Tag: Sarajevo

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Back to Bosnia, on France24

Based on earlier posts here, France24’s Les Observateurs shared this version on their web site.

Back to Bosnia

By Team Observers on 30/10/2014 – 16:18.

All photos taken by our Observer Jim Quirk in Bosnia.
By Jim Quirk
After 17 years away, I returned to Bosnia in October as part of the OSCE Election Observation Mission. It was in part exciting, rewarding, and disheartening.With the ballots counted, the presidents named, and the parliamentary coalitions in the making, we can begin to make notes about the future of Bosnia.

Continue reading “Back to Bosnia, on France24”

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Back to Bosnia, Part I

After 17 years away, I returned to Bosnia last week as part of the OSCE Election Observation Mission.  It was in part exciting, rewarding, and disheartening.

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Baščaršija, the lively old part of Sarajevo.

Much was improved from 1997, to be sure.  In Sarajevo, there were not tanks on the street corners.  The library has reopened, and one Wednesday night in the old part of the city, Baščaršija, dozens of small and medium-sized restaurants were crowded with customers.  Across much of the country there is very good mobile phone service, and in even small hotels and cafes outside Sarajevo is plenty of free Wi-Fi. Continue reading “Back to Bosnia, Part I”