Info4Migrants
BOSNIA AND
HERZEGOVINA
Country profile
Project number: UK/13/LLP-LdV/TOI-615
Area 51,197
POPULATION
km2
3,600 mln
GDP per capita
$4,940
CURRENCY
Convertible mark (BAM)
Languages BOSNIAN, CROATIAN,
SERBIAN
COUNTRY BACKGROUND
CROATIA
SERBIA
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
Sarajevo
MONTENEGRO
Official name: Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
National Flag
Location: Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in southeastern
Europe on the Balkan Peninsula, between Croatia, Serbia and
Montenegro.
Capital: Sarajevo
Climate: The climate features hot summers and cold winters. In
higher elevations of the country, summers tend to be short and
cold while winters tend to be long and severe. Along the coast,
winters tend to be short and rainy.
National emblem
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Ethnic groups: In 2002, about 48.3% of the people were Bosniak (Muslim) and 34% were Serbs. Croats made up about
15.4% of the populace. Regardless of ethnicity, a citizen of
Bosnia and Herzegovina is often identified in English as a Bosnian. The terms Herzegovinian and Bosnian are maintained as a
regional rather than ethnic distinction, and the region of Herzegovina has no precisely defined borders of its own.
Country profile
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
FACTS
Currency
The Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark (Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian: konvertibilna marka, Cyrillic:
конвертибилна марка) is thecurrency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is divided into 100 fenings (Bosnian, Croatian and
Serbian Latin: feninga, Serbian Cyrillic: фенинга). It is locally abbreviated KM (Latin) or КМ (Cyrillic). The convertible
mark was established by the 1995 Dayton Agreement and
replaced the Bosnia and Herzegovina dinar, Croatian kuna
and Republika Srpska dinar as the currency of Bosnia and
Herzegovina in 1998.
Stećak
This is the name for the monumental medieval tombstones that lie scattered across Bosnia and Herzegovina,
and the border parts of Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia,
although almost exclusively following the borders of the
medieval Bosnian Kingdom. They are the country’s most
legendary symbol. The largest collection of these tombstones are outside the city of Radimlja in Herzegovina.
Family names
Almost all Bosnian family names end in “ic,” which essentially means “child of,” much like the English “John-son.” Women’s first names tend to end in “a” and “ica,” pronounced
EET-sa. Family names are often an indication of ethnicity.
Sulejmanagic, for example, is a Muslim name, as are others
containing such Islamic or Turkish roots as “hadj” or “bey,”
pronounced “beg.” Children receive their father’s last name.
Hence, someone with an Islamic-sounding root in his or her
last name may be presumed to be, at least by heritage, a
Muslim.
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BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
FACTS
Home Life
In the countryside in Bosnia and Herzegovina, families
usually live in houses of brick, stone, or wood. Traditionally, countryside homes were zadrugas, which were made
up of several families living on a common land. Families
shared the farming responsibilities to lighten the workload. Today, you will still find a great community atmosphere in small villages and suburban city regions alike.
Many Bosnians are Muslims, and if you plan to visit someone’s home during your travels, keep in mind that removing your shoes is regular practice in Muslim households.
Slippers are generally provided by the host when you visit
a Bosnian home.
Religion
Bosnian Croats make up the majority of Roman Catholics in
Bosnia. Roman Catholicism is the third most popular religion in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Roughly 15% of the population
of Bosnian-Herzegovina are Roman Catholic.
The majority of all Serbian Orthodox followers in Bosnia
Hercegovina are Bosnian Serbs. The Serbian Orthodox religion makes up 31% of the population in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The majority of all Serbian Orthodox followers reside in
the Republic of Sprspka, which is one of two republics that
make up the country of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Islam is the largest religion in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Islam
was introduced to Bosnia beginning in 1463 when the Ottoman Turks conquered Bosnia. For over 500 years, the Bosnian Muslim population developed their own ethnic identity
within Bosnia. Nearly 40% of all Bosnians are Muslims. The
majority of all Bosnian Muslims live in the Federation of
Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
FACTS
Language
The primary language of Bosnia-Herzegovina is Bosnian,
also called Serbo-Croatian, Serbo-Croat, Serbo-Croat-Bosnian, or Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian. It is a pluricentric
language with four mutually intelligible standard varieties. The language goes by different names because of the
country’s ethnic differences and rivalries. People in the
Muslim-controlled sector call it Bosnian, those in Croat
areas call it Croatian, and those in Serb areas refer to it as
Serbian.
