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 Bosnia and Herzegovina |  Serbia |
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Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia maintain diplomatic relations established between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (of which Serbia is considered sole legal successor) in 2000. [1]
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Bosnia and Herzegovina | Serbia |
|---|---|
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia maintain diplomatic relations established between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (of which Serbia is considered sole legal successor) in 2000. [1]
Both countries were constituent republics within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In 1992, following the breakup of Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina proclaimed independence. This was followed by the Bosnian War, which lasted until late 1995 and ended with the signing of the Dayton Agreement.
In the aftermath of the war and the Dayton peace settlement, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) initiated a process of normalization. On 3 October 1996, the presidents of the two states signed a joint declaration in Paris committing to the integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina in line with Dayton and announcing steps toward diplomatic relations, visa-free travel, and removal of restrictions on trade and business activities. [2]
Formal bilateral relations at the level of embassies were subsequently established on 15 December 2000. [3] The relationship has since developed through regular political contacts and a growing body of bilateral agreements, alongside periodic political tensions linked to unresolved issues from the 1990s.
In 2015, Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution that would have condemned the Srebrenica massacre as a genocide. Lobbied by the Republika Srpska and Serbia, the veto was praised by Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić stating that Russia had "prevented an attempt of smearing the entire Serbian nation as genocidal" and proven itself as a true and honest friend. [4] A week later, invited by the Bosnian government to attend the annual Srebrenica Genocide Memorial, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić was attacked by a mob in the crowd with stones, bottles and other objects and had to flee the premise. [5]
In 2021, Serbia donated 5,000 COVID-19 vaccines to Bosnia and Herzegovina. [6]
Relations between the two countries are often overshadowed by political tensions. The legacy of the Bosnian War, including the Srebrenica genocide, remains a point of contention. Ascending to this, the sometimes secessionist actions of Republika Srpska, supported by Serbia, threaten BiH’s stability and risk reigniting ethnic conflicts.
A continuing element in bilateral relations has been the political and legal legacy of the 1992–1995 war. In February 2007, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), in the case Bosnia and Herzegovina v. Serbia and Montenegro , found that genocide was committed at Srebrenica and held that Serbia breached its obligation under the Genocide Convention to prevent genocide and to cooperate in punishing perpetrators, while not finding Serbia directly responsible for committing genocide. [7]
Symbolic gestures have periodically been used to signal reconciliation. In 2005, Serbian President Boris Tadić attended the 10th anniversary commemoration at Srebrenica, a visit widely noted as the first attendance by a Serbian head of state at the memorial ceremonies. [8] [9] In March 2010, the Serbian parliament adopted a declaration condemning the crime committed in Srebrenica and apologizing to the victims’ families, while the text did not describe the massacre as genocide. [10] In April 2013, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić issued a further public apology for crimes committed by Serb forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including Srebrenica, again without adopting the genocide characterization. [11]
In 2015, Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution that would have condemned the Srebrenica massacre as a genocide. Lobbied by the Republika Srpska and Serbia, the veto was praised by Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić stating that Russia had "prevented an attempt of smearing the entire Serbian nation as genocidal" and proven itself as a true and honest friend. [12] A week later, invited by the Bosnian government to attend the annual Srebrenica Genocide Memorial, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić was attacked by a mob in the crowd with stones, bottles and other objects and had to flee the premise. [13]
In the 2020s, disputes over remembrance and denial have periodically resurfaced in regional politics, including controversies surrounding international initiatives to commemorate Srebrenica and condemn genocide denial. [14]
Serbia’s political support for Bosnian Serbs, and Republika Srpska for that matter, during the Bosnian War was extensive, encompassing diplomatic advocacy, military aid, and economic assistance. [15] The legacy of this support continues to influence Bosnian-Serbian relations, as seen in ongoing tensions over Republika Srpska’s status and historical narratives.
