
Sarajevo (in Serbian Cyrillic: Сарајево) is the capital city and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, located at . According to a 1991 census, its population was 429,672; currently estimated at around 300,000. The city is considered one of the most important cities in the Balkans and has had a long and rich history ever since it was founded by the Ottoman Empire in 1461. It was the site of the Assassination in Sarajevo of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, which sparked World War I; Sarajevo had hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics and was Siege of Sarajevo during the Yugoslav wars in the 1990s. Sarajevo is part of Sarajevo Canton, one of the ten Cantons of Bosnia in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The river Miljacka runs through the city. == Geography and climate == === Geography === [[Image:Vrelabosne2.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Vrelo Bosne, the source of the Bosna (river) river on the outskirts of Sarajevo.]] Sarajevo is located close to the geometric center of the triangularly-shaped Bosnia and Herzegovina, and covers 142 km²(88.2 mi²) of land. The core of the city is built in the Sarajevo valley (also translated as Sarajevo ''field''), a small depression 500 meters above sea level, nestled between the surrounding mountains. Although much of the city itself is relatively flat, some of the outskirts and far eastern parts are hilly. Neighborhoods in the Stari Grad Municipality in particular are well known for their steep streets and landscape. The river Miljacka flows through the city from east to west and is one of the city's chief geographic features. The source of the river Bosna (river), Vrelo Bosne is found on the city's outskirts near Ilidza and is one of the most well known natural landmarks in the country. The city is surrounded by five major mountains. In 1984 Bosnia and Herzegovina was the host of the Winter Olympic Games. The unique beauty of this jewel of the Central Europe, the natural wealth that is contained in its fresh and healthy air, mineral and thermal water and the resourceful potential for the enjoying different sports, made Sarajevo and the rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina famous all around the world. They are part of the Dinaric Alps mountain range that winds through Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia and Montenegro. The mountains are popular tourist attractions for hiking and skiing. In alphabetical order they are: *Bjelasnica: 2067 meters (6782 ft), southwest *Igman: 1502 meters (4928 ft), southwest *Jahorina: 1913 meters (6276 ft), southeast *Trebevic: 1627 meters (5338 ft), southeast *Treskavica: 2088 meters (6950 ft), north Sarajevo itself is part of Bosnia proper, known for its mountainous and heavily forested landscape. Natural disasters pose little threat in the region, although small earthquakes have been known to occur. === Climate === Sarajevo has a continental climate, lying between the climate zones of central Europe to the North and the Mediterranean to the South. Sarajevo experiences warm summers, with temperatures of 35 Celsius (95Fahrenheit) not being uncommon, and cold winters, when snow is guaranteed due to the city's altitude. Sarajevo has three major weather stations. They are located on Bjelasnica mountain, Butmir, and in the city itself. The warmest month of the year is July, when the average temperature is about 19 °C (66 °F), although August's average temperature is only a degree lower. The coldest month of the year is January when the average temperature is -1 °C (30 °F). The average year-round temperature is 10 °C (45 °F). Sarajevo receives about 905 mm (36 inches) of Precipitation (meteorology) a year. The rainiest month is October when the city receives 89.4 mm (3.5 in) of rainfall. The driest is February when the city gets only 61.4 mm (2.4 in) of precipitation. Average air pressure at the city's elevation is 942.3 millibars, and this varies little throughout the year. == History == ''Main article'': History of Sarajevo The area of present day Sarajevo has a long and rich history dating back to the Stone age, when the Butmir Culture flourished in the area. However, little material evidence of this is available, mostly due to later construction. Several Illyrian settlements existed in the area before it was conquered by Roman Empire in 9 CE. During Roman times, a town named ''Aquae Sulphurae'' existed on the location of present day Ilidza, a Sarajevo suburb to the southwest of the city. The year usually mentioned as the city's founding is 1461, when the first Ottoman Empire governor of Bosnia, Isa-Beg Isakovic, transformed this village cluster into a city and a state capital by building a number of key objects, including a mosque, a closed marketplace, a public bath, a hostel and the Governor's castle (''Saray'') which gave the city its present name (see also: Etymology of the Name of Sarajevo). Sarajevo flourished in the 16th century when its greatest donor and builder Gazi Husrev-beg built most of what is now the old city. By the late 17th century, Sarajevo was the most important city in the Balkans after Istanbul. In a raid led by Prince Eugene of Savoy in 1697 against the Ottoman Empire, Sarajevo was burned down and leveled. The city was later rebuilt, but never fully recovered from the destruction. The capital of Bosnia was transferred to Travnik. In 1878, Bosnia was occupied by Austria-Hungary, and Sarajevo was quickly brought up to the standards of the industrial age. In the event that triggered World War I, Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria and his wife were Assassination in Sarajevo in Sarajevo on 28 June, 1914. Following the war, in the kingdom of Yugoslavia, Sarajevo was the capital of the Drinska banovina, one of the country's chief provinces. After World War II, Sarajevo grew rapidly as it became an important regional industrial center in Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Modern city blocks were built west of the old city, adding to Sarajevo's architectural uniqueness. The peak of city growth occurred in the early 1980s, when Sarajevo hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics. On April 6, 1992, Sarajevo was surrounded by forces of Bosnian Serbs. The warfare that lasted until October 1995 resulted in large scale destruction and dramatic population shifts (see Siege of Sarajevo for details). Reconstruction of Sarajevo started as soon as the war ended, in 1995. By 2003, most of the city had been rebuilt, with only a few remaining visible ruins in the city center. Modern business buildings and skyscrapers have since been constructed throughout the city. == Government == [[Image:PresidencyofBosnaandHerzegovina.PNG|200px|thumb|right|The building of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, central Sarajevo.]] In terms of politics, Sarajevo is the most important city in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the capital of the entire country, as well as the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina sub-entity. Sarajevo is also the obvious center of politics for the Sarajevo Canton. It is comprised of four different municipalities and is one of the few cities in the country with a separate city government. Sarajevo is the location of numerous other important political structures, such as dozens of foreign embassy. City government is split into the traditional three branches of democracy government. === Executive branch === The city government’s executive branch (Bosnian language:"Gradska Uprava") consists of the mayor, his cabinet, and numerous city organizations that help in the governing of the city. The mayor is the chief of city politics, and has two deputies, along with a number of advisers in the cabinet. The role of the executive branch in city government is outlined in the city constitution. The current mayor of Sarajevo is Muhidin Hamamdžić, from the Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The city deputy mayors are Željko Komšić and Slavo Vlaški, who belong to the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the SDP respectively. They are joined by a secretary and a number of advisors. To help the mayor carry out the executive duties of the city, the executive branch also consists of several city services, or "organizations". They are the "City Service for Running of the Region" (''Gradska služba za opću upravu''), "City Service for the Finances" (''Gradska služba finansija''), "City Service for Local Employment" (''Gradska služba za lokalno poslovanje''), "City Service for City Planning" (''Gradska služba za urbano planiranje''), and the "City Service for Communal Jobs" (''Gradska služba za komunalne poslove''). === Legislative branch === The main legislative body of the city of Sarajevo is the ''Gradsko Vijeće'', or City Council. Councilmen are elected by municipality according to population, with Novi Grad municipality receiving the most seats in the city council and Stari Grad municipality the least. The council is headed by the council speaker, two deputies, and a secretary, and consists of 24 members. Currently, of these 28, 15 belong to the SDP, 7 to the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina, 5 to SDA, and 1 to the HDZ. The president of the City Council is Mira