Rebuilding Mostar: A City Divided in the Pursuit of Peace

In the midst of war-torn Bosnia and Herzegovina, the city of Mostar remains a symbol of division and destruction. However, locals and international leaders alike are cautiously optimistic about the city's potential to rebuild and reunite under a newly formed Muslim-Croatian federation. The return of Gypsies, the reemergence of trucks on highways, and the cease-fire in Mostar serve as indicators of a fragile peace, but the road to recovery will be long and arduous.

Key Takeaways:

• The city of Mostar, once a thriving hub of culture and commerce, has been ravaged by the Muslim-Croatian war, with an estimated 70% of housing in the Muslim-controlled east destroyed.
• The European Union has deployed a team of officials to Mostar to lay the groundwork for a planned reunification of the city and two-year administration of the city, but faces significant challenges, including "a lot of distrust" between Muslim and Croatian leaders.
• An estimated 20,000 Muslim refugees remain in eastern Mostar, while 10,000 Croatian refugees have fled to the western side, making return to homes a pressing issue.
• The European administrator of Mostar, Hans Koschnik, has expressed frustration with the lack of progress in implementing the agreement, which includes setting up a joint Croat-Muslim police force overseen by Western European officials.
• Hundreds of Croatian militiamen and Bosnian Army troops must leave the city before the planned two-year European administration can begin, a condition that will be difficult to meet given the ongoing tensions between the two sides.
• The civilian chief in eastern Mostar, Safet Orucevic, has proposed a plan to redeploy Bosnian Army troops to positions facing the Serbs, which would allow for demilitarization of the city within 48 hours.

Statistics:

• An estimated 30% of Bosnia and Herzegovina remains under Serbian occupation.
• The war in Mostar resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,500 people and wounded 6,000 more.
• 5,000 meals are served daily to local people and refugees by a soup kitchen in Mostar.
• The joint Croat-Muslim police force will be overseen by as many as 200 Western European police officials.
• Hundreds of Croatian militiamen and Bosnian Army troops must leave the city before the European administration can begin.

Sources:

• [European Union officials in Mostar]
• [Hans Koschnik, European administrator of Mostar]
• [Safet Orucevic, civilian chief in eastern Mostar]
• [Borislav Puljic, vice president of the ruling council in Croatian-controlled western Mostar]
• [United Nations military force in Bosnia and Herzegovina]