The Dayton agreement ensured the right for entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to establish special parallel relationships with neighboring countries consistent with sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in this case Republika Srpska with Serbia. The Agreement on Special Parallel Relations was signed in 1997. [16]
Bosnia and Herzegovina does not recognize the independence of Kosovo essentially through the veto from Republika Srpska. Bosniak and Croat members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina support the recognition of Kosovo as a sovereign state, and Serb member does not. Bosnia and Herzegovina's constitution requires consensus among all three members in order to perform such an action. Besides Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina thus remains the only country of the former Yugoslavia not to recognize Kosovo's independence. [17]
Despite periodic political disputes, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia maintain cooperation in areas including infrastructure, border management, disaster response, and consular coordination. [18]
An agreement on mutual consular assistance in third countries was signed in March 2012, allowing diplomatic missions of one state to provide consular services to nationals of the other in countries where they lack representation. [19]
Cooperation has also included joint formats between executive institutions. In November 2015, the Government of Serbia and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina held a joint session in Sarajevo, during which protocols and cooperation documents were signed in several fields. [20] Such meetings have been framed by both sides as a mechanism to improve operational coordination and address practical issues such as trade facilitation, transport links and the implementation of bilateral agreements. [18]
In cross-border governance and local development, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia participate in EU-supported cross-border cooperation programmes financed through the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA). The European Commission adopted financing and programme documents for the 2021–2027 cross-border cooperation programme between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The programme supports cooperation between institutions and local stakeholders in border regions, including projects related to employment, environmental protection and risk management. [21]
Transport and border infrastructure projects have included agreements related to joint border crossing facilities such as Bratunac and cooperation on road infrastructure maintenance. [22] The two governments have repeatedly cited connectivity projects as a priority, including proposals for the Belgrade–Sarajevo motorway intended to strengthen economic ties and cross-border mobility. [23]
Disaster response has been another area of cooperation, particularly after large-scale flooding in the region in 2014. [24] Both countries have since participated in regional coordination efforts related to civil protection and emergency response, including information exchange and operational cooperation during extreme weather events.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Serbia allowed citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina to receive vaccination in Serbia, which was widely reported in the region as part of Serbia's broader vaccine outreach policy in 2021. [25] Bosnia and Herzegovina also received donations of COVID-19 vaccines from Serbia in early 2021. [26]
Serbia is the third biggest trading partner of Bosnia and Herzegovina (behind Germany and Italy). Trade between two countries amounted to $2.65 billion in 2024; Serbia's merchandise export to Bosnia and Herzegovina were over $1.6 billion; Bosnia and Herzegovina's exports were standing at $1 billion. [27] Serbia accounted for 11.4% of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s total exports and 10.3% of its total imports. [28] Both countries are parties to the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA), which provides the main framework for bilateral trade. [29]
| Year | Exports from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Serbia | Exports from Serbia to Bosnia and Herzegovina | Total (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 437,199 | 980,501 | 1,417,700 |
| 2016 | 465,689 | 1,034,635 | 1,500,324 |
| 2017 | 631,719 | 1,172,539 | 1,804,259 |
| 2018 | 755,685 | 1,250,404 | 2,006,088 |
| 2019 | 749,194 | 1,230,767 | 1,979,961 |
| 2020 | 672,805 | 1,107,095 | 1,779,900 |
| 2021 | 1,041,590 | 1,467,827 | 2,509,417 |
| 2022 | 1,272,451 | 1,646,166 | 2,918,617 |
| 2023 | 1,153,890 | 1,564,601 | 2,718,491 |
| 2024 | 1,017,723 | 1,635,132 | 2,652,855 |
Serbian public telecommunications company Telekom Srbija is the owner of Mtel, the biggest telecom operator in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [30]
Serbs are one of the three constituent peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to data from the 2013 census, the population of ethnic Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina was 1,086,733, constituting 30.8% of the total population; they are the second-largest ethnic group in the country (after Bosniaks) and live predominantly in Republika Srpska.
Bosniaks in Serbia are a recognized ethnic minority group. They are the fourth largest ethnic group after Serbs, Hungarians and Roma, numbering 153,801 and constituting 2.3% of the total population. The vast majority of them live in the region of Sandžak in southwestern Serbia.
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see also: Foreign relations of Yugoslavia & Serbia and Montenegro | |
