Bosnia and Herzegovina–Spain relations

Bosnian-Spanish relations

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Spain

Bosnia and Herzegovina–Spain relations are the relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Spain. The historical ties between the two countries date back to the introduction of the Spanish language to Bosnia by Spanish-speaking Jews fleeing Spain after the enactment of the Alhambra Decree in 1492. During the Bosnian War of 1992 to 1995, Spain sent troops to support the United Nations peacekeeping effort in Bosnia.

History

Spanish language

Spanish language was first introduced to Bosnia and Herzegovina when it was settled by the Spanish-speaking Sephardic Jews, who had fled the Crown of Castile and the Crown of Aragon following the enactment of the Alhambra Decree by Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon in 1492. According to the 1921 census, Judaeo-Spanish language was the mother tongue to about 10,000 out of c. 70,000 inhabitants of Sarajevo.[1]

The Holocaust in the Independent State of Croatia (a puppet state that included all of Bosnia and Herzegovina) in the 1940s and the Bosnian War in the 1990s severely depleted Bosnia and Herzegovina's Jewish population; very few of the remaining Jews speak Judaeo-Spanish as their first language. The only university in Bosnia and Herzegovina offering courses of Spanish language is the University of Sarajevo.[1]

Bosnian War

Spain allied with Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Bosnian War (1992-1995). Following the passage of Resolution 770 by the United Nations Security Council in 1993, which guaranteed delivery of humanitarian aid by UN troops even under force, Spain, along with France, Italy, and Belgium, sent troops to aid the effort. Spain also joined France, Great Britain, and the United States in signing a May 22, 1993, "joint strategy" agreement to guard "safe areas" against Serbian invasion.[2]

Embassies

While Spain maintains two diplomatic missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the latter maintains only one mission in Spain.[3] The Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in Madrid.[3]

The Embassy of Spain in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was opened in 1999. The economic and trade relations are rather limited, due to the lack of Spanish entrepreneurs and the still on-going process of standardization in the latter country, as well as due to the issues posed by the bureaucracy and corruption in Bosnia and Herzegovina. One of the goals set by the embassy is the promotion of Spanish culture by conducting concerts, exhibitions and academic events.[1] Spain also maintains a consulate in Mostar.[3]

Additionally, the city of Barcelona signed an agreement of friendship and cooperation with Sarajevo in 1994, and opened the Local Democracy Embassy, staffed by Barcelona's representative, in Sarajevo in 1996.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Torres Rubio, Sonia, El español en Bosnia-Herzegovina (in Spanish), pp. 1, 6, retrieved 14 May 2015
  2. ↑ Rigby, Vincent (January 1994). "Bosnia-Hercegovina: The International Response". Government of Canada Publications. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 "Embassy of Bosnia-Herzegovina in Madrid, Spain". embassypages.com. 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  4. ↑ Council of Europe (2002). Forum of Cities and Regions of South-East Europe: 8th Economic Forum. pp. 32–33. ISBN 9287150516.

Further reading

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