Page created: 25th July 1996 Last updated: 19th June 2004 | |
The FAME is site devoted to systematic and scientific study of flags and coats of arms. Such symbols often bear strong political and other messages. Inclusion of those symbols here does not mean that the author support or approve the ideas they may stand for. |
Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence from Yugoslavia on 05-APR-1992, and removed the socialist attribute from the name. Soon the country was thorn by a bloody war among the three main ethnic groups. After the fragile cease-fire and many attempts of the international community to find a solution, finally the country was divided in two 'entities' by the Dayton agreement: Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosniak and Croat part, divided in 10 cantons/counties), and Serb Republic (Serb part, unitary state). The issue of the status of Brcko was left to be solved latter, and in 1999 it was proclaimed a district belonging to neither of the two entities.
1:2 |
The flag of B&H is imposed by the High Representative after the failure of the three ethnic groups to come to an agreement. The flag uses European colours, blue and yellow, the triangular shape is said to represent the geographical representation of the country as well as the equality of the three groups. The row of stars that emerges from one edge submerging into the other represent no particular number and is said to stand for general symbol of integration.
Coat of arms was adopted on 20th May 1998, and is based on the flag design. Blazon might be something like Azure, sinister canton per bend or, seven mullets argent in bend issuant.
The technical construction of the B&H flag is determined by the same document that adopted it. The colours used are blue coded by Pantone Matching System (PMS) Reflex Blue (field), yellow PMS 116 (triangle), and white (stars). The shorter sides of the triangle are the same and equal to the flag hoist size (1000 units on the image). Width from the hoist to the closest triangle point is 530 units, that makes space for 470 units of the blue field on the fly side. The five-pointed stars are inscribed in circles of 190 units in diameter, the circles for on the edge having centres on the flag edge. The distance of the stars from the triangle is not determined by the law.