Bosnian belongs to the Slavic branch of the Indo-European language family and more specifically to the group
of South Slavic languages, which includes Bulgarian,
Macedonian, and Slovenian. Bosnian has many borrowed
words from other European languages, English, Turkish,
Arabic, and Persian.
Flag
The three points of the triangle are understood to stand for
the three constituent peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina:
Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs. It is also seen to represent the
map of Bosnia and Herzegovina which looks like a triangle.
The stars, representing Europe, are meant to be infinite in
number and thus they continue from top to bottom. The
flag features colors often associated with neutrality and
peace – white, blue, and yellow. The colors yellow and blue
are also seen to be taken from the flag of Europe; the color
blue was originally based on the flag of the United Nations.
The present scheme is being used by both the Council of
Europe which owns the flag, and the European Union which
adopted the Council of Europe’s flag in 1985. They are also
colors traditionally associated with Bosnia.
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BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
ADMINISTRATIVE
DIVISIONS
Bosnia and Herzegovina is administratively divided into two entities: the Federation of
Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Srpska. The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina covers 51% of the area of the country, and the Republic of Srpska 49%. The
entities were created in the Dayton Agreement of 1995. Within this division is also the
District of Brčko, which does not belong to either of the entities, but it is a special administrative unit over which the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina have sovereignty.
These entities have a very high degree of autonomy – they have a president, parliament,
government and courts. The entities have jurisdiction in the areas of civil administration,
health and education, police department, physical planning and others, while foreign
policy, defense, border monitoring, elections, foreign trade, fiscal and monetary politics
and other areas are governed on a state level. The Constitution of these entities has guaranteed equality of all three constituent peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In charge of
equality are special entity bodies: the House of Peoples of the Federation of Bosnia and
Herzegovina and the Council of people of the Republic of Srpska.
With the Washington Agreement, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was divided into 10 cantons /counties within this entity: Unsko-sanski, Posavski, Tuzlanski, Zeničko-dobojski, Bosansko-podrinjski, Srednjobosanski, Hercegovačko-neretvanski, Zapadnohercegovački, Canton Sarajevo and Canton 10.
The cantons have a high degree of autonomy; they have their own assembly and government. The government has jurisdiction in the fields of health, education, culture and
sport, home affairs, and other areas related to civil administration.
The final level of political division of Bosnia and Herzegovina are the municipalities. The
state consists of 137 municipalities, 74 of which are in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 63 in the Republic of Srpska.
Each canton consists of several municipalities. Municipalities are divided into communes.
Besides entities, cantons, and municipalities, Bosnia and Herzegovina also has seven
official cities. Those are: Banja Luka, Bihać, Jajce, Mostar, Zenica, Sarajevo and Eastern
Sarajevo.
City of Banja Luka and Mostar are located in the municipalities of the same name, while
Sarajevo and Eastern Sarajevo consist of several municipalities. Tuzla is in the process of
becoming the 8th official city of BIH.
