Western Bosnia
Encyclopedia
The Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia (Bosnian
, Croatian
or Serbian
: Autonomna Pokrajina Zapadna Bosna, Аутономна Покрајина Западна Босна) was a small unrecognized entity in the northwest of Bosnia and Herzegovina
. It consisted of the town of Velika Kladuša
and a few nearby villages, and existed between 1993 and 1995 as a result of secessionist politics by Fikret Abdić
against the Bosnian central government during the Bosnian War
. The capital of Western Bosnia was Velika Kladuša
(located in the territory of present day Una-Sana Canton
).
as well as Croatia
against Bosnian government in the light of Karađorđevo agreement
meant to redistribute Bosnia and Herzegovina
between Croatia and Serbia. Fikret Abdić's role in undermining the Bosnian government was awarded by Croatian regime as well as Serbian. His company was granted free-custom trade zone in Croatian port of Rijeka, and free trade with Serbian-controlled territories. The territory of Western Bosnia was seized by the Bosnian government troops in 1994, but they were expelled later that year with the significant help of Serbs, and the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia was re-established.
In 1994, Franjo Tuđman changed his policies towards Bosnia after diplomatic pressure from the United States
as well as UN Security Council. It was very unfavourable to safe future of Western Bosnia as Fikret Abdić couldn't count on financial or military help by one of his protectors. In 1995 the province was renamed to Republic of Western Bosnia (Republika Zapadna Bosna, Република Западна Босна) and the same year served as the last line of defense of the Republic of Serbian Krajina
in Croatia
during Operation Storm
. It was soon militarily defeated during Operation Tiger
and then wiped out completely during the joint Croatia
n and Bosnia
n government army action during the Operation Storm
. Its territory was incorporated into the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
(present day Una-Sana Canton). Fikret Abdić - who maintained warm relations with then-Croatian president Franjo Tuđman - had acquired Croatian citizenship, and was able to live in Croatia for the next few years. After the death of Tuđman in 1999, and the defeat of his CDU
in Croatian elections in 2000, Abdić was eventually arrested and convicted for acts of war crime
s against civilian Bosniaks loyal to the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The trial took place in Croatia where Abdić currently serves the sentence passed to him in 2002.
" company of Velika Kladuša. After treaties were signed with Serbs and Croats, the trade between Western Bosnia and Croatia was live during the Bosnian war, while Western Bosnia also gained free-custom trade zone in the Croatian port of Rijeka
.
Bosnian language
Bosnian is a South Slavic language, spoken by Bosniaks. As a standardized form of the Shtokavian dialect, it is one of the three official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina....
, Croatian
Croatian language
Croatian is the collective name for the standard language and dialects spoken by Croats, principally in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Serbian province of Vojvodina and other neighbouring countries...
or Serbian
Serbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
: Autonomna Pokrajina Zapadna Bosna, Аутономна Покрајина Западна Босна) was a small unrecognized entity in the northwest of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
. It consisted of the town of Velika Kladuša
Velika Kladuša
Velika Kladuša is a city and municipality in the far northwest of Bosnia and Herzegovina, located near the border with Croatia. The closest city is Cazin, and a bit farther, the cities of Bihać and Bosanski Novi. Across the border, it is not far from Cetingrad...
and a few nearby villages, and existed between 1993 and 1995 as a result of secessionist politics by Fikret Abdić
Fikret Abdic
Fikret Abdić is a politician and businessman from Bosnia and Herzegovina, convicted of war crimes against Bosniaks in the region of Velika Kladuša....
against the Bosnian central government during the Bosnian War
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
. The capital of Western Bosnia was Velika Kladuša
Velika Kladuša
Velika Kladuša is a city and municipality in the far northwest of Bosnia and Herzegovina, located near the border with Croatia. The closest city is Cazin, and a bit farther, the cities of Bihać and Bosanski Novi. Across the border, it is not far from Cetingrad...
(located in the territory of present day Una-Sana Canton
Una-Sana Canton
The Una-Sana Canton is one of the 10 cantons of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in the northwest of the country and has been named after the rivers Una and Sana. The center of canton government is Bihać.-Population:...
).
