Struggles to build Bosnia Nov 25, 2008
By Nick Thorpe BBC News, Banja Luka ... "All we want is a normal life," said Sanja Panic, 31, as she walked with her 12-year-old daughter through an exhibition of World War I photographs at the Museum of Republika Srpska in Banja Luka ... " The Office of the High Representative was originally due to close in 2007. In June this year, Bosnia-Hercegovina finally signed a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU. The medium-term plan is for the EU to take over as the main international... (BBC News -- Europe)
• Postwar Bosnia's surprising export: peacekeepers Nov 12, 2008
A Bosnian Army officer second right, talk to US officer, right, during military exercise at the firing range Manjaca, near Bosnian town of Banja Luka on Monday Oct. 27, 2008. It took 60,000 NATO troops to force Bosnians to stop shooting at each other. (Burley South Idaho Press, ID)
Paul Hastings Paves Way for Balkan Road Deal Oct 23, 2008
When Simpson was in the capital of the Bosnian Serb republic, Banja Luka, negotiating final terms for the agreement, he couldn't help but notice that women outnumbered men almost 4-to-1 ... After negotiations with Muslim and Croat delegations to the Srpska parliament in Banja Luka, a resolution was passed 51 to 12 approving the deal with Strabag. (Law.com)
* Ethnicity-based political parties lead Bosnia polls Oct 7, 2008
The turnout in Sarajevo was less than 40 percent, with a similar trend in the towns of Tuzla, Zenica and Banja Luka ... They do not see a new political force on the stage that could offer some quality solutions, political analyst Tanja Topic said from Banja Luka ... Our people like to vote for sure winners, said Banja Luka-based civic activist Aleksandar Trifunovic. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Chicagoan likes Pocatello Sep 14, 2008
Stationed in Banja Luka, he served first as a monitor and then as a human rights investigator. The force was created out of the Dayton Peace Agreement, implementing a United Nations-established civilian law enforcement that adhered to. (Pocatello Idaho State Journal, ID)
Fragile unity Jul 31, 2008
"The arrest of Karadzic has put him back on the political stage," says Aleksandar Trifunovic, editor of the web portal Buka in Banja Luka, Bosnia's second city. "He has re-emerged from the shadows and no-one can be quite sure what effect that will have.". (BBC News -- Europe)
Meigs: Balkan ironies yesterday and today Jul 24, 2008
Brcko, Banja Luka, Bijelina and many smaller towns saw all of their Bosniak Muslims flee or die. The tiny number that remained did so, because as one business leader from Bijelina told me offhandedly, No one wanted their house. (MSNBC -- Terrorism)
Karadzic a Big Win for Hague Cops Jul 23, 2008
Radovan Karadzic with his body guards in Banja Luka in 1995. Maxppp /Landov Article Tools. (Time.com)
Karadzic hid in plain sight with false identity Jul 22, 2008
Sava Radovanovic, File In this April, 15 1995 file photo, Bosnian Serb Leader Radovan Karadzic, left, and Bosnian Serb Army commander General Ratko Mladic, right, listen during a Bosnian Serb assembly session in the western Bosnian town of Sanski Most some 80 kms (50 miles) west of Banja Luka ... President Boris Tadic's office says in a statement that Karadzic was arrested on Monday July 21, 2008 evening "in an action by the Serbian security services." Radivoje Pavicic, File In this Oct. 5, 1995... (Fresno Bee -- Local)
EU lifts sanctions against Cuba Jun 20, 2008
The cause of the crash near the north-central city of Banja Luka was not immediately known. The Spanish aircraft issued a mayday call about a half hour after taking off while on a routine flight, officials said. (Boston Globe)
EU helicopter crashes in Bosnia Jun 19, 2008
The ministry said the helicopter went down near the north-central city of Banja Luka. The discrepancy in the location of the crash could not immediately be explained. (USA Today -- News)
Top Bosnian Serb suspect detained Jun 12, 2008
A commander in the city of Banja Luka during the 1992-95 Bosnia war, Mr Zupljanin is charged with killing Muslim and Croat civilians. His arrest is a condition for Serbia's advancement towards EU membership. (BBC News -- Europe)
Serb war crimes suspect arrested Jun 12, 2008
" Military commander Zupljanin, a commander in the city of Banja Luka during the 1992-95 Bosnia war, is charged with killing Muslim and Croat civilians and his arrest was welcomed in Bosnia. "[He] has been accused of killings, torture, persecution, extermination and other horrid crimes against civilian population in western Bosnia, and his arrest represents a move in the right direction," Haris Silajdzic, the Muslim member of Bosnia's tripartite presidency, said. The arrest and handover of war... (Aljazeera.Net)
