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Bosnians Want to Resume Trade with the (Former) Enemy
‘You know, we didn't choose our neighbours. We have to
By Dan De Luce
Ganic's delegation, travelling from Sarajevo on a U.S. government aircraft, was expected to meet Serbia's Chamber of
Commerce and leading company managers in their landmark trip.
It was not immediately clear whether the Bosnians would meet President Slobodan Milosevic, seen by Muslims as the main supporter of their Serb foes for most of the 43-month war.
The trade mission was announced last week by U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke after a round of shuttle diplomacy primarily aimed at sidelining Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic. Milosevic agreed to oust Karadzic, a hardline nationalist and arch-enemy of the Sarajevo government, in a move which helped clear the way for Tuesday's visit.
Holbrooke, architect of the Dayton peace accord which ended the Bosnia conflict, describes the trade delegation as an important step forward in the peace process. The peace accord envisages eventual mutual recognition between Belgrade and Sarajevo.
The two sides have agreed to discuss restoring telephone and civilian air links between Sarajevo and Belgrade which were cut off soon after violence erupted in April, 1992. The U.S. ambassador to Bosnia, John Menzies, was accompanying the Bosnian delegation. A senior Bosnian official flew to Belgrade a day before the visit to make final arrangements for the visit.
Although the fighting never spread to Serbia proper, its economy is in ruins due to mismanagement, a costly war and
economic sanctions imposed on Belgrade for its support of the Bosnian Serbs. The Bosnian government has been promised international aid for post-war reconstruction but economists say reviving industrial production is a long way off in a country devastated by war.
Former Yugoslavia was a single economic unit before the republics of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Macedonia broke away. All economic ties between rump Yugoslavia, comprising of Serbia and Montenegro, and the Muslim-Croat part of Bosnia were severed when Bosnia began its drive for independence in 1992.
The Bosnian Serb-controlled half of the war-torn country kept a close relationship with neighbouring Serbia throughout the war. Separatist Serb leaders say they want to link up with Belgrade and vow to resist submitting to Sarajevo's political or economic authority. |
BELGRADE, July 23 (Reuters) - Bosnian Vice-President Ejup Ganic leads a trade delegation to the Serbian capital Belgrade on Tuesday in the first such visit by the Muslim-led government since war erupted four years ago. Officials from the Muslim-Croat Federation and Bosnian businessmen planned to promote trade with the same government which sponsored the siege of their capital, Sarajevo.
Ganic, a Muslim politician known for supporting tough military action against the Serbs throughout the war, adopted a pragmatic tone when he discussed the visit last week. "You know, we didn't choose our neighbours. We have to work with our neighbours, we have to build the bridges," Ganic told reporters. "Of course we know history...but we have to look ahead to make a better living for our children, and to create stability in the region."
Berserkistan, July 18 · Bosnian Vice President in First Delegation to Serbia Since War Began
BOSNIAN RECONSTRUCTION
Berserkistan, July 18 · Future Looks Bleak for Young Sarajevo Workers
Berserkistan, July 7 · Lacking Capital, it's Tough Going for Sarajevo's Small Businesses
Bosnian/Balkan Reconstruction U.S. Department of Commerce
Bosnian Reconstruction at a Glance World Bank
Bosnian Reconstruction Guide Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Reconstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina Triennale di Milano XIX Esposizione Internazionale
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