History
The Autonomous Province cooperated with SerbiaSerbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
as well as Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
against Bosnian government in the light of Karađorđevo agreement
Karađorđevo agreement
In 1991, Croatian president Franjo Tuđman and Serbian president Slobodan Milošević had a series of discussions which became known as the Karađorđevo agreement or, less commonly, the Karađorđevo meeting. These discussions commenced as early as March, 1991...
meant to redistribute Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
between Croatia and Serbia. Fikret Abdić's role in undermining the Bosnian government was awarded by Croatian regime as well as Serbian. His company was granted free-custom trade zone in Croatian port of Rijeka, and free trade with Serbian-controlled territories. The territory of Western Bosnia was seized by the Bosnian government troops in 1994, but they were expelled later that year with the significant help of Serbs, and the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia was re-established.
In 1994, Franjo Tuđman changed his policies towards Bosnia after diplomatic pressure from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as well as UN Security Council. It was very unfavourable to safe future of Western Bosnia as Fikret Abdić couldn't count on financial or military help by one of his protectors. In 1995 the province was renamed to Republic of Western Bosnia (Republika Zapadna Bosna, Република Западна Босна) and the same year served as the last line of defense of the Republic of Serbian Krajina
Republic of Serbian Krajina
The Republic of Serbian Krajina was a self-proclaimed Serb entity within Croatia. Established in 1991, it was not recognized internationally. It formally existed from 1991 to 1995, having been initiated a year earlier via smaller separatist regions. The name Krajina means "frontier"...
in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
during Operation Storm
Operation Storm
Operation Storm is the code name given to a large-scale military operation carried out by Croatian Armed Forces, in conjunction with the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to gain back control of parts of Croatia which had been claimed by separatist ethnic Serbs, since early...
. It was soon militarily defeated during Operation Tiger
Operation Tiger
Operation Tiger, a 1994 military operation in the War in Bosnia and HerzegovinaOperation Tiger may also refer to:* Operation Tiger , the successful German assault on the French Fortified Sector of the Sarre during the Battle of France in 1940...
and then wiped out completely during the joint Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n and Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
n government army action during the Operation Storm
Operation Storm
Operation Storm is the code name given to a large-scale military operation carried out by Croatian Armed Forces, in conjunction with the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to gain back control of parts of Croatia which had been claimed by separatist ethnic Serbs, since early...
. Its territory was incorporated into the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the two political entities that compose the sovereign country of Bosnia and Herzegovina . The two entities are delineated by the Inter-Entity Boundary Line...
(present day Una-Sana Canton). Fikret Abdić - who maintained warm relations with then-Croatian president Franjo Tuđman - had acquired Croatian citizenship, and was able to live in Croatia for the next few years. After the death of Tuđman in 1999, and the defeat of his CDU
Croatian Democratic Union
The Croatian Democratic Union is the main center-right political party in Croatia. It is the biggest and strongest individual Croatian party since independence of Croatia. The Christian democratic HDZ governed Croatia from 1990 to 2000 and, in partial coalition, from 2003...
in Croatian elections in 2000, Abdić was eventually arrested and convicted for acts of war crime
War crime
War crimes are serious violations of the laws applicable in armed conflict giving rise to individual criminal responsibility...
s against civilian Bosniaks loyal to the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The trial took place in Croatia where Abdić currently serves the sentence passed to him in 2002.
Economy
The economy of Western Bosnia was largely based on "AgrokomercAgrokomerc
Agrokomerc was a food company headquartered in Velika Kladuša, Bosnia and Herzegovina with operations extending across the entire area of former Yugoslavia. The company became internationally known in the late 1980s due to a corruption scandal known as the Agrokomerc Affair...
" company of Velika Kladuša. After treaties were signed with Serbs and Croats, the trade between Western Bosnia and Croatia was live during the Bosnian war, while Western Bosnia also gained free-custom trade zone in the Croatian port of Rijeka
Rijeka
Rijeka is the principal seaport and the third largest city in Croatia . It is located on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea and has a population of 128,735 inhabitants...
.
See also
- History of Bosnia and HerzegovinaHistory of Bosnia and Herzegovina-Pre-Slavic Period :Bosnia has been inhabited at least since Neolithic times. In the late Bronze Age, the Neolithic population was replaced by more warlike Indo-European tribes known as the Illyrians. Celtic migrations in the 4th and 3rd century BCE displaced many Illyrian tribes from their former...
- Serb RepublicRepublika SrpskaRepublika Srpska is one of two main political entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
- Croatian Republic of Herzeg-BosniaCroatian Republic of Herzeg-BosniaThe Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia was an unrecognised entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina that existed between 1991 and 1994 during the Bosnian war. It was proclaimed on November 18, 1991 under the name Croatian Community of Herzeg-Bosnia, and claimed to be a separate or distinct "political,...