Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia

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 and Herzegovina. It consisted of the town of Velika Kladuša and a few nearby villages, and existed between 1993 and 1995 as a result of secessionist politics by Fikret Abdić against the Bosnian central government during the Bosnian War. The capital of Western Bosnia was Velika Kladuša (located in the territory of present day Una-Sana Canton).

History

The Autonomous Province cooperated with Serbia as well as Croatia against Bosnian government in the light of Karađorđevo agreement meant to redistribute Bosnia and Herzegovina between Croatia and Serbia. Fikret Abdić's role in undermining the Bosnian government was awarded by Croatian regime as well as Serbian. His company was granted free-custom trade zone in Croatian port of Rijeka, and free trade with Serbian-controlled territories. The territory of Western Bosnia was seized by the Bosnian government troops in 1994, but they were expelled later that year with the significant help of Serbs, and the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia was re-established.

In 1994, Franjo Tuđman changed his policies towards Bosnia after diplomatic pressure from the United States as well as UN Security Council. It was very unfavourable to safe future of Western Bosnia as Fikret Abdić couldn't count on financial or military help by one of his protectors. In 1995 the province was renamed to Republic of Western Bosnia (Republika Zapadna Bosna, Република Западна Босна) and the same year served as the last line of defense of the Republic of Serbian Krajina in Croatia during Operation Storm. It was soon militarily defeated during Operation Tiger and then wiped out completely during the joint Croatian and Bosnian government army action during the 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 the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 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 of Velika Kladuša. After treaties were signed 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