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BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
1-2 January:
New Year's Day
Public holiday of Bosnia and
Herzegovina
Moveable day during spring:
Easter
Orthodox feast
1 November:
All Saints Day
Roman Catholic feast
6 January:
Epiphany
Roman Catholic feast
1-2 May:
Labour Day
Public holiday of Bosnia and
Herzegovina
2 November:
All Souls Day
Roman Catholic feast
7 January:
Orthodox Christmas
Orthodox feast
60 days post Easter:
Corpus Christi
Roman Catholic feast
21 November:
Dayton Agreement Day
Public holiday of Republic of
Srpska
9 January:
Republic Day
Public holiday of Republic of
Srpska
9 May:
Victory Day
Public holiday of Republic of
Srpska
25 November:
Statehood Day
Public holiday of Federation
of Bosnia and Herzegovina
14 January:
New Year
Orthodox feast
15 August:
Assumption of Mary
Roman Catholic feast
1 March:
Independence day
Public holiday of Federation
of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Moveable date during
summer (3 days): Eid ul-Fitr
Islamic feast
Moveable date during
autumn or winter:
IslamicNew Year
Islamic feast
Moveable day during spring:
Easter
Roman Catholic feast
Moveable day during spring:
Easter Monday
Roman Catholic feast
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28 August:
Assumption of Mary
Orthodox feast
Moveable date during autumn (4 days): Eid ul-Adha
Islamic feast
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25 December:
Catholic Christmas
Roman Catholic feast
26 December:
St. Stephen's Day
Roman Catholic feast
Moveable date during winter: Prophet's Anniversary
Islamic feast
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
ATTRACTIONS
Sarajevo’s Bascarsija (Old Town)
The Old Town ‘Bascarsija’ has been a
trading and meeting place since the 15th
century as caravans from Asia minor, Dubrovnik and the west met here to trade
their stock.
Kravica Waterfalls
The Trebizat River creates a wonderful
green belt amidst the dry landscape of
western Herzegovina. This stunning waterfall runs over 100 meters long and drops
an impressive 25 meters.
Mostar’s Stari Most (Old Bridge)
The old bridge is perhaps the finest example of Ottoman ingenuity and Dalmatian
masonry in the western Balkans. It also
symbolizes the crossroads of eastern and
western civilizations.
Travnik
Famous for its Nobel Laureate writer Ivo
Andric, this Ottoman town still best represents what was once called the European Istanbul. This ancient mosque and fortress that dot the skyline are as impressive
as the original style of Bosnian architecture
that gives this town its charm. Not far from
Travnik is the mountain ski resort of Vlasic
- a paradise for snowboarders and a great
nature break spot.
Neum - the sunny Adriatic
Although its only a tiny strip of the gorgeous Adriatic, Neum has become a major
seaside resort.
Medugorje
In the early 1980’s, several teenagers saw
a vision of the Virgin Mary. Since then this
sleepy Herzegovina village has been transformed into one of the largest Catholic
pilgrimages in the world.
Tvrdos Monastery
Trvdos is a 14th century Orthodox monastery near the beautiful towns of Trebinje
and Dubrovnik, where you can see several
5th and 6th century icons.
Tekija (Blagaj)
This 16th century dervish order monastery was built at the mouth of the largest
source in Herzegovina which gushes from a
cave at the base of a 200-meter cliff.
Kraljeva Sutjeska
From the medieval fortress and Franciscan
monastery to one of the oldest mosques
in the country, this is a wonderfully unique
rural experience rarely found in Europe
today.
Sutjeska National Park
This park is home to one of Europe’s last
remaining primeval forests in Perucica and
to Bosnia’s highest peak (Maglic mountain,
2,386 m).
Bjelasnica Mountain
It is ideal for cross country and tour skiing,
as well as year round hiking, biking, and
village tourism in the ancient highland
villages.
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BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
HISTORY IN BRIEF
The area that is currently the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina was once part of the
Roman Empire. When the Roman Empire collapsed, the region eventually developed into
the kingdom of Bosnia. In 1463, Bosnia was taken over by the Ottoman Turks.
The Turks ruled in Bosnia until the late 1800s when it became a part of Austria-Hungary.
In 1908, Austria-Hungary officially annexed Bosnia to become a part of their country.
In 1908, the area of Bosnia-Herzegovina was formally annexed, and the nationalist movement became fervent and urgent. On June 28, 1914, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian
throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist named
Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo.
