Mostar became a unified city two decades ago

(Patria) - By the decision of High Representative Paddy Ashdown, Mostar became a unified city again on March 15, 2004.

The city on the Neretva River had been divided into two parts since the aggression against our country - the Bosniak - eastern and the Croat - western.

In 1996, by the Statute imposed by the then European administrator of the city, Hans Koschnick, Mostar was divided into six municipalities - electoral units.

Three municipalities were majority Croat, and three were majority Bosniak, and there was also a central city zone, conceived as a narrow area in the center of the then completely divided city to house joint institutions.

Residents of the central zone could vote, but not be elected.

With the new Statute, imposed in 2004 by the then High Representative of the international community in BiH, Paddy Ashdown, the division into municipalities was abolished, and they became city areas.

When enacting the new Statute, Ashdown explained that the then-current Transitional Statute had been used for divisions, parallel structures, and supporting corruption.

As he said at the time, it was desperately necessary to bring investments to Mostar in order to urgently resolve the destabilizing effects that Mostar had on the whole of BiH, especially on Herzegovina.

Ashdown also decided to abolish the then six municipalities in Mostar.

- This new Statute and accompanying laws will abolish the six municipalities and create a unified city council and city administration. The number of elected politicians in Mostar will thus decrease from 194 to 36 - Ashdown stated exactly 20 years ago.