1996 Edition

Description

white with a large blue shield; the shield contains white fleurs-de-lis with a white diagonal band running from the upper hoist corner to the lower outer side

Location

44 00 N, 18 00 E -- Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly smaller than West Virginia

land area

51,233 sq km

total area

51,233 sq km

Climate

hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast

Coastline

20 km

Environment

current issues

air pollution from metallurgical plants; sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; widespread casualties, water shortages, and destruction of infrastructure because of civil strife

international agreements

party to - Air Pollution, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection

natural hazards

frequent and destructive earthquakes

Geographic coordinates

44 00 N, 18 00 E

Geographic note

as of January 1996, Bosnian Serb leaders continued to demand revisions to the territorial aspects of the Dayton Agreement, especially in Sarajevo - designated to be under Federation control - and the Brcko/Posavina corridor area; members of the Bosnian Croat community also reject several territorial aspects of the agreement, citing that historically Bosnian Croat lands are to be transferred to Bosnian Serb control; despite disagreements, initial implementation of the agreement as of January 1996 appeared on course with the warring parties meeting the deadline for withdrawal of forces from the front lines in Sarajevo

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

border countries

Croatia 932 km, Serbia and Montenegro 527 km (312 km with Serbia, 215 km with Montenegro)

total

1,459 km

Land use

arable land

20%

forest and woodland

36%

meadows and pastures

25%

other

17%

permanent crops

2%

Location

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia

Map references

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Europe

Maritime claims

NA

Natural resources

coal, iron, bauxite, manganese, forests, copper, chromium, lead, zinc

Terrain

mountains and valleys

highest point

Maglic 2,386 m

lowest point

Adriatic Sea 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 20% (male 276,530; female 248,519) 15-64 years: 68% (male 892,807; female 915,686) 65 years and over: 12% (male 133,081; female 189,617) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

6.34 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

15.92 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Serb 40%, Muslim 38%, Croat 22% (est.)

Infant mortality rate

43.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Serbo-Croatian 99%

Life expectancy at birth

female

61.39 years (1996 est.)

male

51.16 years

total population

56.11 years

Literacy

NA

Nationality

adjective

Bosnian, Herzegovinian

noun

Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s)

Net migration rate

-18.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

2,656,240 (July 1996 est.)

note

all data dealing with population is subject to considerable error because of the dislocations caused by military action and ethnic cleansing

Population growth rate

-2.84% (1996 est.)

Religions

Muslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Catholic 15%, Protestant 4%, other 10%

Sex ratio

all ages

0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.11 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

109 districts (opstinas, singular - opstina) Banovici, Banja Luka, Bihac, Bijeljina, Bileca, Bosanska Dubica, Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanska Krupa, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Novi, Bosanski Petrovac, Bosanski Samac, Bosansko Grahovo, Bratunac, Brcko, Breza, Bugojno, Busovaca, Cazin, Cajnice, Capljina, Celinac, Citluk, Derventa, Doboj, Donji Vakuf, Foca, Fojnica, Gacko, Glamoc, Gorazde, Gornji Vakuf, Gracanica, Gradacac, Grude, Han Pijesak, Jablanica, Jajce, Kakanj, Kalesija, Kalinovik, Kiseljak, Kladanj, Kljuc, Konjic, Kotor Varos, Kresevo, Kupres, Laktasi, Listica, Livno, Lopare, Lukavac, Ljubinje, Ljubuski, Maglaj, Modrica, Mostar, Mrkonjic-Grad, Neum, Nevesinje, Odzak, Olovo, Orasje, Posusje, Prijedor, Prnjavor, Prozor, (Pucarevo) Novi Travnik, Rogatica, Rudo, Sanski Most, Sarajevo-Centar, Sarajevo-Hadzici, Sarajevo-Ilidza, Sarajevo-Ilijas, Sarajevo-Novi Grad, Sarajevo-Novo, Sarajevo-Pale, Sarajevo-Stari Grad, Sarajevo-Trnovo, Sarajevo-Vogosca, Skender Vakuf, Sokolac, Srbac, Srebrenica, Srebrenik, Stolac, Sekovici, Sipovo, Teslic, Tesanj, Drvar, Duvno, Travnik, Trebinje, Tuzla, Ugljevik, Vares, Velika Kladusa, Visoko, Visegrad, Vitez, Vlasenica, Zavidovici, Zenica, Zvornik, Zepce, Zivinice

note

administrative reorganization is currently under negotiation with the assistance of international mediators; spellings not yet approved by the US Board on Geographic Names