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
is considered to have been the trigger of World
War I. After Princip assassinated the Archduke,
Austria declared war on Serbia. What followed
was an increasingly complicated alliance system
that eventually ignited conflict. Russia supported
Serbia after Austria declared war, and Germany
followed suite by supporting Austria against Serbia. France supported Serbia, prompting Germany to attack France. After Germany attacked
France through the Belgium area, England declared war on Germany. Remarkably, all of these
events took place between July 28 and August
14, 1914.
World War I affected the Balkans rather drastically. Croatians chose to fight alongside Germany
and Austro-Hungary, as well as most of the Bosnians. Serbs fought with the allies, and after the
war, a substantial number of Bosnian-Serbs were
forced to leave Bosnia and resettle in Montenegro and Serbia.
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria
Following World War I, Bosnia and Herzegovina were annexed to Serbia in October of
1918 as the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which was later renamed as Yugoslavia in 1929. Again, nationalism increased amongst Serbians and Croatians alike. During
this time, Bosnia and Herzegovina faced a period of great oppression, stimulated by
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BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
HISTORY IN BRIEF
cultural conflicts, religious struggle, and general
tension and intolerance.
In 1939, as a result of the Cvetkovic Agreement,
one area in Bosnia was connected with the Banland of Croatia. Germany invaded Yugoslavia in
1941, and Bosnia and Herzegovina became part of
Nazi-controlled Croatia. In November 1943, Bosnia and Herzegovina became a single state again.
One of the six republics under the leader Marshall
Tito, Bosnia and Herzegovina was part of the Yugoslavian Communist nation.
Josip Broz Tito After Tito died in 1980, Yugoslavia weakened.
In December 1991, Bosnia and Herzegovina left
Yugoslavia and requested recognition by the European Union. In March of 1992, the votes were
in, and they supported independence. With a rich
ethnic diversity of Muslims, Serbs, and Croats
(and no true ethnic majority), conflict arose quickly between the groups as they attempted to divide the region.
With both the Serbs and Croats laying claim to the Bosnian region, complications developed. Ethnic cleansing occurred as Muslims were pushed out of the area and Croatians
began developing their own communities in the area.
The war continued until NATO intervened in August 1995. Approximately 250,000 people
are believed to have died in this wartime period of 1992-1995.
The period from 1995 onwards in Bosnia-Herzegovina’s history marked a serious attempt
to rebuild the economy and create a government the people could trust. While a scandal
erupted in 1999, corruption marred some attempts to build a stronger Bosnia-Herzegovina.
In 2004, NATO relinquished its peacekeeping mission to the European Union. This undertaking, the largest peacekeeping operation for the EU in history, has contributed largely to
the more tolerant and stable climate of the current Bosnia and Herzegovina. Much of the
damage of the war has been repaired, and Bosnia and Herzegovina looks forward to a period of prosperity.
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BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
CUISINE
Bosnian cuisine reflects influences from Central Europe, the Balkans, and the Middle East.
Meat dishes of lamb, pork, and beef, typically small sausages called cevapcici (kabobs) or
hamburger patties called pljeskavica are grilled with onions and served on a fresh somun,
a thick pita bread. Cevapcici are made from ground meat and spices that are shaped into
little cylinders, cooked on an open fire and served on an open platter. Another favorite is
a Bosnian stew called bosanski lonac, which is a slow-roasted mixture of layers of meat
and vegetables eaten with chunks of brown bread. It is usually served in a vase-like ceramic pot. Serbian meat and fish dishes are typically cooked first, then braised with vegetables such as tomatoes and green peppers.
Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences are evident in aschinicas (pronounced
ash-chee-neetsa-as), restaurants offering various kinds of cooked meat, filled vegetables
called dolmas, kabobs, and salads, with Greek baklava for dessert. The filling most often
consists of ground meat, rice, spices, and various kinds of chopped vegetables. Containers
can be hollowed-out peppers, potatoes, or onions. Some dolmas are made from cabbage
leaves, grapevine, kale, or some other leaf large enough and softened enough by cooking
that it can be wrapped around the little ball made of the filling.
When enough pieces are made, they are stacked in an amphora-shaped tureen that is
then covered with its own lid or with a piece of parchment tightly tied around its neck.
