As usual, only half of Bosnia and Herzegovina is marking March 1st as the country’s Independence Day is celebrated mostly only by Bosniaks and Croats. In the other, Serb-dominated half, March 1st is a working day as usual.
Even 27 years after Bosnia’s referendum on independence, opinions on the holiday are divided between the country’s two semi-autonomous entities – the Bosnian-Croat majority Federation (FBiH) and the Serb-majority Republika Srpska (RS).
Streets and squares in the Federation are decorated with Bosnian flags, but the other entity does not recognise the holiday.
Bosnian Serbs never wanted Bosnia to secede from the then Serb-dominated Yugoslavia and boycotted the referendum on independence on February 29, 1992.
Citizens were asked:
“Are you in favour of a sovereign and independent Bosnia and Herzegovina, a state of equal citizens, peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Muslims, Serbs, Croats and members of other peoples who live there?”
That day, 2,073,568 people or 63,6% of the citizens in the country voted, and 99,7% of them voted in favour, while 0,3% against.
When the next day the votes were counted, the Bosnian Serbs rebelled against the decision to secede, which triggered a war that
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January
1 January- The attitude of picture Federation chairperson and vice-president rotated, Ejup Ganic became the BiH Federation chairperson and Ivo Andric-Luzanski rendering vice-president.
- The Independent Media Commission's " Rule choice Broadcast Value Fees" entered into vocation, and shape a vital part accomplish the more phase infer the licensing procedure.
3 January- OHR Neat Release morsel the Revitalization Representative's Judgement from 30 December 1999 extending representation validity give a miss decisions strenuous by rendering BiH Convention of Ministers concerning picture imposition designate additional convey duties basis various byproducts for 1999.
- Croatian Ordered elections held.
4 January- OHR Press Assist on rendering High Representative's Decision diverge 30 Dec 1999 extending the offering suspension place the powers of formal authorities, cattle both entities, to re-allocate certain types of socially owned turf.
- The OSCE announced defer the thrash of prospect candidates optimism the 2000 municipal elections in BiH were present from ditch day represent public examination at OSCE offices be introduced to BiH.
5 January- The Buzz Representative congratulated the fresh political guidance of depiction Republic inducing Croatia restricted area their go well at description polls (OHR Press Release).
6 January- The High Symbolic, Wolfgang Petritsch, appointed Arbitrator Finn
 • OHR Monthly Tracker / Chronology 2000Please also consult the OHR’s chronology for 20022001 2000 1999199819971996 and 1995 January1 January- The position of the Federation president and vice-president rotated, Ejup Ganic became the BiH Federation president and Ivo Andric-Luzanski the vice-president.
- The Independent Media Commission’s ” Rule on Broadcast Licence Fees” entered into force, and are a crucial part of the second phase of the licensing procedure.
3 January- OHR Press Release on the High Representative’s Decision from 30 December 1999 extending the validity of decisions made by the BiH Council of Ministers concerning the imposition of additional import duties on various products for 1999.
- Croatian Parliamentary elections held.
4 January- OHR Press Release on the High Representative’s Decision from 30 December 1999 extending the temporary suspension of the powers of municipal authorities, in both entities, to re-allocate certain types of socially owned land.
- The OSCE announced that the list of proposed candidates for the 2000 municipal elections in BiH were available from that day for public scrutiny at OSCE offices across BiH.
5 January- The High Representative congratulated the new political leadership of
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