Brčko

Brčko
Брчко
Brčko

Location within Bosnia and Herzegovina

Coordinates: 44°52′N 18°49′E / 44.87°N 18.81°E
Country Bosnia and Herzegovina
District Brčko District
Government
 • Mayor Anto Domić
 • President of the District Assembly Esad Atić (SDP)
 • International Supervisor
(Suspended)		 Tamir Waser[1]
Area
 • City 402 km2 (155 sq mi)
Elevation 92 m (302 ft)
Population (2013 census)[2]
 • City 43,007
 • Density 231,4/km2 (5,990/sq mi)
 • Urban 93,028
Postcode 76100
Area code(s) +387 049
Website Official website

Brčko is a town in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina, administrative seat of the Brčko District. It lies on the Sava river across from Croatia.

Name

Its name is very likely linked to the Breuci, an Illyrian tribe inhabiting the area in antiquity.

Geography

Brčko District and Brčko town

The city is located on the country's northern border, across Gunja in Croatia.

Brčko is the seat of the Brčko District, an independent unit of local self-government created on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina following an arbitration process; the process is viewed by some as a violation of the Dayton Peace Accords because it created the district while it could only arbitrate the disputed portion of the Inter-Entity Boundary Line, also known as the Zone of Separation (ZOS). The local administration was formerly supervised by an international supervisory regime headed by Principal Deputy High Representative who is also ex officio the Brčko International Supervisor. This international supervision was frozen since 23 May 2012.[3]

History

Brčko at night
Fountain - the symbol of town

Brčko was a geographic point of contention in 1996 when the U.S.-led Implementation Forces (IFOR) built Camp McGovern on the outskirts of the city. Camp McGovern was built in the ZOS for the purpose of establishing peacekeeping operations, specifically between Muslims in Gornji Rahić near Brka and Serbs in Brčko.

Although Brčko was a focal point for tension in the late 1990s, considerable progress in multi-ethnic integration in Brčko has since occurred including integration of secondary schooling. Reconstruction efforts and the Property Law Implementation Plan have improved the situation regarding property and return.

Brčko remains an important component of the Dayton Peace Accords, after the Brčko Arbitration ruled in May 1997 that Brčko would be a special district outside the jurisdiction of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska, the two entities that comprise Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The first international organization to open offices in Brčko was the Organization for Security and Cooperation In Europe (OSCE).

Following PIC meeting on 23 May 2012, it was decided to suspend, not terminate, the mandate of Brčko International Supervisor. Brčko Arbitral Tribunal, together with the suspended Brčko Supervision, will still continue to exist.[3]

Demographics

According to 1991 census Brčko had 41,406 inhabitants, including:

Since 1991, there has been no official census conducted.

Transport

Rail

A railway station is near the city centre with connections to Vinkovci and Tuzla. Even so, only 1 train crosses the border daily.

Sport

Brčko has three football clubs (FK Jedinstvo Brčko, FK Lokomotiva Brčko and the youngest club FK Ilicka 01). They all play in the Second League of Republika Srpska.

Features

Brčko has the largest port in Bosnia, on the Sava river. It is also home to an economics faculty and to a rather important theater festival;

Famous residents

See also

References

  1. ↑ "High Representative Welcomes Appointment of PDHR Tamir Waser". Ohr.int. 2013-09-25. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
  2. ↑ "World Gazetteer: Bosnia and Herzegovina - largest cities (per geographical entity)". World-gazetteer.com.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Press Conference Following the Meeting of the Steering Board of the Peace implementation Council". Ohr.int. 2012-05-23. Retrieved 2013-11-23.

External links

Coordinates: 44°52′N 18°49′E / 44.87°N 18.81°E