The dish is then cooked slowly on a low, covered fire.
Pita, pastry filled with meat or vegetables, is another distinctive Bosnian dish. In other
parts of the former Yugoslavia, meat-filled pitas are called burek. Pita meat pie is often
the final course of a meal or is served as a light supper on its own.
Orthodox Bosnians include special dishes in their Easter celebrations. In Orthodox tradition, after the midnight service, the congregation walks around the church seven times
carrying candles, then goes home to a supper that includes hardboiled eggs that have
been dyed and decorated, and Pasca, a round, sweet yeast cake filled with either sour
cream or cottage cheese.
Homemade brandy, known as rakija in the former Yugoslavia but exported as slivovitz
(plum brandy) or loza (grape brandy or grapa ), is the liquor of choice for men on most
occasions. Women may prefer fruit juice instead. Popular non-alcoholic beverages, other than fruit juices, include Turkish-style coffee (kahva, kafa or kava), a thin yogurt drink
called kefir, and a tea known as salep.
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BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
INTERESTING FACTS
• Bosnia most likely takes its name from the Bosna River that runs through it, Herzegovina
from the herceg (duke) who ruled the southern portion of the region until the 15th-century Turkish conquest.
• Located in the Balkans, Bosnia and Herzegovina has borders with Croatia in the west
and north, Serbia in the east, Montenegro in the southeast, and the Adriatic Sea very
close in the southwest, with a small border or Croatia separating the two.
• Bosnia is home to the second largest Catholic Pilgrimage site in Međugorje.
• Majority of the landscape in Bosnia and Herzegovina is mountainous and comprises of
areas of karst (limestone). Bosnia has the largest karst field in the world, and reportedly
also one of the purest and most abundant sources of groundwater.
• The highest peak in Bosnia and Herzegovina is Maglic Mountain (2386 m), in the Sutjeska National Park. It is the oldest national park in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Stecak, a medieval tombstone is a religious monument that can be seen throughout the
countryside of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Tuzla city derives its name from the word “tuz”, the Turkish word for salt. Tuzla’s salt
comes from its salt water springs.
• An inter-ethnic war erupted in Bosnia and Herzegovina after independence, in 1992,
and lasted till 1995.
• In March 1994, Muslims and Croats in Bosnia signed an agreement creating the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, narrowing the field of war parties to two.
• Along with a national government, Bosnia and Herzegovina has a second tier of government – the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska, which manages internal affairs.
• In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the distinction between a Bosnian and a Herzegovinian is
maintained as a regional, not an ethnic, distinction.
• Bosnia is believed to have been inhabited at least since the Neolithic age.
• Sarajevo, the largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina, hosted the 1984 Winter Olympic
Games.
• There are over 700,000 visitors who travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina every year. According to the World Tourism Organization, the country will have the third highest tourism
growth rate worldwide from 1995 to 2020. Attractions include the city of Sarajevo, historical sites, national parks, different landscapes, lakes, and waterfalls.
• Sarajevo was the first city in Europe to have a city-wide tram service when the Austro-Hungarians were using the city as a testing ground for Vienna’s tram system. The same
goes for street lights.
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BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
IMPORTANT TIPS
Dining tips
If you’re invited into a local’s home, arrive on time with some sweets like baklava or have
a gift for the family’s children if they have any. Dining is not extremely formal after sitting
down; most people, especially in business settings, eat with the knife in the right hand
and fork in the left. However, some foods are eaten with your hands, and pork is not typically served since few Bosniaks consume pork products. If in doubt regarding the proper
way to eat a particular food, watch those around you. Before the main course is served,
you will most likely be given a number of meats, cheeses, and other small appetizers;
these are simple and tasty, but do not overeat, they are just the starter.
When visiting someone privately, in a home setting, it is customary to accept coffee, tea,
juice, or a meal as offered. Rejection might be seen as lack of respect for the host.