Jadrić-Winterhalter, and deputies are Emin Svrakić and Vladimir Zubić. === Judicial branch === As the center of Canton Sarajevo, the city is also the center of judicial procedures for the area, based on the post-transitional judicial system for the country as outlined by the High Representative and his plans for the “High Judicial and Prosecutorial Councils” of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2002. The BiH Constitutional Court is also located in Sarajevo, consisting of nine members. Four of these are selected by the house of representatives of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, two by Republika Srpska's national assembly, and three foreign members are selected by the president of the European Court of Human Rights. The supreme court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Cantonal court of Sarajevo Canton are also located in Sarajevo. Sarajevo is also the center of law training and education for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. == Demographics == ''Main article'': Demographics of Sarajevo Since no official census has been taken since 1991, the exact population of Sarajevo cannot be known. However, the latest estimates from the Sarajevo Canton government, dating from December 2002, are generally thought to be fairly accurate. They put the total population of the city of Sarajevo at 297,399 residents and the number of people in the greater Sarajevo region at 401,118. A more recent estimate for the greater Sarajevo area has the population in mid-2004 at 401,687. According to the official government statistics, Sarajevo's population density is 2470.1 per square kilometer. The most densely populated part of Sarajevo is in the municipality Novo Sarajevo (7524.5 inhabitants per square kilometer), while the least densely populated is Stari Grad municipality (742.5 inhabitants per square kilometer). The largest ethnic group in Sarajevo are the Bosniaks; with more than 230,000 people, this group makes up 77.4 percent of the city. The second-largest group are the Serbs, of which there are some 35,000 (12 percent of the city). Croats are the third largest group, with a population of 22,380 (7.5 percent of the total). 9,283 people (3.1 percent of overall population) are classified as others. They most likely consist of Sephardi, and Roma (people), along with a small number of foreign workers (mostly of China and African backgrounds). == Economy == ''Main article'': Economy of Sarajevo Sarajevo is economically one of the strongest regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Like many other major cities, its Economics is largely based on industries such as manufacturing and tourism. As the center of various levels of area politics, many Sarajevo citizens also work in government. A number of local and international companies are present in the city and contribute to its economic health. Sarajevo's manufacturing deals with a wide array of products. This includes production of foods and beverages, textiles, furniture, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and metalworking. Sarajevo companies also produce unique brands of alcohol, and cigarettes. A variety of important economic institutions are to be found in Sarajevo. The central bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina is found in the city, as are numerous other independent banks. Overall 19 different banks have their headquarters in Sarajevo. The city also holds the Sarajevo Exchange of securities, the Institute for accounting and auditing of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Board for valuable papers of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Register of valuable papers of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Some major companies based in Sarajevo includie Air Bosna (currently not in operation), BH Telecom, Bosmal, Bosnalijek, CBS Bank, Dnevni Avaz, Energopetrol, Oslobodenje, Sarajevo Tobacco Factory (Sarajevo Tobacco Factory), Sarajevska Pivara (Sarajevo Brewery), and Unioninvest. Foreign companies with a foothold in the Sarajevo region include Harris Communications, Brown & Root, and, most notably, Coca Cola. The Bosnian-Malaysian firm Bosmal is also situated in the city. == Communications and media == ''Main article'': Communications and Media of Sarajevo As the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo is naturally the main center of the country's media. Most of the country's major television channels are based in the city, as are the most popular newspapers and magazines. Newspapers are the most popular and most well established forms of media. The two most popular and credible daily newspapers are the ''Oslobodjenje'' and the ''Dnevni Avaz'', The buildings of both of these are adjacent to each other, situated in Novi Grad municipality, making the spot the center of the Bosnian media world. Television is very popular in Sarajevo, even though for most people the number of channels is somewhat limited. Satellites allow for a number of foreign channels to be watched, but the most popular are the local news stations based in the city. FTV is the television of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity, while there is also a national radio-television system named Public Broadcast Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A Sarajevo Cantonal channel is also available. Many small independent radio stations exist, although the majority listen to the more established ones such as Radio M, Radio Grad, eFM Student Radio and RSG. RSG, Radio Stari Grad (Radio Old Town) is the most popular of these. Radio Free Europe can still be heard, and several American and West European stations are available for listening as well. Also popular is Radio 202, affiliated with FTV. == Divisions of Sarajevo == Sarajevo, the city and surrounding region, are split into several divisions themselves. These can be official or unofficial, with or without actual political power. The most important division of the City of Sarajevo are its four Municipalities. Municipalities are the fourth level of political authority in Bosnia and Herzegovina after state, entity, and canton. The Bosnian word for them is "Općina". They are, Centar, Sarajevo (Center), Novi Grad, Sarajevo (New City), Novo Sarajevo (New Sarajevo), and Stari Grad, Sarajevo (Old Town). Like the city at large, all of the Municipalities have their own regional government, including a foreman, councils, and various Municipality services. The role of these Municipality governments is not as significant as that of other Municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina due to the existence of the Sarajevo city government. Sarajevo's Municipalities are further split into "local communities" (Bosnian language, ''Mjesne zajednice''). Local communities have a small role in city government and are intended as a way for ordinary citizens to get involved in city government. They are based around key city neighborhoods. Sarajevo also has several suburbs. They are essentially the 5 Municipalities of Sarajevo Canton that are not included in Sarajevo's official city limits. They are, in alphabetical order, Hadzici, Ilidza, Ilijas, Trnovo Municipality, and Vogosca. Of these the cities of Ilidza and Vogosca, found in the Municipalities of the same name, can be considered the most important. Ilidza is the chief suburb of Sarajevo, located just west of Novi Grad Municipality. According to the latest estimates, Ilidža's population is slightly under 50,000. Sarajevo International Airport is found next to the city. The secondary suburb, Vogosca is located about 6 kilometers north of the city center and has a population of around 9,000. Vogošća has traditionally been an important industrial center. == People == The people of Sarajevo are known as “Sarayliyas” (spelled Sarajlije in Bosnian language). Sarayliyas are known for being very proud and patriotic of their city. The song by popular singer Kemal Monteno, “Sarajevo Ljubavi Moja” (Sarajevo Love of Mine) has come to somewhat epitomize this feeling among the people, and to this day remains something of an unofficial anthem for the city (alongside with "Kad ja pođoh na Benbašu"). Sarajevo is said to be the only city in the world where, in the same time, you can hear the calls for prayer from Catholic and Orthodox churches, mosques and synagogues. If one were to describe the stereotypes of Sarayliyas in one word, it would be cosmopolitan. Sarayliyas are known for being modern cultured city dwellers. Bosnians from outside Sarajevo are thought to have the sense that Sarajevo receives too much attention, but this is more of a sibling rivalry than an actual dislike for Sarajevo and its people. Within the city itself, the people of the various Municipalities have somewhat taken up the stereotypes of the regions they live in. Sarajevo is also known for having a very communal feel, despite its large population. Sarajevo has had a number of famous citizens over the years (see also: Famous Sarayliyas). They include an Academy Award winner, two Nobel Prize winners, legendary musicians, novelists, and politicians. Sarajevo has also produced presidents for three countries. == Tourism == Tourism is one of Sarajevo's major industry, and is constantly growing now with stability in the region. Sarajevo's mountain ranges and Olympic Games facilities make