BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA

INTERSOS has been present in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1994. Initial activities of the INTERSOS Bosnia mission were focused on emergency distribution, with follow up operations in reconstruction and demining. Further operations addressed the return of IDPs and refugees, integration of returnees, and mine risk education.

INTERSOS Bosnia is applying its decade long experience in the region by focusing its current activities on Demining and Youth Projects.

INTERSOS is currently undergoing two projects funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, continuing our work on demining and youth.

Update from Bosnia:

September 2006

Bosnia is in a delicate period, approaching general elections in the first week of October 2006. These will be the first general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina to be completely administered by the national authorities, without international membership of the Central Election Commission. Elections will be held for the three-member Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the House of Representatives of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the President and Vice-Presidents of the Republic of Srpska, and for the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska. In addition, elections for the Cantonal Assemblies of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be held concurrently. These elections will give direction to the next steps in Bosnia whether the country will move in the direction of integration with Europe or lead toward deeper divisions between Republika Srpska and Croat Muslim Federation. Intersos Bosnia is preparing for a complicated period in Bosnia in the coming months.