If the meal is being accompanied by a beverage, never fill your own glass. Your neighbor
will fill your glass and you are expected to return the favor. As you finish all your food, feel
free to ask for more, this is a compliment to the host. If you’re completely done eating (be
sure to save some room for dessert), finish all the food on your plate. Often dessert will
be served and coffee or tea is offered, and you are expected to accept them.
If dining out, as the bill comes, the host or inviter should pay for the whole meal. If dining without any locals, summon the waiter or waitress by making eye contact; waving or
calling a server over can be considered rude. In regards to tipping a waiter or waitress at
a sit-down restaurant, round up or tip about 10% of the bill. Small tips to bartenders are
also appreciated, but not necessary.
Table manners
• Wait to be shown where to sit.
• Table manners are Continental, i.e. the fork is held in the left
hand and the knife in the right while eating.
• At formal meals, the napkin is unfolded and placed on your lap.
• Do not begin eating until the host signals to begin.
• Refusing second helpings initially is polite. After the host insists
you should take more.
• Leaving a small amount of food on your plate indicates that you
are finished eating.
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BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
IMPORTANT TIPS
Meeting and greeting
to refer to the language of the country as
the “local” language. It is offensive to at• Greetings on initial meetings will tend to
tach the language of another ethnicity to
be formal and reserved.
someone who is not of that ethnicity.
• A handshake, direct eye contact and the
appropriate greeting for the time of day are It is better not to compliment someone on
a piece of jewellery, or on a similar type of
standard.
possession, as the person owning it may
• “Dobro jutro” (good morning), “dobro
choose to give it to the admirer.
dan” (good day), and “dobro veèer” (good
evening).
• Address people with their honorific titles Direct eye contact is expected and appreciplus surname. If you are unsure of titles
ated. It is mandatory when toasting.
then use “Gospodin” for Mr, “Gospodja” for
Mrs and “Gospodice” for Miss.
Topics to Discuss: Bosnian landmarks, in• Only close friends and family members
vestment and development opportunities,
tend to use first names. Never jump to first tourist areas, heritage, cultural differences
names terms without being invited to.
and customs.
• Close friends may greet each other with
an embrace and a kiss on each cheek.
Family, work, sports, music, entertainment,
Again, wait until the Croatian initiates this
children, local cultural events, good restauform of greeting.
rants, and the weather are always good
• At social gatherings hosts introduce
topics when meeting someone on a private
guests, usually starting with the women
basis. Business contacts are more formal.
and then moving on to the men in a rough
approximation of age order, oldest to
Gift Giving
youngest.
• Gifts are generally opened when received.
• If invited to someone’s house, bring flowers for the hostess. The host may be given a
Conversation
box of chocolates or a bottle of good wine.
Humour is always welcome, but it will depend on the person you meet. When meet- • Do not give chrysanthemums as they are
used at funerals and for gravestones.
ing someone for the first time, never discuss topics regarding religion or nationality. • When giving flowers, make sure there are
It may offend other people. Humour about an odd number of stems.
• Gifts are generally opened when received.
marriage, mother-in-laws or politicians is
socially acceptable.
Gifts to avoid: alcohol, anything containing
Since the country has three official languag- pork or pig skin, chrysanthemums (used at
es (Serbian, Bosnian and Croatian) it is best funerals).
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BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
BUSINESS ETIQUETTE
Business in Croatia is formal and consequently initially reserved. Once a relationship develops, this will
change. Initially:
• Shake hands with eye contact and a smile.
• Wait for a woman to extend her hand first.
• Greet the person with the appropriate salutation
for the time of day.
• Use professional business titles.
• Business cards are exchanged without formal ritual.
• Include titles and professional qualifications on
business cards.
• Although not absolutely necessary, having one side
of your business card translated into Croatian shows
some thought.
Communication Style
Direct and straightforward talk is valued in Croatia;
however, there is also an emphasis on choosing your
words correctly and being diplomatic so as not to upset anyone. The level of the relationship will usually determine how direct someone can be. For newly established relationships, diplomacy is important, so you may find people are not always willing to speak
their minds.
