BiH Presidency member, Denis Becirovic, organized a reception for Presidency members of the then-Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the occasion of the country’s Independence Day in this state institution.

The reception was attended by prof. PhD. Mirko Pejanovic, prof. PhD. Ivo Komsic, prof. PhD. Ejup Ganic and the first Chief of the General Staff of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, General Sefer Halilovic.

On Wednesday, Bosnia and Herzegovina celebrates 31 years since the citizens decided in a referendum on 1 March 1992, by an almost two-thirds majority that their country should declare independence from Yugoslavia.

F.Z./N1 (Denis Bećirović)

F.Z./N1 (Ivo Komšić, Mirko Pejanović, Ejup Ganić)

F.Z./N1 (Sefer Halilović)

F.Z./N1 (Ivo Komšić)

F.Z./N1 (Ejup Ganić)

F.Z./N1 (Mirko Pejanović)

Citizens voted by answering one question: “Are you in favour of a sovereign and independent BiH, a state of equal citizens, the people of BiH – Muslims, Serbs, Croats and members of other nationalities living in the country?” The results showed that they were.

A total of 2,073,568 voters participated in the referendum, which represented a turnout of 63.6 percent. Of the total number of voters, 99.7 percent voted for independence, and 0.3 percent voted against that decision. The results of the referendum were accepted on 6 March 1992 in the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On 7 April 1992, the United States and then European Economic Community recognised Bosnia as an independent state, and the country joined the United Nations on 22 May.