Bosnia and Herzegovina

National Name:
Bosna i Hercegovina

Government
Emerging democracy, with a rotating, tripartite presidency divided between predominantly Serb, Croatian, and Bosnian political parties.

Geography
Bosnia and Herzegovina make up a triangular-shaped republic, on the Balkan peninsula. The Bosnian region in the north is mountainous and covered with thick forests. The Herzegovina region in the south is largely rugged, flat farmland. It has a narrow coastline without natural harbors stretching 20 km along the Adriatic Sea.

Historical Background
Bosnia and Herzegovina's declaration of sovereignty in October 1991 was followed by a declaration of independence from the former Yugoslavia on 3 March 1992 after a referendum boycotted by ethnic Serbs. The Bosnian Serbs - supported by neighboring Serbia and Montenegro - responded with armed resistance aimed at partitioning the republic along ethnic lines and joining Serb-held areas to form a "Greater Serbia." The Dayton Peace Accords retained Bosnia and Herzegovina's international boundaries and created a joint multi-ethnic and democratic government charged with conducting foreign, diplomatic, and fiscal policy. In 1995-96, a NATOled international peacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops served in Bosnia to implement and monitor the military aspects of the agreement. IFOR was succeeded by a smaller, NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) whose mission was to deter renewed hostilities. European Union peacekeeping troops (EUFOR) replaced SFOR in December 2004; their mission is to maintain peace and stability throughout the country.

Capital

Sarajevo

Government

Federal democratic republic[3]
 -  High Representative Valentin Inzko1

Language

Serbian

Religion

Islamic

Area

Total 51,209 km2 (127th)
19,772 sq mi 

Population

3,842,566[4] (127th5) 

1991 census 4,377,053

Currency

Convertible Mark (BAM)

National Day

November 25, 1943 ZAVNOBIH) 

Independence Day

(from SFR Yugoslavia) March 1, 1992