Business Meetings
Meeting schedules are not very rigid in Croatia. There may be an agenda, but it serves
more as a guideline for the discussion than anything else.
• Be prepared for lengthy meetings. People may go off on tangents, andtime is never a
factor in bringing a meeting to a close.
• There may be some small talk at the beginning of meetings. This will become more important as the relationship develops. Never jump straight into business as this may come
across as rude.
• Initially at least, be sure to temper your communication style if you are used to being
quite direct. Building the relationship is initially more important and should be focused
upon.
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BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
DOS AND DON’TS
• Taking shoes off when inside someone’s
home is considered a norm. Having shoes
on signifies lack of hygienic manners and
disrespect.
• Please avoid the issue of the Bosnian Civil
War, the dissolution of Yugoslavia and ethnic/national/religious differences.
• Never bring up the Republic of Yugoslavia, Communism, the Tito era, the Kingdom
of Serbia years, the Ustashe regime (Croatian Nationalism) or Slobodan Milosevic
(Serbian Nationalism). Bosnian and Herzegovinians have been in Yugoslavia only a
couple of decades, and as such they do not
like to be called Yugoslavs, former Yugoslavs, and especially Eastern Europeans.
The country lies in Southern Europe.
• Be social and open, Bosnians are, as a
rule, very social and love chitchats and
meeting up for a cup of coffee. As the rest
of the population on the Balkan peninsula,
they are considered a complete opposite of
Scandinavians when it comes to socializing.
• Like the rest of the western Balkans, the
local Partizan army resistance brought an
end to World War II in the territories. If you
are coming from one of the Allied countries
or Russia, try not to bring up the subject of
“we liberated you”.
• Furthermore, do not carelessly display
two or three fingers out in public or in
front of a crowd. They are incendiary and
insulting to a certain group of people, and
they also symbolize religious views of the
trinity, and the historic animosities be-
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tween the three groups of people living in
the country: Bosnian Serbs (mostly Eastern
Orthodoxs), Bosnian Croats (mostly Roman
Catholics) and Bosnians/Bosniaks, who are
mostly Muslims.
• Do not bring up religious subjects that
might insult one of the religious groups in
the country. Bosnians, although very secular, are quite educated when it comes to
all major religions, and holding a religious
discussion without having much insight in
the matter might turn out tougher than
expected.
• No matter how large the city you come
from, do not forget that they had electric
trams and trolleys well before the rest of
Europe and a major part of the world. They
offer unmatched hospitality, but expect you
to be civil and respectful.
• Don’t drink without limits, although
fermenting local kind of fruit brandy called
Rakija is considered a national sport, drinking and “fooling around” in public is considered rude and disrespectful. Drink freely,
but keep you dignity.
• If someone offers to buy you a round of
drinks or paying for lunch, don’t decline
but take it and be thankful. You are generally not expected to return the round, it is
a way for them to show you that they like
you as a person or that they respect you.
You will never see locals asking for separate
bills in restaurants or bars, they take care of
the entire bill without caring who paid less
or drank more.
Country profile
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
PEOPLE IN BIH
People of Bosnia and Herzegovina are very sociable and hospitable. Curiosity often
makes them overly straight-forward when encountering newcomers. It is culturally appropriate to ask personal questions, such as “Where are you from?”, “Are you married?”,
“Do you have children?”, “What do you do for a living?”
Body language
People of Bosnia and Herzegovina do not
pay too much attention to personal space.
Too much personal space can be viewed as
distrust or an authoritarian way of dealing
with people.
Touching is very uncommon when meeting
someone for the first time. However, shaking hands with both men and women when
greeting the person is customary. Men generally do not touch other men unless they
know each other very well, or are relatives.
Facial expressions are very important and it
is customary to have a friendly face all the
time.
Friends are more likely to hug each other
and kiss each other on the cheek (Bosniacs
and Croats kiss twice, Serbs three times).
Eye contact is important and implies honesty and good intentions. It is especially important to make eye contact when raising a
drink for a toast.