it an ideal location for winter sports. Another reason for Sarajevo's popularity among tourists is its 600 years of accumulated history, which have been impacted by both Western and Eastern empires. Ever since the 1984 Winter Olympics, Sarajevo has been a popular tourist attraction (save for the war years in the early 1990s). Indeed, even long before that Sarajevo was a popular stop for travelers in the Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary empires, and is mentioned in traveling books from all sides of Europe and the Middle East. One of the first structures built in the city was an inn. Sarajevo overall has some 50 major hotels, along with numerous smaller motels and hospitality businesses. A variety of travel agencies in the city can help organize a visit. The most famous hotel in Sarajevo is the Holiday Inn, whose distinctive color and location has made it something of a city icon. Various types of tourism are popular in Sarajevo. War tourism focuses on the war years, and the famous spots of the siege of Sarajevo. Some are interested specifically in the historical aspects of the city, while thousands come for the area's nature. Summer is the busiest season for Sarajevo tourism, as thousands of tourists visit from foreign countries. Many of these are from the neighboring Balkan states, while a very large number are former residents who fled the city during the war. Sarajevo is full of interesting and notable structures that tourists find attractive. Some notable examples include the mountains Igman and Bjelasnica, Vrelo Bosne park, the Cathedral of Jesus' Heart, and the Gazi Husrev-Beg Mosque among others (See also: Sites of interest in Sarajevo). == Transportation == Geographic and historical factors have combined to make Sarajevo a very small city for its population. Due to this and a lack of parking structures, it is very difficult to find places for parking. This is especially true in the summer months when the number of people in Sarajevo is significantly higher due to the number of tourists. Sarajevo makes up for this with its traditional old world city planning, which allows for pedestrians to easily walk to wherever they need to go. Bicycling is also practiced, but is not very common. Public transportation is very common and has a long tradition in Sarajevo. The chief methods of this are tramways, trolleys, and buses. Tramways in fact, were first introduced to Europe in Sarajevo during the late 19th century by Austria-Hungary officials. The Sarajevo tramway is 16 kilometers long. Overall in Sarajevo there are 7 tramway lines, 4 trolley lines, and 9 bus routes. Most of these run east-west, and are found on the northern bank of the Miljacka. These disproportions however are merely due to the city's layout and practical reasons. During the last years of Yugoslavia, a metro was planned as well but never implemented. The railroad has always been very important in Sarajevo. The main Sarajevo railroad station is located in the north central part of the city. From there railroad tracks head west before branching off in different directions. The railroad for years was crucial to the industry of the part of town it ran through. This has left a lasting impression on the region, ranging from stereotypes to soccer teams. Historically, Sarajevo was a very important center of the railroad industry in Southeastern Europe, although it has been greatly hurt by the war. Sarajevo International Airport (intl. code SJJ) is located just a few kilometers southwest of the city. During the war the airport was used for United Nations flights and humanitarian relief. Since the Dayton Accord in 1996, the airport has welcomed a thriving commercial flight business. The two main streets within Sarajevo are "Titova" (Josip Broz Tito) street and "Zmaj od Bosne" (Dragon of Bosnia) street. Most traffic out of the city is directed to the west, as that is where most important cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina are located. Also, the Republika Sprska is directly to the east, and most people have little desire to go there. A highway that connects Sarajevo with Budapest and central Europe is being modernized, but presently it is at some spots little more than a paved countryside road. The speed limit at most parts is 60 or 80 km/h. == Culture == ''Main article'': Culture of Sarajevo Sarajevo’s extensive culture is represented in various ways. Historically, Sarajevo was home to several famous Bosnian poets and thinkers during the times of the Ottoman Empire. Nobel Prize winner Vladimir Prelog is from the city, as was academy award winning director Danis Tanovic. Nobel Prize winner Ivo Andric spent much of his life in Sarajevo. Sarajevo is also home to a number of cultural institutions, dedicated to maintaining the city's culture. The notable Bosniak institute is housed in an impressive building in central Sarajevo, and features various interesting exhibits dealing with the city's and country's culture and history. Also notable are the International Center for Kids and Youth in New Sarajevo Municipality, and the Center for Sarajevo Culture. Theatres are also an important part of Sarajevo culture. The first great Sarajevo theatre was the National theatre of Bosnia and Herzegovina of Bosnia and Herzegovina, built in 1919 and surviving to this day. Prior to that, plays were often held in parks or at the large houses of wealthy families. The first Bosnian opera was held in Sarajevo in 2003. Sarajevo also houses the Sarajevo Youth Theatre. The most famous in all of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is located in central Sarajevo. It was established in 1888, from an idea dating back to the first half of the 19th century. The Sarajevo Haggadah is held there. While in Sarajevo one can also visit the Ars Aevi Museum of Contemporary Art, the Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Museum of the City of Sarajevo, and the Bosnian and Herzegovinian Museum of Literature. There existed an impressive Olympic museum dedicated to the 84 games but it was destroyed in the warfare. In the past, Sarajevo held several famous libraries. Notably Gazi Husrev-Beg's, and the national library. Unfortunately Serbian ultranationalists purposely fired upon the national library with incendiary shells and it was destroyed. An effort is underway to rebuild the library and replace what was lost. An impressive new modern "Gazi Husrev-Beg's" library is also being built. The Sarajevo Film Festival, which has been going on since 1995, has become the premier film festival in the Balkans. Largely due to its size and the success and popularity of cinema in Bosnia, the event has gained considerable importance and often attracts foreign celebrities. The Sarajevo Winter Festival and Sarajevo Jazz Festival are also well-known, as are the Bašćaršija Nights, a month-long showcase of local culture, music, and dance. The pop and rock musicians from Sarajevo made a major mark on the popular music of the whole of former Yugoslavia, and form the so-called Sarajevo school of pop rock. == Sports == One of the most famous things about Sarajevo is that it was the location of the 1984 Winter Olympics. However, sports and sporting events played an important part in Sarajevo life well before the city hosted the games. For instance, one of the city's best-loved sports is football (soccer). The two football clubs, ''FK Sarajevo'' and ''NK Zeljeznicar Sarajevo'', both have a long tradition of competing in European and international cups and tournaments. Another is basketball. The basketball club ''Bosna'' Sarajevo won the European championship in 1979. The chess club ''Bosna'' Sarajevo has been a championship team since the 1980s. Sarajevo often holds international events and competitions in various other sports as well, such as tennis and kickboxing. In 2009, Sarajevo will host the Special Olympics winter games. == Education == Education has a long tradition in Sarajevo. The first university in Sarajevo was a school of Sufi philosophy established by Gazi Husrev-beg in 1531. Over the years, numerous other religious schools were established as well. The Sarajevo library, in its prime, was in the same category as the Madrassa of Beyazid II. The annexation of Bosnia by Austria-Hungary introduced Sarajevo to Western education. The first high school in Sarajevo was established in 1887. Starting in the 1940s, numerous modern faculties were added to the University of Sarajevo for a wide variety of professions ranging from economics to forestry. Sarajevo today also has 46 elementary schools (Grades 1-8), and 19 high schools (Grades 9-12). The University of Sarajevo includes faculties for medicine, law, agriculture, technical services, philosophy, and economics. == See also == * Bascarsija * Constructions and reconstructions in Sarajevo after war * Folklore of Sarajevo * Sites of interest in Sarajevo == External links == *[http://www.freewebtown.com/uherope Uherope - Travel Tips to Sarajevo and more] * [http://www.relaxtours.com/ponuda_en.html Relax Tours: Tourism & Travel Agency in Sarajevo (In English)] * [http://sarajevo.moj-grad.com Sarajevo, MOJ GRAD! – "Sarajevo, My City!" online city guide and web portal (in Bosnian)] * [http://www.sarajevo.ba/ Official Sarajevo city government site (in Bosnian)] * [http://www.sarajevo-airport.ba/ Sarajevo International Airport (in Bosnian and English)] * [http://www.sarajevo-tourism.com/bos/default.wbsp Tourism Association of Sarajevo (in Bosnian and English)] * [http://sarajevo.usembassy.gov/ The United States Embassy in Sarajevo] * [http://www.britishembassy.ba/ The British Embassy in Sarajevo] * [http://www.embassyworld.com/embassy/Bosnia/Bosnia5.html Embassy Listings for Bosnia and Herzegovina (Embassies of Other Nations to Bosnia and Herzegovina without Websites)] * [http://www.sarajevo-x.com Sarajevo X portal] * [http://www.saray.net Saray Portal] * [http://digital-bosnia.deviantart.com/favourites/ Artwork and Photography of talented artists from Sarajevo and rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina] * [http://navigator.ba/maps/sarajevo/dispmap.php Interactive Map of Sarajevo] == References == * Official website of the city of Sarajevo [http://www.sarajevo.ba] * Valerijan, Žujo; Imamović, Mustafa; Ćurovac, Muhamed (1997). Sarajevo. Sarajevo: Svjetlost * Prstojević, Miroslav (1992). Zaboravljeno Sarajevo (Forgotten Sarajevo). Sarajevo: Ideja Sarajevo Capitals in Europe Cities and towns in Bosnia and Herzegovina Host cities of the Winter Olympic Games bs:Sarajevo lv:Sarajeva