Capital

Sarajevo

Chamber of Citizens (Vijece Gradanstvo)

elections last held November-December 1990 (next to be held NA); percent of vote by party NA; seats - (130 total) SDA 43, SDS BiH 34, HDZ BiH 21, Party of Democratic Changes 15, SRSJ BiH 12, LBO 2, DSS 1, DSZ 1, LS 1

note

the new constitution signed as part of the Dayton agreement on 21 November 1995 provides for a new bicameral Parliamentary assembly which will consist of a House of Peoples with 15 delegates, two-thirds from the Muslim/Croat Federation and one-third from the Serbian republic, and a House of Representatives with 42 members, two-thirds from the Muslim/Croat Federation and one-third from the Serbian republic; elections are scheduled to be held six to nine months after the entry into force of the Dayton Agreement

Chamber of Municipalities (Vijece Opeina)

elections last held November-December 1990 (next to be held NA); percent of vote by party NA; seats - (110 total) SDA 43, SDS BiH 38, HDZ BiH 23, Party of Democratic Changes 4, DSS 1, SPO 1

Constitution

first promulgated in 1974 (under the Communists), amended 1989, 1990, and 1991; constitution of Muslim/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina ratified April 1994; under the Dayton Agreement signed 21 November 1995, the Muslim/Croat Federation and the Serb republic government agreed to accept new basic principles in their constitutions

Data code

BK

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

Suite 760, 1707 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Sven ALKALAJ

telephone

[1] (202) 833-3612, 3613, 3615

Executive branch

cabinet

there is an executive body of ministers with no formal name who are members of, and responsible to, the National Assembly

chief of state

President Alija IZETBEGOVIC (since 20 December 1990) was elected by a collective (seven-member) presidency (of which he is a member); other members of the collective presidency are: Ejup GANIC (since NA November 1990), Nijaz DURAKOVIC (since NA October 1993), Stjepan KLJUJIC (since NA October 1993), Ivo KOMSIC (since NA October 1993), Mirko PEJANOVIC (since NA June 1992), Tatjana LJUJIC-MIJATOVIC (since NA December 1992); the collective presidency is elected from among the National Assembly with at least two members drawn from each of the three main ethnic groups

head of government

Prime Minister Hasan MURATOVIC (since 30 January 1996) was elected by the collective presidency and the National Assembly

note

the president of the Muslim/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is Kresimir ZUBAK (since 31 May 1994); Vice President Ejup GANIC (since 31 May 1994); elections for the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Presidency of the Republika Srpska will take place between six and nine months after the entry into force of the Dayton Agreement (14 December 1995)

FAX

[1] (202) 833-2061

consulate(s) general

New York

Flag

white with a large blue shield; the shield contains white fleurs-de-lis with a white diagonal band running from the upper hoist corner to the lower outer side

Government note

The US recognizes the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, formed by the Muslims and Croats in March 1994, remains in the implementation stages.

Independence

NA April 1992 (from Yugoslavia)

International organization participation

CE (guest), CEI, ECE, FAO, ICAO, IFAD, ILO, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; Constitutional Court

Legal system

based on civil law system

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly

Name of country

conventional long form

Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina

conventional short form

Bosnia and Herzegovina

local long form

Republika Bosna i Hercegovina

local short form

Bosna i Hercegovina

note

under the new constitution initialed in Dayton, Ohio, on 21 November 1995, the name of the country will be changed from Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina to simply Bosnia and Herzegovina and will be made up of the Muslim/Croat Federation and the Bosnian Serb entity now called Republika Srpska