Taboos
At times, you might find it difficult to maintain regular eye contact, as “stereo” talking
is common (two or three people talking at
the same time).
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“First three fingers erect” should be avoided at all times within Bosniac and Croat
Federation territory; it is a sign of victory
welcomed only within Serbian territories. In
addition, raising he middle finger, waiving a
pointed index finger and pointing at someone is considered extremely rude.
Country profile
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
SOCIETY
Gender
Hierarchy and Decision-making
Ethnicity
Dress, Punctuality & Formality
Ethnicity is the most dominant issue in BiH
since the war, and it is an underlying factor
in almost all interactions. It is easy to tell
from people’s names what ethnicity they
are. This can affect whether someone gets
a job, whether s/he is accepted in a community, is eligible for benefits, etc.
During summer months, women tend to
dress more fashionably and, during winter
months, more conservatively and practically.
It is a man’s world, with full respect for
a successful woman. Generally speaking,
it is harder for a woman to build a career.
Women residing within cities have a better
status than ones in villages. Because of
the international presence over the last six
years, there has been more attention paid
to the concept of gender equality. However, for the most part, it is still the woman
who looks after the household. Howeer,
there seems to be some tendency to share
the task of raising children.
Ethnicity was always seen as a religion,
and it is linked to the geographical location and entity you belong to. Nowadays,
it is more important than ever, as people
are still adjusting to and digesting the
outcomes of events during the 1992-1996
period, although it is less important in
mixed areas.
The most relevant factors in the work
place are ethnicity, level of education
(class), and gender. Religion is tied in with
ethnicity, which is the overall determinant
of a person’s acceptability in the workplace, and this even in an international
organization.
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Decisions are usually made by the person
in charge. This may or may not include
consulting the staff for their input, although in general people in BiH are not
used to being asked what they think about
an issue. However, with the large presence
of the international community over the
last decade, this is changing. Younger people, and even more so if they have worked
with internationals for a while, may now
expect to be consulted on matters that
concern them.
People tend to judge others based on their
dress. It will highly depend on the part
of the country you are in. In urban areas,
dressing style can be less formal, whereas
in the countryside your image will depend
on it. Dress code is very casual for staff
members, and workplaces are more insistent on business attire for management.
Communication with staff is welcomed on
a first-name basis. However, higher management expects to be addressed by using
Mr. or Mrs. with the last name on the first
occasion, or until told otherwise. The closer to staff/management you are, it is more
common to use first name in everyday
communication.
Country profile
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
CORPORATE CULTURE
Formality is usually very
important at initial business
meetings, and it will generally be thoroughly maintained
until a closer relationship
and trust is established.
Behavior
• Avoid holding up the thumb, index and
middle finger at the same time, even when
ordering three of something. This is a sign
of Serbian nationalism.
• Pointing a finger directly at someone or
waving a finger is considered rude.
• Punctuality is expected and appreciated
in business settings.
• Serbs and Croats will commonly drink
strong liquor before meals at various times
of day. Muslim Bosniacs, however, do not
drink alcohol.
Meetings and Negotiations
• Greetings will vary depending on the
ethnicity of the individual.
• More conservative Bosniac women may
not shake hands with men.
• Be sure to use appropriate business titles, such as “Gospodin” for Mr. and “Gospoja” for Mrs.
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• Generally, a firm handshake is combined
with a greeting for the appropriate time of
day. “Dobar Dan” is the most formal greeting, meaning “good day.”
• Muslims may sometimes also use the
Persian greeting “Salam” for hello.
• An arms length of personal space is most
common when first meeting.
Business Attire
• Men will generally wear darker suits
with conservative ties. Strong colognes are
common.
• After suffering years of war and poverty,
it is common to see styles that are somewhat outdated.
• Women will wear conservative, dark-colored business suits with few accessories.
• More conservative Muslim women may
also wear a head scarf; however, this is
rare in business settings.
Country profile
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Veronica Gelfgren
Yulia Bazyukina
Marja-Liisa Helenius
Learnmera Oy
www.thelanguagemenu.com
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