==Old short article== This page could use a good going over. Too much history, and not enough about contemporary life User:Alcarillo 20:55 14 Apr 04, UTC :What the heck? This is an encyclopedia article, and you want to trim the history? Contemporary life needs some mention of course, but there's a likelihood of POV with that. However, the history is vital. User:Ambivalenthysteria 05:22, 17 Apr 2004 (UTC) :: I meant that the balace was too much on history. For example, there is nothing about the city architecture (both historical and modern), postwar developments, tourism, culture or economics. I think that's far more important than the historical sketch which takes up half the article. Of course, there are going to be POV issues with just about anything written about this place, which is why the good folks here will probably keep an eagle eye on it. But as the article stands now, it's of little value, and certainly doesn't do this remarkable city justice. Look at Zagreb and you'll see what I mean. User:Alcarillo 22:00 19 Apr 04 utc edt bla blah bla ::: As the person responsible for the present layout of Sarajevo article - I fully agree with Alcarillo. I however don't have the time or knowledge to do that. Article on architecture IMO needs to be scientific and substantiated and personally I'm not into architecture, I'm a computers guy myself ;) There needs to be a section on culture and cultural events (Sarajevo Film Festival, Sarajevo Winter, Jazz Festival etc.) but it also needs some thought and time. ::: User:Vedran 08:31, 5 May 2004 (UTC) ::::I read your discussion and agreed. I then spent two weeks working on an article for Sarajevo, and the June 24th version of this page is what I've come up with. Sarajevo is my hometown and, in my opinion, the greatest city in the world. I hope this page sattisfies those who wanted a better article for Sarajevo. My goal was to make it better than the page for New York City. It should also be noted that I wrote the articles for the two suburbs, four municipalities, and the history of Sarajevo main article. I thank Vedran and past contributors for establishing the core of the current article. ::::User:Asim Led ==Sarajevo To Do List== Status: Introduction and geography are done. Now to do history. I should finish it up fairly quickly, but I have in mind splitting it into a series of "History of Sarajevo" articles. I'll probably do that. But first just the basics of history, which should be done fairly quickly. *Introduction
**Add City Flag
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***Capital
***Bosnia and Herzegovina
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***Archduke Franz Ferdinand
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***Extremist
***World War I
***1984 Winter Olympics
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***Siege of Sarajevo
***Yugoslav Wars
***Canton Sarajevo
***Cantons of Bosnia
***Gazi Husrev-Beg Mosque
***Cathedral of Jesus' Heart
***Sarajevo Film Festival
***Bascarsija Nights
***Sarajevo Winter Festival
***Sarajevo Jazz Festival
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***Bosna river
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*History
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***Butmir Culture
***Isa-beg Ishakovic
***Gazi Husrev-beg
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==NPOV notice for "aggression"==
Nikola Smolenski wrote: ''NPOV notice; Bosnian Serbs are referretd to as "agressors"; that is Bosnian government propaganda and not neutral.''
: Well, that is indeed the opinion of the Bosnian government, but if a three year siege is not a sign of aggression, I don't know what is. I can barely find a definition of the term in the dictionaries that doesn't perfectly fit in this case. --User:Joy 23:33, 12 Aug 2004 (UTC)
:: It is the official position of the Bosnian government, as well as numerous international politicians. Bosnian Serb forces set up a blockade of Sarajevo prior to any actual provocation, fired the first military shots, and knowingly deprived the city of essential things such as water, shipments of food, electricity, heating, and medicine. If you somehow believe the siege of sarajevo was not an agression, please explain on this page before positng a npov notice on an otherwise perfectly good page. User:Asim Led 12:15, 13 Aug 2004 (UTC)
:::Pick your battles, Nikola. Don't try to rewrite history. People have been convicted in the Hague for this.
:::''From 1992-1995, Sarajevo endured over three years of siege by the Bosnian Serb forces during the Yugoslav wars.''
:::''On April 6, 1992, Sarajevo was surrounded by forces of Bosnian Serbs. The warfare that lasted until the October of 1995 resulted in large scale destruction and dramatic population shifts (See Siege of Sarajevo for details).''
:::Considering the prosecutions for crimes against humanity that followed, methinks that's fairly neutral - and fairly undisputable. User:Ambi 17:11, 13 Aug 2004 (UTC)
::::Hmm, how can it be Bosnian government propaganda like Nikola claims when almost 50% of Bosnian government ministers are Serbs, including Defense and Foreign Affairs. Are they some kind of “traitors” according to Nikola? What happened to Sarajevo was not some kind of a “legitimate siege” as the Hague’s tribunal has shown, of course, maybe Nikola doesn’t acknowledge the Hague’s tribunal. Even Milosevic once said it (the siege) was an overkill. User:GeneralPatton 22:47, 18 Aug 2004 (UTC)
== map ==
The less terse discussion about this thing is at the history of Sarajevo Canton and Talk:Sarajevo Canton. I'll also need to find the archive of FAC to see if there's further discussion there. --User:Joy 12:19, 16 Aug 2004 (UTC)
==numbers==
"Its population was 429,672 according to the 1991 census, and is estimated to be around 300,000 residents today" is misleading since most of what now is Sarajevo Canton was used to be counted as city in 1991. You also have to account for areas now in RS... The actually population of the city itself has actually increased, not declined. User:GeneralPatton 13:48, 29 Aug 2004 (UTC)
:Actually 429,672 was the population of the city itself (novi grad, novo sarajevo, stari grad, centar), with the metro area having more than 500,000. In the federation the city now has 300,000 people (metro area about 400,000). Regarding the regions in Republika Srpska, so called Serb Sarajevo is pretty small, (It can't even really be considered a city, more of a municipality), and official statistics (if any exist) are probably unreliable. Either way it is technically a completely seperate city so either way. User:Asim Led 17:14, 29 Aug 2004 (UTC)
==FA excerpt==
This doesn't appear in the main article, but on the "featured article" except it says that Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated by "Serbian agents." He was killed by a lone nut gunman, and although other would-be assassins made their own attempts that day, each was acting alone.
:Somebody added that to make it fit better on the front page. I agree its pointless, and it looks almost pov to have Serbs mentioned that way twice on the front page. Im going to go remove it. User:Asim Led 04:18, 11 Nov 2004 (UTC)
User:TJSwoboda 03:49, 11 Nov 2004 (UTC)
==Urban stereotypes==
I wonder if the sentence "If one were to describe the stereotypes of Sarayliyas in one word, it would be cosmopolitan. Sarayliyas are known for being modern cultured city dwellers. Bosnians from outside Sarajevo are thought to have the sense that Sarajevo receives too much attention, but this is more of a sibling rivalry than an actual dislike for Sarajevo and its people." really belongs in there. I am not saying that it is true or untrue, having never visited Bosnia myself. However I don't think it really adds anything the article, especially since the same thing could be said of any capital city in the world, and it is not part of an encyclopedic style text.
User:UnHoly 00:22, 12 Nov 2004 (UTC)
==Main picture?==
Which of these is better for the main picture? User:Asim Led 04:25, 21 Dec 2004 (UTC)
[[Image:DowntownSarajevo.PNG|thumb|325px|right|Downtown Sarajevo and the Miljacka river.]]
