Bosnia-Hercegovina is taking its first step towards joining the European Union - 13 years after its civil war ended.
Bosnia-Hercegovina is taking its first step towards joining the European Union - 13 years after its civil war ended.
Ministers are to sign a Stabilisation and Association Agreement - a big step towards EU membership - although it may be a decade before Bosnia qualifies.
Ministers are to sign a Stabilisation and Association Agreement - a big step towards EU membership - although it may be a decade before Bosnia qualifies.
The internationally-appointed High Representative, Miroslav Lajcak, has said the country needs the goal of EU membership to counter ethnic tensions.
The internationally-appointed High Representative, Miroslav Lajcak, has said the country needs the goal of EU membership to counter ethnic tensions.
The country has been split since the devastating war of 1992-95.
The country has been split since the devastating war of 1992-95.
The conflict led to the greatest loss of civilian lives in Europe since World War II.
The conflict led to the greatest loss of civilian lives in Europe since World War II.
The BBC's Humphrey Hawksley says this first step marks a watershed in the dogged and detailed work needed to turn the country from a failed state into a modern democracy.
The BBC's Humphrey Hawksley says this first step marks a watershed in the dogged and detailed work needed to turn the country from a failed state into a modern democracy.
Bosnia's US-sponsored peace agreement created a complex political structure based on ethnic interests and aimed at stopping war, our correspondent says, but it will now have to restructure again as it moves towards becoming a viable democracy.
Bosnia's US-sponsored peace agreement created a complex political structure based on ethnic interests and aimed at stopping war, our correspondent says, but it will now have to restructure again as it moves towards becoming a viable democracy.
Although Bosnia is technically self-governing, ultimate power still lies with the High Representative, presently Mr Lajcak, a Slovakian diplomat.
Although Bosnia is technically self-governing, ultimate power still lies with the High Representative, presently Mr Lajcak, a Slovakian diplomat.
He has described the signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement - a pact that paves the way for EU candidacy - as the start of a new chapter for Bosnia.
He has described the signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement - a pact that paves the way for EU candidacy - as the start of a new chapter for Bosnia.
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Locals on the 'rebuilding' of Bosnia
Locals on the 'rebuilding' of Bosnia
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