The first flag and emblem that belonged to the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina was formally adopted on May 4th, 1992. On May 22nd, 1992, the same flag appeared in front of the UN Headquarters in New York, at the time when aggressors had already begun their attack on the Bosnian state.
The flag of the independent Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina was based on the flag of medieval Bosnia, and the flag of the greatest dynasty in Bosnian history – the Kotromanić Dynasty. The white flag is rectangular in shape, with the emblem of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina situated in the middle.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s emblem is a replica of the coat of arms that was used to represent the rule of the first Bosnian king, King Tvrtko I Kotromanić. The emblem is a blue shield that is divided into two sections by a silver diagonal line that starts from the top-left-hand side of the shield. On the left and right-hand side of the shield, there are three gold colored fleurs-de-lis.
This flag and emblem, as well as the anthem, “Jedna si jedina” (adopted in November 1995), were the official features of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina until 1998, when the flag and anthem were replaced by the decision of the High Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The reason for the replacement was due to alleged symbolic “exclusion” of Serbs and Croats in the flag, emblem, and anthem. Despite the claims of the High Representative, there was no evidence to support that the flag, emblem, and text of the anthem contained a single symbol or the name of any of the three ethnic groups in B&H.
Regardless, the original flag of RB&H will always remain as the one under which the sovereignty of the Bosnian people was defended, as well as the right to autonomy, the right to democracy, and freedom of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Under this flag, oppressive regimes were defeated, and thousands of B&H patriots gave their lives to defend their homes.
(Source: novovrijeme.ba)