==Football==
"The two football clubs, FK Sarajevo and NK Željezničar Sarajevo, both have a long tradition of competing in European and World Cups tournaments." - but the World Cup is for national teams? Something's wrong here, not sure what it should be corrected to though! --User:VivaEmilyDavies 07:44, 15 Feb 2005 (UTC)
==The alleged ethnic cleansing==
Among the more controversial topics regarding the siege of Sarajevo is the alleged ethnic cleansing that took place at the time. Namely, after several years in the 1990s characterised by denial of the widely held view of the Serb role in the Yugoslav wars, a trend has developed in the 2000s where Serb nationalists have attempted to draw Bosniak and Croat parallels to such infamous examples of attrocities as Banja Luka and Srebrenica Massacre. Regarding Sarajevo, the typical claim is that between 1992 and 1995, 150,000 Serbs were ethnically cleansed from Sarajevo, with several thousand killed. The allegations were brought to the media forefront in early 2005 when the premier of Republika Srpska, Pero Bukejlović, claimed that genocie was committed against Serbs during the siege of Sarajevo that exceeded that of the Srebrenica massacre.
Such claims are, upon careful analysis, fairly easy to refute. First of all, the often cited number of 150,000 ethnically cleansed Serbs is impossible, considering that there were only around 150,000 Serbs in Sarajevo. For such ludicrous claims to be true, every single Serb in the entire Sarajevo region would had to have been ethnically cleansed. The mere existance of some 40.000 Serbs in the Sarajevo area today refutes this. Furthermore, the number of killed and wounded in the siege of Sarajevo has been carefully documented. Out of 12,000 people killed, around one fourth were ethnic Serbs or people of Serbian ancestry. Taking into account civilian and military deaths, the number of Serbs killed is relatively proportional to the percent of the Sarajevo population they made up at the time.
Asides from these documented victims there were, according to the international red cross[http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/15f6aefee5857986c1256f6c00375638/d83f41da59f9502dc1256b66005f101f/Body/0.FDA?OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif], only 242 ethnically Serb missing persons in the Sarajevo area. Granted this is a significant number nontheless, but when it's taken into account that the number of missing persons for various towns in East Bosnia is in the thousands, the popular nationalist claim is proven baseless. Furthermore, the ability of the bosnian government to stage a genocide of such a magnitude while under siege and being perpetually bombarded is highly questionable. The Hague has yet to make any accusations for individuals that had a role in the alleged Sarajevo genocide, which cannot be said of most major centers of ethnic cleansing in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Commander Musana Topalovic Cace did commit crimes against Sarajevo citizens in 1993, but he was quickly liquidated by the government. Certainly it is plausible that some Serbs were ethnically cleansed, but more than likely these were isolated incidents and not a consequence of direct government action or strategy. Tellingly, though hundreds of mosques in Republika Srpska were demolished, no orthodox church was harmed during, or following, the siege of Sarajevo.
Of course the question remains; what happened to the 100,000+ Serbs who are no longer in the city? It must be noted that following the siege of Sarajevo the population of the city had srunk by around 250,000 people, meaning that besides Serbs 150,000 former citizens of Sarajevo of different ethnicities were also no longer there. Ethnic cleansing had certainly occured in areas of the city held by Serb radicals; Ilidza, for example, had 9 detention camps for non-Serbs. It is no secret that Karadzic's intention was to split the city into two at a point that would have required the ethnic cleansing of over 150,000 Bosniaks and Croats. Once the war was over and Sarajevo firmly in the hands of the Bosniak-Croat federation, it is understandable that many Serbs would not have wanted to stay in a city where they would have been viewed with suspicion and been a clear minority. In the communities of Grbavica and Ilidza, seized by Serb radicals during the siege, Serbs looted and destroyed what was left of the area to make life harsher for returning Bosniak and Croat refugees. Upon the return of the ethnically cleansed, the remaining Serb community was harrased and looked upon with suspicion, pushing many more to leave the city as well[http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/Bosnia/updates/9603/12/]. Thousands of the Serbs who had left the city by then went to what is today "East Sarajevo", a politically distinct Sarajevo suburb that in reality is virtually indistinguishable from the rest of the city and home to a couple dozen thousand Serbs. Leading up to the siege itself, the Serb forces surrounding the city had allowed many Serb citizens to leave while forcing members of other nationalities to stay behind.
Today, Sarajevo citizens of all nationalities generally take accusations of ethnic cleansing in Sarajevo during the war as a highly offensive insult. In response to premier Bukejlovic's statement, many have demanded a public apology to all Sarajevo citizens. The president of the Serb citizens council/Citizen's movement for equality, Mirko Pejanovic, stated that "Nobody, not even Bukejlovic, can change or cover up the truth for the sake of current political needs. In Sarajevo, during the four year siege carried out by Karadzic's military forces and the SDS, there were deaths of Sarayliyas of all ethnicities. The people were both suffering and dying from hunger, cold, they were being killed by mortar shells... among the 12,000 killed Sarayliyas recorded in the war, at least one fourth were members of the Serb nation or had Serb ethnic ancestry. Thus, we can not talk of an extermination or genocide of Serbs, but of a responsibilty of the SDS and Karadzic's military forces for the overall extermination of Sarajevo and Sarayliyas, and within that of the Serb people" User:Asim Led 20:55, 3 Apr 2005 (UTC)
== Specific government dates ==
Just one minor point. In the government section, it notes the "current" mayor and the "current" split of the City Council. Could someone change these into "As of ..." links, with the years specified? Also, could someone link in the proper List of political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina? --User:Ricky81682 (User talk:Ricky81682) 21:18, May 10, 2005 (UTC)
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Sarajevo
Sarajevo (in Serbian Cyrillic: Сарајево) is the capital city and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, located at . According to a 1991 census, its population was 429,672; currently estimated at around 300,000. The city is considered one of the most important cities in the Balkans and has had a long and rich history ever since it was founded by the Ottoman Empire in 1461. It was the site of the Assassination in Sarajevo of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, which sparked World War I; Sarajevo had hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics and was Siege of Sarajevo during the Yugoslav wars in the 1990s. Sarajevo is part of Sarajevo Canton, one of the ten Cantons of Bosnia in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The river Miljacka runs through the city. == Geography and climate == === Geography === [[Image:Vrelabosne2.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Vrelo Bosne, the source of the Bosna (river) river on the outskirts of Sarajevo.]] Sarajevo is located close to the geometric center of the triangularly-shaped Bosnia and Herzegovina, and covers 142 km²(88.2 mi²) of land. The core of the city is built in the Sarajevo valley (also translated as Sarajevo ''field''), a small depression 500 meters above sea level, nestled between the surrounding mountains. Although much of the city itself is relatively flat, some of the outskirts and far eastern parts are hilly. Neighborhoods in the Stari Grad Municipality in particular are well known for their steep streets and landscape. The river Miljacka flows through the city from east to west and is one of the city's chief geographic features. The source of the river Bosna (river), Vrelo Bosne is found on the city's outskirts near Ilidza and is one of the most well known natural landmarks in the country. The city is surrounded by five major mountains. In 1984 Bosnia and Herzegovina was the host of the Winter Olympic Games. The unique beauty of this jewel of the Central Europe, the natural wealth that is contained in its fresh and healthy air, mineral and thermal water and the resourceful potential for the enjoying different sports, made Sarajevo and the rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina famous all around the world. They are part of the Dinaric Alps mountain range that winds through Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia and Montenegro. The mountains are popular tourist attractions for hiking and skiing. In alphabetical order they are: *Bjelasnica: 2067 meters (6782 ft), southwest *Igman: 1502 meters (4928 ft), southwest *Jahorina: 1913 meters (6276 ft), southeast *Trebevic: 1627 meters (5338 ft), southeast *Treskavica: 2088 meters (6950 ft), north Sarajevo itself is part of Bosnia proper, known for its mountainous and heavily forested landscape. Natural disasters pose little threat in the region, although small earthquakes have been known to