Hopeful News From Bosnia is Refreshing Break May 30, 2008
Its Bosnian population, largely Muslim and centered in Sarajevo, remains almost totally separated from its largely Christian Serb population, whose capital is really Banja Luka. There is no constitution yet, and so the question of civic identification vs. ethnic identification, always a major problem in the Balkans, has still not been hammered out. (Dublin Courier Herald, GA)
Hillary, Bozo and the Bosnian superdelegates May 15, 2008
After a few more shooters, she tells the patrons how she spent a couple of summers at her great-grandfather's place up near Banja Luka, working in the local leper colony and shooting the wolves that threatened the flocks. (Oh, yeah. (Scripps Howard News Wire)
Bosnian Serb Rioters Swarm U.S. Consulate Feb 27, 2008
BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Feb. 26, 2008. Bosnian Serbs gather during a protest against Kosovo's declaration of independence, in the Bosnian town of the Banja Luka, 75 miles northwest of the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008 ... A group split away from the almost 10,000 peaceful protesters in Banja Luka and headed toward the consulate, breaking shop windows and throwing stones at police who blocked the streets leading to the building with armored vehicles. (CBS News)
Violent Kosovo protests in Bosnia Feb 27, 2008
More than 10,000 Serbs protested against Kosovo's independence in Banja Luka, Bosnia [AFP. Hundreds of Serbs have clashed with police outside the US consulate in their Bosnian stronghold of Banja Luka after a large rally against Kosovo's independence. (Aljazeera.Net)
Bosnian Serbs try to storm U.S. Consulate during Kosovo protest Feb 27, 2008
Hundreds of protesters split away from the almost 10,000 peaceful protesters in Banja Luka and headed toward the consulate, breaking shop windows and throwing stones at police officers who blocked the streets leading to the building with armored vehicles ... The protest Tuesday began with participants gathering peacefully at the main square in central Banja Luka, carrying Serbian flags, pictures of President Vladimir Putin of Russia and banners reading "No America." At least one U.S. flag had a... (International Herald Tribune)
Bosnian Serbs try to attack U.S. consulate Feb 27, 2008
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (CNN) -- Hundreds of Bosnian-Serb demonstrators broke away from a peaceful rally in Banja Luka on Tuesday and headed for the U.S. Embassy's office there, clashing with police along the way, a police spokesman said. Bosnian Serb protestors clash with police after a large rally against Kosovo's independence in Western Bosnian town of Banja Luka ... The protesters never reached the embassy's office; adjacent streets had been closed in anticipation of the demonstration... (CNN -- World)
Bosnia Serbs Try To Storm US Consulate Feb 26, 2008
BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Feb. 26, 2008. (AP) Police are firing tear gas at Bosnian Serb rioters to prevent them from storming the U.S. consulate after protests against Kosovo's independence. (CBS News -- World)
Russia Lashes Out At West Over Kosovo Feb 22, 2008
U.S. Consulate Closed In Banja Luka ... Also today, the U.S. ambassador said that he closed the consulate in the northwestern city of Banja Luka a day after protesters burned the U.S. flag and tried to storm the consulate building ... Ambassador Charles English said he decided to temporarily close the consulate in Banja Luka after Bosnian Serb officials could not discount the possibility of further violence. (CBS News -- World)
I'm a prisoner of my past, says Dr Z Feb 1, 2008
Prijedor, Banja Luka, Kozara are all gathering. What are they thinking, f--- their mothers, they've got no idea what they've done. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Voting starts in Bosnian Serb presidential elections Dec 9, 2007
BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Hercegovina (AFP) - Voters in the Bosnian Serb entity Republika Srpska on Sunday began casting ballots in presidential elections to pick a successor to the late leader Milan Jelic. Polling stations opened at 7:00 am (0600 GMT) and were to close 12 hours later. (Yahoo! Asia News)
Bosnia's latest political crisis Dec 1, 2007
