Ethnic divisions: Serb 40%, Muslim 38%, Croat 22% (est.)
Religions: Muslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Catholic 15%, Protestant 4%, other 10%
Languages: Serbo-Croatian 99%
Literacy: NA
Government—————
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.
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
Data code: BK
Type of government: emerging democracy
Capital: Sarajevo
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
Independence: NA April 1992 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday: NA
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
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal
Executive branch:
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
cabinet: there is an executive body of ministers with no formal name
who are members of, and responsible to, 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)
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly 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 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