occur. === Climate === Sarajevo has a continental climate, lying between the climate zones of central Europe to the North and the Mediterranean to the South. Sarajevo experiences warm summers, with temperatures of 35 Celsius (95Fahrenheit) not being uncommon, and cold winters, when snow is guaranteed due to the city's altitude. Sarajevo has three major weather stations. They are located on Bjelasnica mountain, Butmir, and in the city itself. The warmest month of the year is July, when the average temperature is about 19 °C (66 °F), although August's average temperature is only a degree lower. The coldest month of the year is January when the average temperature is -1 °C (30 °F). The average year-round temperature is 10 °C (45 °F). Sarajevo receives about 905 mm (36 inches) of Precipitation (meteorology) a year. The rainiest month is October when the city receives 89.4 mm (3.5 in) of rainfall. The driest is February when the city gets only 61.4 mm (2.4 in) of precipitation. Average air pressure at the city's elevation is 942.3 millibars, and this varies little throughout the year. == History == ''Main article'': History of Sarajevo The area of present day Sarajevo has a long and rich history dating back to the Stone age, when the Butmir Culture flourished in the area. However, little material evidence of this is available, mostly due to later construction. Several Illyrian settlements existed in the area before it was conquered by Roman Empire in 9 CE. During Roman times, a town named ''Aquae Sulphurae'' existed on the location of present day Ilidza, a Sarajevo suburb to the southwest of the city. The year usually mentioned as the city's founding is 1461, when the first Ottoman Empire governor of Bosnia, Isa-Beg Isakovic, transformed this village cluster into a city and a state capital by building a number of key objects, including a mosque, a closed marketplace, a public bath, a hostel and the Governor's castle (''Saray'') which gave the city its present name (see also: Etymology of the Name of Sarajevo). Sarajevo flourished in the 16th century when its greatest donor and builder Gazi Husrev-beg built most of what is now the old city. By the late 17th century, Sarajevo was the most important city in the Balkans after Istanbul. In a raid led by Prince Eugene of Savoy in 1697 against the Ottoman Empire, Sarajevo was burned down and leveled. The city was later rebuilt, but never fully recovered from the destruction. The capital of Bosnia was transferred to Travnik. In 1878, Bosnia was occupied by Austria-Hungary, and Sarajevo was quickly brought up to the standards of the industrial age. In the event that triggered World War I, Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria and his wife were Assassination in Sarajevo in Sarajevo on 28 June, 1914. Following the war, in the kingdom of Yugoslavia, Sarajevo was the capital of the Drinska banovina, one of the country's chief provinces. After World War II, Sarajevo grew rapidly as it became an important regional industrial center in Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Modern city blocks were built west of the old city, adding to Sarajevo's architectural uniqueness. The peak of city growth occurred in the early 1980s, when Sarajevo hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics. On April 6, 1992, Sarajevo was surrounded by forces of Bosnian Serbs. The warfare that lasted until October 1995 resulted in large scale destruction and dramatic population shifts (see Siege of Sarajevo for details). Reconstruction of Sarajevo started as soon as the war ended, in 1995. By 2003, most of the city had been rebuilt, with only a few remaining visible ruins in the city center. Modern business buildings and skyscrapers have since been constructed throughout the city. == Government == [[Image:PresidencyofBosnaandHerzegovina.PNG|200px|thumb|right|The building of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, central Sarajevo.]] In terms of politics, Sarajevo is the most important city in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the capital of the entire country, as well as the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina sub-entity. Sarajevo is also the obvious center of politics for the Sarajevo Canton. It is comprised of four different municipalities and is one of the few cities in the country with a separate city government. Sarajevo is the location of numerous other important political structures, such as dozens of foreign embassy. City government is split into the traditional three branches of democracy government. === Executive branch === The city government’s executive branch (Bosnian language:"Gradska Uprava") consists of the mayor, his cabinet, and numerous city organizations that help in the governing of the city. The mayor is the chief of city politics, and has two deputies, along with a number of advisers in the cabinet. The role of the executive branch in city government is outlined in the city constitution. The current mayor of Sarajevo is Muhidin Hamamdžić, from the Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The city deputy mayors are Željko Komšić and Slavo Vlaški, who belong to the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the SDP respectively. They are joined by a secretary and a number of advisors. To help the mayor carry out the executive duties of the city, the executive branch also consists of several city services, or "organizations". They are the "City Service for Running of the Region" (''Gradska služba za opću upravu''), "City Service for the Finances" (''Gradska služba finansija''), "City Service for Local Employment" (''Gradska služba za lokalno poslovanje''), "City Service for City Planning" (''Gradska služba za urbano planiranje''), and the "City Service for Communal Jobs" (''Gradska služba za komunalne poslove''). === Legislative branch === The main legislative body of the city of Sarajevo is the ''Gradsko Vijeće'', or City Council. Councilmen are elected by municipality according to population, with Novi Grad municipality receiving the most seats in the city council and Stari Grad municipality the least. The council is headed by the council speaker, two deputies, and a secretary, and consists of 24 members. Currently, of these 28, 15 belong to the SDP, 7 to the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina, 5 to SDA, and 1 to the HDZ. The president of the City Council is Mira Jadrić-Winterhalter, and deputies are Emin Svrakić and Vladimir Zubić. === Judicial branch === As the center of Canton Sarajevo, the city is also the center of judicial procedures for the area, based on the post-transitional judicial system for the country as outlined by the High Representative and his plans for the “High Judicial and Prosecutorial Councils” of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2002. The BiH Constitutional Court is also located in Sarajevo, consisting of nine members. Four of these are selected by the house of representatives of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, two by Republika Srpska's national assembly, and three foreign members are selected by the president of the European Court of Human Rights. The supreme court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Cantonal court of Sarajevo Canton are also located in Sarajevo. Sarajevo is also the center of law training and education for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. == Demographics == ''Main article'': Demographics of Sarajevo Since no official census has been taken since 1991, the exact population of Sarajevo cannot be known. However, the latest estimates from the Sarajevo Canton government, dating from December 2002, are generally thought to be fairly accurate. They put the total population of the city of Sarajevo at 297,399 residents and the number of people in the greater Sarajevo region at 401,118. A more recent estimate for the greater Sarajevo area has the population in mid-2004 at 401,687. According to the official government statistics, Sarajevo's population density is 2470.1 per square kilometer. The most densely populated part of Sarajevo is in the municipality Novo Sarajevo (7524.5 inhabitants per square kilometer), while the least densely populated is Stari Grad municipality (742.5 inhabitants per square kilometer). The largest ethnic group in Sarajevo are the Bosniaks; with more than 230,000 people, this group makes up 77.4 percent of the city. The second-largest group are the Serbs, of which there are some 35,000 (12 percent of the city). Croats are the third largest group, with a population of 22,380 (7.5 percent of the total). 