Bosnian flag and name
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Bosnia |
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Population - 4.61 million (estimate at July 2009)
Bosnia and Herzegovina's declaration of sovereignty in October 1991 was followed by a declaration of independence from the former Jugoslavija in March 1992. But the referendum on this act was boycotted by ethnic Serbs. Civil war followed, between Bosniak, Croat and Serb ethnic groups. The Dayton Peace Accords in 1995 created a joint multi-ethnic and democratic national government. A second tier of government was also recognised. There would be two entities roughly equal in size - the Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska for the Bosnian Serbs.
Bosnia and Herzegovina was recognised as a potential candidate for EU membership in June 2003. On 16 June 2008 a Stabilisation and Association Agreement was concluded. Since then, a number of agreements on trade and Schengen area travel have been concluded, and the EU continues to deploy considerable resources focused on security. The EU Police Mission continues to focus on police reform, as well as the fight against organised crime and corruption.
There will be more information about Bosnia later.
