Bosnia and Herzegovina

• © UNESCO/Mounir Bouchenaki
• Mostar, the new bridge

Bosnia and Herzegovina joined UNESCO on June 2, 1993. The country is an active participant in the process of strengthening cooperation in South-East Europe.

UNESCO launched a major international campaign to fund reconstruction of the Old Mostar Bridge (Stari Most), destroyed in 1993, and the Old City of Mostar. Rebuilt using 16th century methods, the bridge was inaugurated in a 2004 ceremony attended by several European heads of state and ministers. In July 2005, the Old Bridge area of the Old City of Mostar was inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Among post-conflict activities, UNESCO has also renovated and rebuilt a number of school buildings across the country. Efforts concentrated on regions affected by large-scale movement of population, in order to encourage refugees to return.