National holiday

NA

Other political or pressure groups

NA

Political parties and leaders

Civic Democratic Party (GDS), Ibrahim SPAHIC; Party for Bosnia, Haris SILAJDZIC; Croatian Democratic Union of BiH (HDZ), Bozo RAJIC; Croatian Peasants' Party of BiH (HSS), Stanko STISKOVIC; Independent Serbian Democratic Party (NSDS), Petar DODIK; Liberal Bosniak Organization (LBO), Muhamed FILIPOVIC; Liberal Party (LS), Rasim KADIC, president; Muslim-Bosniac Organization (MBO), Adil ZULFIKARPASIC; Party of Democratic Action (SDA), Alija IZETBEGOVIC; Republican Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Stjepan KLUJIC; Serb Democratic Party (SDS), Radovan KARADZIC, president; Serbian Civic Council (SGV), Mirko PEJANOVIC; Serbian Consultative Council, Ljubomir BERBEROVIC; Social Democratic Party (SDP - formerly the Democratic Party of Socialists (DSS)), Nijaz DURAKOVIC, president; Socialist Party of Republika Srpska, Zivko RADISIC; Union of Social Democrats (SSDB), Salim BESLAGIC; United Left of the Bosnian Serb Republic (ULRS), Mile IVOSEVIC; Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO), Milan TRIVUNCIC, note - this party participated in the 1990 elections, but may not exist now; Party of Democratic Changes, leader NA, note - this party participated in the 1990 elections, but may not exist now; Alliance of Reform Forces of Yugoslavia for Bosnia and Herzegovina (SRSJ BiH), Dr. Nenad KECMANOVIC, president, note - this party participated in the 1990 elections, but may not exist now; Democratic League of Greens (DSZ), Drazen PETROVIC, note - this party participated in the 1990 elections, but may not exist now; Yugoslav United Left (JUL), CAREVIC; Serb Liberal Party, Miodrag ZIVANOVIC; Serb Radical Party; Serb Patriotic Party, Slavko ZUPLJANIN; Serb Homeland Party

Suffrage

16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal

Type of government

emerging democracy

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador John K. MENZIES

embassy

43 Ul. Djure Djakovica, Sarajevo

mailing address

use street address

telephone

[387] (71) 645-992, 445-700, 659-743

Agriculture

wheat, corn, fruits, vegetables; livestock

Budget

expenditures

$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

revenues

$NA

Currency

1 dinar = 100 para; Croatian dinar used in Croat-held area, presumably to be replaced by new Croatian kuna; old and new Serbian dinars used in Serb-held area; hard currencies probably supplanting local currencies in areas held by Bosnian Government

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic overview

Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked next to The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as the poorest republic in the old Yugoslav federation. Although agriculture has been almost all in private hands, farms have been small and inefficient, and the republic traditionally has been a net importer of food. Industry has been greatly overstaffed, one reflection of the rigidities of communist central planning and management. TITO had pushed the development of military industries in the republic with the result that Bosnia hosted a large share of Yugoslavia's defense plants. The bitter interethnic warfare in Bosnia caused production to plummet, unemployment and inflation to soar, and human misery to multiply. No economic statistics for 1992-95 are available, although output clearly has fallen substantially below the levels of earlier years and almost certainly is well below $1,000 per head. The country receives substantial amounts of humanitarian aid from the international community.

Electricity

capacity

3,800,000 kW

consumption per capita

NA kWh (1993)

production

NA kWh

Exchange rates

NA

Exports

$NA

commodities

NA

partners

NA

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP per capita

$300 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

NA%

Illicit drugs

NA

Imports

$NA

commodities

NA

partners

NA

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, tank and aircraft assembly, domestic appliances, oil refining; much of capacity damaged or shut down (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

1,026,254

by occupation

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Branches

Army

Defense expenditures

$NA, NA% of GDP

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

654,326

males fit for military service

524,963

males reach military age (19) annually

22,902 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 9, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios

840,000

Telephone system

telephone and telegraph network is in need of modernization and expansion; many urban areas are below average when compared with services in other former Yugoslav republics

domestic

NA

international

no satellite earth stations

Telephones

727,000

Television broadcast stations

6

Televisions

1,012,094 Defense

Airports

total

24

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

3

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

3

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

1

with paved runways under 914 m

7

with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

1

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

9 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

11,436 km

total

21,168 km

unpaved

9,732 km (1991 est.)

Merchant marine

none

Pipelines

crude oil 174 km; natural gas 90 km (1992); note - pipelines now disrupted

Ports

Bosanski Brod

Railways

standard gauge

1,021 km 1.435-m gauge (1991)

total

1,021 km (electrified 795 km)

Waterways

NA km