More than 8,000 Serbs demonstrated in the de facto state capital of Banja Luka last month, protesting the whittling away of the power of their ministate from the judiciary to the military and most recently, the police. "The essential reason why we are annoyed by this is because this decision allows for Serb representatives to be outvoted in BiH institutions in a few scenarios," says Gordan Milosevic, an adviser to the Serb Republic's prime minister, Milorad Dodik. (Christian Science Monitor)
Balkan funds improve prospects Nov 9, 2007
5 million people, where post civil war ethnic divisions are codified in the countrys political set up (it is a federation with a semi-autonomous Serbian region based around Banja Luka within it), as much as 40% of annual film production is made only for local Bosnian and Croatian distribution. Serbian director Oleg Novkovic said that Belgrades recently established Film Center of Serbia provided a maximum of some $500,000 for individual feature film projects. (Variety)
Radojcic Nominated As Interim President Oct 2, 2007
BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Herzegovina The Bosnian Serb parliament approved the government's candidate as interim president Monday following the death of President Milan Jelic. The parliament voted 68-0 with six abstentions to approve Igor Radojcic as interim leader. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- World)
* Bosnian Serb president dies at age 51 Oct 2, 2007
The Constitution does not provide a clearly stated chain of succession AP, BANJA LUKA, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA Tuesday, Oct 02, 2007, Page 6 ... "President Jelic is dead. This is a sad day for Republika Srpska,'' Dodik told reporters, using the republic's official name. Jelic had been elected president of the Serb Republic -- one of the two ministates that make up Bosnia and Herzegovina -- last year. The other republic is the Bosniak-Croat Federation. The position is largely ceremonial. Born in 1956... (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Bosnian Serb Republic leader dies Oct 1, 2007
"President of Republika Srpska Milan Jelic has died," Milorad Dodik, the Serb Republic prime minister, said in Banja Luka. Bosnia is made-up of the Serb Republic and the Muslim-Croat federation, two autonomous regions created under the 1995 Dayton peace accords that ended a three-year war. (Aljazeera.Net)
Milan Jelic, Bosnian Serb president, dies at 51 Oct 1, 2007
The Constitution was not clear about who may succeed Jelic, Tanja Topic, a political analyst, said in Banja Luka. She suggested that it could be Dragan Cavic, the former Bosnian Serb president and a member of the Serb Democratic Party, as he had received the second-most votes, after Jelic, in the last presidential elections. (International Herald Tribune)
After the warBosnia's Serb Republic is buffing up its business image Aug 14, 2007
" Ms Brkic says there are already signs of success - more than 200 companies from the other half of Bosnia, known as the Federation, have now registered in the RS to save money and avoid bureaucracy. One reason is that the Federation is divided up into 10 cantons each with a further level of government, while the RS has just the one government for businesses to deal with. Cure all? This lack of bureaucracy has already helped some foreign investment come into the RS. Take the pharmaceutical... (BBC News -- Business)
Heatwave, Drought to Halve Bosnian Crops Jul 26, 2007
BANJA LUKA, Bosnia - A heatwave and persistent drought could halve the grain and vegetable crops in Bosnia this year, an agriculture official said on Tuesday. "An extremely hot wind and temperatures of up to 42 degrees Celsius have caused significant damage to maize, vegetables and fruit in the Serb Republic," said Vladimir Usorac, the head of the region's farmers and agriculture association. (Planet Ark, United States)
Bosnian Serb general faces genocide trial Jun 2, 2007
Olja Stanic in Banja Luka, BosniaJune 2, 2007. A BOSNIAN SERB army general accused of genocide in the 1992-95 Bosnian war has been arrested and was being transferred to the war crimes tribunal in The Hague. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Little progress cited in Iran-EU talks Jun 1, 2007
BOSNIA General accused of genocide is held BANJA LUKA -- A Bosnian Serb general accused of genocide in the 1992-95 Bosnia war was arrested by Serb and Bosnian police yesterday and was to be transferred to The Hague war crimes tribunal today. Zdravko Tolimir was a close aide of Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic, one of the top fugitives wanted by the United Nations tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands. (Boston Globe)
