How B&H received its Flag with the Fleur-de-lis in 1992: the aim was to avoid ethnic Divisions

In recent days, the story of B&H’s official flag from the period of 1992 to 1998, which is dominated by six Fleur-de-lis, is very popular. Historian Emir O. Filipović, who deals with heraldry and Bosnian medievalism, explained in detail in a paper how this flag became the official symbol of B&H.

In his work: “The coat of arms and flag of B&H in the 20^th century” Emir O. Filipović states that the specific conditions at the beginning of 1990 ordered that in search for the new state symbols it was the most appropriate to reach for the ancient times of the Middle Ages, when Bosnia had clear and quite certain heraldic signs. This aimed to emphasize restored Bosnian statehood, while ‘national neutrality “of the new coat of arms was not neglected as well.

Attempt to avoid ethnic divisions

By selecting symbols from older past without symbols of ethnic divisions it was attempted to avoid raising national tensions which at that time were sufficiently tense.

“The new coat of arms and the new flag should have put the RB&H on a course of multi-ethnic unity, where the principles of peace and mutual tolerance of all B&H citizens regardless of their ethnic, religious or any other affiliation would win. However, the symbols adopted in 1992 served, and are still serving, to the separation and splitting of both B&H and the people who live in it. Given that the flag and other symbols in the new states usually fail to satisfy all of its residents and to present the unity of the country, they often become expression of strong divisions within it, “said Filipović.

Fleur-de-lis taken over from the Middle Ages

The creation of a new Bosnian flag and coat of arms had begun at a joint session held on the 27^th of February, 1991 when the Assembly of the SR B&H on the proposal of 86 deputies adopted a decision to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of B&H, and to bring the name and state symbols of the RB&H in the constitutional law.

Members of this commission proposed that the base color of the new flag is light blue, which usually symbolizes the positive characteristics of peace, prosperity and unity, and is modeled on the color of the flag of the United Nations. It was also suggested that it should be rectangular in shape and proportions of 5: 3.

(Source: klix.ba)