9,283 people (3.1 percent of overall population) are classified as others. They most likely consist of Sephardi, and Roma (people), along with a small number of foreign workers (mostly of China and African backgrounds). == Economy == ''Main article'': Economy of Sarajevo Sarajevo is economically one of the strongest regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Like many other major cities, its Economics is largely based on industries such as manufacturing and tourism. As the center of various levels of area politics, many Sarajevo citizens also work in government. A number of local and international companies are present in the city and contribute to its economic health. Sarajevo's manufacturing deals with a wide array of products. This includes production of foods and beverages, textiles, furniture, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and metalworking. Sarajevo companies also produce unique brands of alcohol, and cigarettes. A variety of important economic institutions are to be found in Sarajevo. The central bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina is found in the city, as are numerous other independent banks. Overall 19 different banks have their headquarters in Sarajevo. The city also holds the Sarajevo Exchange of securities, the Institute for accounting and auditing of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Board for valuable papers of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Register of valuable papers of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Some major companies based in Sarajevo includie Air Bosna (currently not in operation), BH Telecom, Bosmal, Bosnalijek, CBS Bank, Dnevni Avaz, Energopetrol, Oslobodenje, Sarajevo Tobacco Factory (Sarajevo Tobacco Factory), Sarajevska Pivara (Sarajevo Brewery), and Unioninvest. Foreign companies with a foothold in the Sarajevo region include Harris Communications, Brown & Root, and, most notably, Coca Cola. The Bosnian-Malaysian firm Bosmal is also situated in the city. == Communications and media == ''Main article'': Communications and Media of Sarajevo As the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo is naturally the main center of the country's media. Most of the country's major television channels are based in the city, as are the most popular newspapers and magazines. Newspapers are the most popular and most well established forms of media. The two most popular and credible daily newspapers are the ''Oslobodjenje'' and the ''Dnevni Avaz'', The buildings of both of these are adjacent to each other, situated in Novi Grad municipality, making the spot the center of the Bosnian media world. Television is very popular in Sarajevo, even though for most people the number of channels is somewhat limited. Satellites allow for a number of foreign channels to be watched, but the most popular are the local news stations based in the city. FTV is the television of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity, while there is also a national radio-television system named Public Broadcast Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A Sarajevo Cantonal channel is also available. Many small independent radio stations exist, although the majority listen to the more established ones such as Radio M, Radio Grad, eFM Student Radio and RSG. RSG, Radio Stari Grad (Radio Old Town) is the most popular of these. Radio Free Europe can still be heard, and several American and West European stations are available for listening as well. Also popular is Radio 202, affiliated with FTV. == Divisions of Sarajevo == Sarajevo, the city and surrounding region, are split into several divisions themselves. These can be official or unofficial, with or without actual political power. The most important division of the City of Sarajevo are its four Municipalities. Municipalities are the fourth level of political authority in Bosnia and Herzegovina after state, entity, and canton. The Bosnian word for them is "Općina". They are, Centar, Sarajevo (Center), Novi Grad, Sarajevo (New City), Novo Sarajevo (New Sarajevo), and Stari Grad, Sarajevo (Old Town). Like the city at large, all of the Municipalities have their own regional government, including a foreman, councils, and various Municipality services. The role of these Municipality governments is not as significant as that of other Municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina due to the existence of the Sarajevo city government. Sarajevo's Municipalities are further split into "local communities" (Bosnian language, ''Mjesne zajednice''). Local communities have a small role in city government and are intended as a way for ordinary citizens to get involved in city government. They are based around key city neighborhoods. Sarajevo also has several suburbs. They are essentially the 5 Municipalities of Sarajevo Canton that are not included in Sarajevo's official city limits. They are, in alphabetical order, Hadzici, Ilidza, Ilijas, Trnovo Municipality, and Vogosca. Of these the cities of Ilidza and Vogosca, found in the Municipalities of the same name, can be considered the most important. Ilidza is the chief suburb of Sarajevo, located just west of Novi Grad Municipality. According to the latest estimates, Ilidža's population is slightly under 50,000. Sarajevo International Airport is found next to the city. The secondary suburb, Vogosca is located about 6 kilometers north of the city center and has a population of around 9,000. Vogošća has traditionally been an important industrial center. == People == The people of Sarajevo are known as “Sarayliyas” (spelled Sarajlije in Bosnian language). Sarayliyas are known for being very proud and patriotic of their city. The song by popular singer Kemal Monteno, “Sarajevo Ljubavi Moja” (Sarajevo Love of Mine) has come to somewhat epitomize this feeling among the people, and to this day remains something of an unofficial anthem for the city (alongside with "Kad ja pođoh na Benbašu"). Sarajevo is said to be the only city in the world where, in the same time, you can hear the calls for prayer from Catholic and Orthodox churches, mosques and synagogues. If one were to describe the stereotypes of Sarayliyas in one word, it would be cosmopolitan. Sarayliyas are known for being modern cultured city dwellers. Bosnians from outside Sarajevo are thought to have the sense that Sarajevo receives too much attention, but this is more of a sibling rivalry than an actual dislike for Sarajevo and its people. Within the city itself, the people of the various Municipalities have somewhat taken up the stereotypes of the regions they live in. Sarajevo is also known for having a very communal feel, despite its large population. Sarajevo has had a number of famous citizens over the years (see also: Famous Sarayliyas). They include an Academy Award winner, two Nobel Prize winners, legendary musicians, novelists, and politicians. Sarajevo has also produced presidents for three countries. == Tourism == Tourism is one of Sarajevo's major industry, and is constantly growing now with stability in the region. Sarajevo's mountain ranges and Olympic Games facilities make it an ideal location for winter sports. Another reason for Sarajevo's popularity among tourists is its 600 years of accumulated history, which have been impacted by both Western and Eastern empires. Ever since the 1984 Winter Olympics, Sarajevo has been a popular tourist attraction (save for the war years in the early 1990s). Indeed, even long before that Sarajevo was a popular stop for travelers in the Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary empires, and is mentioned in traveling books from all sides of Europe and the Middle East. One of the first structures built in the city was an inn. Sarajevo overall has some 50 major hotels, along with numerous smaller motels and hospitality businesses. A variety of travel agencies in the city can help organize a visit. The most famous hotel in Sarajevo is the Holiday Inn, whose distinctive color and location has made it something of a city icon. Various types of tourism are popular in Sarajevo. War tourism focuses on the war years, and the famous spots of the siege of Sarajevo. Some are interested specifically in the historical aspects of the city, while thousands come for the area's nature. Summer is the busiest season for Sarajevo tourism, as thousands of tourists visit from foreign countries. Many of these are from the neighboring Balkan states, while a very large number are former residents who fled the city during the war. Sarajevo is full of interesting and notable structures that tourists find attractive. Some notable examples include the mountains Igman and Bjelasnica, Vrelo Bosne park, the Cathedral of Jesus' Heart, and the Gazi Husrev-Beg Mosque among others (See also: Sites of interest in Sarajevo). == Transportation == Geographic and historical factors have combined to make Sarajevo a very small city for its population. Due to this and a lack of parking structures, it is very difficult to find places for parking. This is especially true in the summer months when the number of people in Sarajevo is significantly higher due to the number of tourists. Sarajevo makes up for this with its traditional old world city planning, which allows for pedestrians to easily walk to wherever they need to go. Bicycling is also practiced, but is not very common. Public transportation is very common and has a long tradition in Sarajevo. The chief methods of this are tramways, trolleys, and buses. Tramways in fact, were first introduced to Europe in Sarajevo during the late 19th century by Austria-Hungary officials. The Sarajevo tramway is 16 kilometers long. Overall in Sarajevo there are 7 tramway lines, 4 trolley lines, and 9 bus routes. Most of these run east-west, and are found on the northern bank of the Miljacka. These disproportions however are merely due to the city's layout and practical reasons. During the last years of Yugoslavia, a metro was planned as well but never implemented. The railroad has always been very important in Sarajevo. The main Sarajevo railroad station is located in the north central part of the city. From there railroad tracks head west before branching off in different directions. The railroad for years was crucial to the industry of the part of town it ran through. This has left a lasting impression on the region, ranging from stereotypes to soccer teams. Historically, Sarajevo was a very important center of the railroad industry in Southeastern Europe, although it has been greatly hurt by the war. Sarajevo International Airport (intl. code SJJ) is located just a few kilometers southwest of the city. During the war the airport was used for United