Key war crime suspect caught in Bosnia Jun 1, 2007
Unofficial information said Tolimir was transferred to Banja Luka in the early evening hours on Thursday where ICTY officials were reportedly already present. His transfer to the UN detention unit in The Hague is expected within 24 hours. (Xinhuanet, China)
Leaving the work unfinished Apr 4, 2007
NATO is perceived in both Belgrade and Banja Luka to have relaxed its conditions on the capture of General Ratko Mladic and the former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic as a price for membership in its Partnership for Peace. These two architects of wartime atrocities now look to be further away from justice than ever. (International Herald Tribune -- Ed/Op)
Britain starts EU drawdown in Bosnia Mar 16, 2007
Royal STOP: Prince Charles visited with the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards during a stop at the Metal Factory Base near Banja Luka, Bosnia, earlier this month ... BANJA LUKA, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA - Over the din of a forklift trundling past and drilling echoing off the concrete floor of this cavernous metal factory turned military base, a dozen Welsh Guards are loading boxes onto a truck, destined for Britain. (Christian Science Monitor -- World)
Camilla Checks In For Hysterectomy Mar 5, 2007
The royal couple spent a further day in Banja Luka in Bosnia with 1st Battalion Welsh Guards to mark St David's Day. Advertisement. (Sky News)
Britain withdraws troops from Bosnia after 15 years Mar 4, 2007
The last 630 British troops still serving in Bosnia are to be pulled out, 15 years after Britain sent The Cheshire Regiment, under the command of Colonel Bob Stewart, into the heart of a civil war. The Government will make the announcement in the Commons today that the soldiers, currently the Welsh Guards, will be withdrawn next month. (Yahoo News -- Bosnia and Herzegovina)
British troops get set to quit Bosnia Mar 2, 2007
A skeleton crew of British staff officers would remain at Sarajevo headquarters and a small number of troops would stay to dismantle a base at Banja Luka, he said. Javier Solana, the EU foreign policy chief, said this week that EU officials ultimately want to convert the military presence into a civilian force for lighter police-style tasks. (Scotsman)
For Bosnians, chagrin at World Court ruling Feb 27, 2007
"I'm pleased to say that arguments show that the judges of the International Court of Justice were taking into account real facts," Simic said in Banja Luka, the Bosnian Serb capital. The president of Serbia, Boris Tadic, also said that the court had cleared the state of the charge of genocide, but he urged Serbia's Parliament to pass a motion condemning the Srebrenica massacre. (International Herald Tribune)
This is justice? Feb 6, 2007
Several months after the Dayton accords, at a time when Karadzic and Mladic were considered the most wanted men in the world, a colleague and I came upon Karadzic in the Bosnian town of Banja Luka. He had no more than four lightly-armed body guards with him, and, to our surprise, he agreed to an interview. (Helena Independent Record)
Teen Hopes Pack Gets Her Back Feb 1, 2007
" Her job as a Publix cashier has helped, but she remains $1,500 short for the French club trip and will need additional money to fly to Bosnia. She thought about writing to businesses and asking for donations, and asked Brian Petkash, her advanced placement English teacher and tennis coach, for help. She wasn't comfortable with solicitations, though. Petkash came up with another idea. He had seen the flags and stickers his girlfriend had on her backpack after a trip to Europe and then... (Tampa Bay Online, FL -- News)
Serbia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jan 23, 2007
4th Corps, headquartered at Sarajevo; 5th Corps, headquartered at Banja Luka; 12th Corps, headquartered at Novi Sad; 17th Corps, headquartered at Tuzla; 24th Corps, headquartered at Kragujevac; and 37th Corps, headquartered at U ice. In addition to these forces, the 1st MD had a mechanized infantry division (headquartered in Belgrade), three mixed artillery and anti-tank brigades, and a rocket artillery brigade directly subordinate to the MD headquarters. (Yahoo News -- Microsoft)
Dublin imam takes on the fanatics Jan 14, 2007
A victim of Serb ethnic cleansing in Banja Luka in the early 1990s, Puskar now speaks English with a Dublin accent and is an ardent Gaelic football fan. The imam preaches the same kind of tolerant Islam that my family grew up with back in Bosnia. (Guardian Unlimited -- World)
