History
In 1993, according to journalist Anthony Loyd, Fikret Abdić decided to try to carve out a little state for himself and succeeded in recruiting enough followers to make his dreams a reality. Abdić was able to hold power over his mini-state by using cult like propaganda techniques over his followers and Serbian arms and military training. "Talking to his autonomist followers was much the same as speaking with cult converts anywhere in the world: a wooden dead-end dialogue hallmarked by the absence of individual rationale and logic."
The economy of Western Bosnia was largely based on "Agrokomerc" company of Velika Kladuša.
The Autonomous Province cooperated with Serbia as well as Croatia against Bosnian government in the light of Karađorđevo agreement meant to redistribute Bosnia and Herzegovina between Croatia and Serbia. Fikret Abdić's role in undermining the Bosnian government was awarded by Croatian regime as well as Serbian. Agrokomerc was granted free-custom trade zone in the Croatian port of Rijeka, and free trade with Serbian-controlled territories. The trade between Western Bosnia and Croatia was live during the Bosnian war.
The territory of Western Bosnia was seized by the Bosnian government troops in 1994, but they were expelled later that year with the significant help of Serbs, and the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia was re-established.
In 1994, Franjo Tuđman changed his policies towards Bosnia after diplomatic pressure from the United States as well as UN Security Council. It was very unfavourable to safe future of Western Bosnia as Fikret Abdić couldn't count on financial or military help by one of his protectors. In 1995 the province was renamed to Republic of Western Bosnia (Republika Zapadna Bosna, Република Западна Босна) and the same year served as the last line of defense of the Republic of Serbian Krajina in Croatia during Operation Storm. It was soon militarily defeated during Operation Tiger and then wiped out completely during the joint Croatian and Bosnian government army action during the Operation Storm.
Read more about this topic: Autonomous Province Of Western Bosnia
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