Nations flights and humanitarian relief. Since the Dayton Accord in 1996, the airport has welcomed a thriving commercial flight business. The two main streets within Sarajevo are "Titova" (Josip Broz Tito) street and "Zmaj od Bosne" (Dragon of Bosnia) street. Most traffic out of the city is directed to the west, as that is where most important cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina are located. Also, the Republika Sprska is directly to the east, and most people have little desire to go there. A highway that connects Sarajevo with Budapest and central Europe is being modernized, but presently it is at some spots little more than a paved countryside road. The speed limit at most parts is 60 or 80 km/h. == Culture == ''Main article'': Culture of Sarajevo Sarajevo’s extensive culture is represented in various ways. Historically, Sarajevo was home to several famous Bosnian poets and thinkers during the times of the Ottoman Empire. Nobel Prize winner Vladimir Prelog is from the city, as was academy award winning director Danis Tanovic. Nobel Prize winner Ivo Andric spent much of his life in Sarajevo. Sarajevo is also home to a number of cultural institutions, dedicated to maintaining the city's culture. The notable Bosniak institute is housed in an impressive building in central Sarajevo, and features various interesting exhibits dealing with the city's and country's culture and history. Also notable are the International Center for Kids and Youth in New Sarajevo Municipality, and the Center for Sarajevo Culture. Theatres are also an important part of Sarajevo culture. The first great Sarajevo theatre was the National theatre of Bosnia and Herzegovina of Bosnia and Herzegovina, built in 1919 and surviving to this day. Prior to that, plays were often held in parks or at the large houses of wealthy families. The first Bosnian opera was held in Sarajevo in 2003. Sarajevo also houses the Sarajevo Youth Theatre. The most famous in all of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is located in central Sarajevo. It was established in 1888, from an idea dating back to the first half of the 19th century. The Sarajevo Haggadah is held there. While in Sarajevo one can also visit the Ars Aevi Museum of Contemporary Art, the Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Museum of the City of Sarajevo, and the Bosnian and Herzegovinian Museum of Literature. There existed an impressive Olympic museum dedicated to the 84 games but it was destroyed in the warfare. In the past, Sarajevo held several famous libraries. Notably Gazi Husrev-Beg's, and the national library. Unfortunately Serbian ultranationalists purposely fired upon the national library with incendiary shells and it was destroyed. An effort is underway to rebuild the library and replace what was lost. An impressive new modern "Gazi Husrev-Beg's" library is also being built. The Sarajevo Film Festival, which has been going on since 1995, has become the premier film festival in the Balkans. Largely due to its size and the success and popularity of cinema in Bosnia, the event has gained considerable importance and often attracts foreign celebrities. The Sarajevo Winter Festival and Sarajevo Jazz Festival are also well-known, as are the Bašćaršija Nights, a month-long showcase of local culture, music, and dance. The pop and rock musicians from Sarajevo made a major mark on the popular music of the whole of former Yugoslavia, and form the so-called Sarajevo school of pop rock. == Sports == One of the most famous things about Sarajevo is that it was the location of the 1984 Winter Olympics. However, sports and sporting events played an important part in Sarajevo life well before the city hosted the games. For instance, one of the city's best-loved sports is football (soccer). The two football clubs, ''FK Sarajevo'' and ''NK Zeljeznicar Sarajevo'', both have a long tradition of competing in European and international cups and tournaments. Another is basketball. The basketball club ''Bosna'' Sarajevo won the European championship in 1979. The chess club ''Bosna'' Sarajevo has been a championship team since the 1980s. Sarajevo often holds international events and competitions in various other sports as well, such as tennis and kickboxing. In 2009, Sarajevo will host the Special Olympics winter games. == Education == Education has a long tradition in Sarajevo. The first university in Sarajevo was a school of Sufi philosophy established by Gazi Husrev-beg in 1531. Over the years, numerous other religious schools were established as well. The Sarajevo library, in its prime, was in the same category as the Madrassa of Beyazid II. The annexation of Bosnia by Austria-Hungary introduced Sarajevo to Western education. The first high school in Sarajevo was established in 1887. Starting in the 1940s, numerous modern faculties were added to the University of Sarajevo for a wide variety of professions ranging from economics to forestry. Sarajevo today also has 46 elementary schools (Grades 1-8), and 19 high schools (Grades 9-12). The University of Sarajevo includes faculties for medicine, law, agriculture, technical services, philosophy, and economics. == See also == * Bascarsija * Constructions and reconstructions in Sarajevo after war * Folklore of Sarajevo * Sites of interest in Sarajevo == External links == *[http://www.freewebtown.com/uherope Uherope - Travel Tips to Sarajevo and more] * [http://www.relaxtours.com/ponuda_en.html Relax Tours: Tourism & Travel Agency in Sarajevo (In English)] * [http://sarajevo.moj-grad.com Sarajevo, MOJ GRAD! – "Sarajevo, My City!" online city guide and web portal (in Bosnian)] * [http://www.sarajevo.ba/ Official Sarajevo city government site (in Bosnian)] * [http://www.sarajevo-airport.ba/ Sarajevo International Airport (in Bosnian and English)] * [http://www.sarajevo-tourism.com/bos/default.wbsp Tourism Association of Sarajevo (in Bosnian and English)] * [http://sarajevo.usembassy.gov/ The United States Embassy in Sarajevo] * [http://www.britishembassy.ba/ The British Embassy in Sarajevo] * [http://www.embassyworld.com/embassy/Bosnia/Bosnia5.html Embassy Listings for Bosnia and Herzegovina (Embassies of Other Nations to Bosnia and Herzegovina without Websites)] * [http://www.sarajevo-x.com Sarajevo X portal] * [http://www.saray.net Saray Portal] * [http://digital-bosnia.deviantart.com/favourites/ Artwork and Photography of talented artists from Sarajevo and rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina] * [http://navigator.ba/maps/sarajevo/dispmap.php Interactive Map of Sarajevo] == References == * Official website of the city of Sarajevo [http://www.sarajevo.ba] * Valerijan, Žujo; Imamović, Mustafa; Ćurovac, Muhamed (1997). Sarajevo. Sarajevo: Svjetlost * Prstojević, Miroslav (1992). Zaboravljeno Sarajevo (Forgotten Sarajevo). Sarajevo: Ideja Sarajevo Capitals in Europe Cities and towns in Bosnia and Herzegovina Host cities of the Winter Olympic Games bs:Sarajevo lv:Sarajeva
Sarajevo
==Old short article== This page could use a good going over. Too much history, and not enough about contemporary life User:Alcarillo 20:55 14 Apr 04, UTC :What the heck? This is an encyclopedia article, and you want to trim the history? Contemporary life needs some mention of course, but there's a likelihood of POV with that. However, the history is vital. User:Ambivalenthysteria 05:22, 17 Apr 2004 (UTC) :: I meant that the balace was too much on history. For example, there is nothing about the city architecture (both historical and modern), postwar developments, tourism, culture or economics. I think that's far more important than the historical sketch which takes up half the article. Of course, there are going to be POV issues with just about anything written about this place, which is why the good folks here will probably keep an eagle eye on it. But as the article stands now, it's of little value, and certainly doesn't do this remarkable city justice. Look at Zagreb and you'll see what I mean. User:Alcarillo 22:00 19 Apr 04 utc edt bla blah bla ::: As the person responsible for the present layout of Sarajevo article - I fully agree with Alcarillo. I however don't have the time or knowledge to do that. Article on architecture IMO needs to be scientific and substantiated and personally I'm not into architecture, I'm a computers guy myself ;) There needs to be a section on culture and cultural events (Sarajevo Film Festival, Sarajevo Winter, Jazz Festival etc.) but it also needs some thought and time. ::: User:Vedran 08:31, 5 May 2004 (UTC) ::::I read your discussion and agreed. I then spent two weeks working on an article for Sarajevo, and the June 24th version of this page is what I've come up with. Sarajevo is my hometown and, in my opinion, the greatest city in the world. I hope this page sattisfies those who wanted a better article for Sarajevo. My goal was to make it better than the page for New York City. It should also be noted that I wrote the articles for the two suburbs, four municipalities, and the history of Sarajevo main article. I thank Vedran and past contributors for establishing the core of the current article. ::::User:Asim Led ==Sarajevo To Do List== Status: Introduction and geography are done. Now to do history. I should finish it up fairly quickly, but I have in mind splitting it into a series of "History of Sarajevo" articles. I'll probably do that. But first just the basics of history, which should be done fairly quickly. *
Sarajevo
Cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina Capitals in Europe
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Sarajevo
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