entitled 'Obeying Unlawful Orders: Continuity of Personnel Involved in Human Rights Violations and its Impact on Reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina'.
Karcic notes in the report that several convicted war criminals who have served their sentences have since returned to public office in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bosnian Serbs Urge Talks on Country’s Potential ‘Disintegration’
Taking advantage of the tensions caused by a controversial document predicting the dissolution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnian Serb political leaders said on Tuesday that they want to formally discuss the future of the country with Croat and Bosniak politicians.
Janša condemns extremism after protest in front of Slovenian embassy
Ljubljana – Prime Minister Janez Janša has condemned extremism after members of a radical Islamist group in Bosnia and Herzegovina protested in front of the Slovenian embassy in Sarajevo Sunday over an alleged non-paper linked to Slovenia that speaks about the breakup of Bosnia-Herzegovina along ethnic lines.
Drug ring busted, 15 suspects indicted
Celje – Celje police have indicted 15 suspects over 49 counts related to drug trafficking, transport of illegal migrants, classified information leaking and bribery, Celje Criminal Police chief Damijan Turk told the press on Monday.