Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia

Infobox Former Country
native_name = "Autonomna Pokrajina Zapadna Bosna"
conventional_long_name = Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia
common_name = Western Bosnia
continent = Europe
region = Balkans
year_start = 1993
year_end = 1995
date_start = September 27
date_end = August 7
event_start =
event_end =
p1 = Bosnia and Herzegovina
flag_p1= Flag_of_Bosnia_and_Herzegovina_%281992-1998%29.svg
s1 = Bosnia and Herzegovina
flag_s1= Flag_of_Bosnia_and_Herzegovina_%281992-1998%29.svg

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image_map_caption = Map of Western Bosnia, 1994
capital = Velika Kladuša
title_leader = Governors (1993-1995)
leader1 = Fikret Abdić

The Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia (Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian: "Autonomna Pokrajina Zapadna Bosna", Аутономна Покрајина Западна Босна) was a small unrecognized entity in the northwest of Bosnia composed of the town of Velika Kladuša, and a few nearby villages, that existed between 1993 and 1995 as a result of secessionist politics by Fikret Abdić against the Bosnian government during the Bosnian War. The capital city of Western Bosnia was Velika Kladuša (located in territory of present day Una-Sana Canton).

History

The Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia was a small territory composed of the town of Velika Kladuša, and a few nearby villages, established in 1993 by the local secessionists led by Fikret Abdić against Bosnian government during the Bosnian war. The acting President of Western Bosnia was Fikret Abdić. The Autonomous Province cooperated with Yugoslavia (of which Serbia was a part) as well as Croatia against the internationally recognized Bosnian government during the Bosnian War.

The territory of Western Bosnia was seized by the Bosnian government troops in 1994, but they were expelled later that year, and the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia was restored.

The Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia was renamed to Republic of Western Bosnia ("Republika Zapadna Bosna", Република Западна Босна) in 1995 and the same year served as the last line of defence of the Republic of Serbian Krajina in Croatia during Operation Storm. It was soon militarily defeated during Operation Tiger and then wiped out competely during the joint Croatian and Bosnian government army action during Operation Storm. Its territory was incorporated into the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (present day Una-Sana Canton). Fikret Abdić - who maintained warm relations with then-Croatian president Franjo Tuđman - had acquired Croatian citizenship, and was able to live in Croatia for the next few years. After the death of Tuđman in 1999, and the defeat of his CDU in Croatian elections in 2000, Abdić was eventually arrested and convicted for acts of war crimes against civilian Bosniaks loyal to his rival Alija Izetbegović. The trial took place in Croatia where Abdić currently serves the sentence passed to him in 2002.

Economy

The economy of Western Bosnia was largely based on "Agrokomerc" company from Velika Kladuša. After signed treaties with Serbs and Croats, the trade between Western Bosnia and Croatia was live during the Bosnian war, while Western Bosnia also gained free-custom trade zone in the Croatian port of Rijeka.

See also

* History of Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Serb Republic
* Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia

External links

* [http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ba_apzb.html Symbols of Western Bosnia]