What does BA mean in USPS

History

Bosnia and Herzegovina was first inhabited by Illyrian tribes before being conquered and governed by the Roman Empire in 9 AD. Throughout the Middle Ages it was ruled by several different states including Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Hungary. In 1463 it became part of the Ottoman Empire until 1878 when Austria-Hungary occupied it after defeating the Turks in the Bosnian War. After World War I, Bosnia and Herzegovina joined Yugoslavia where it remained until 1992 when it declared independence after the break up of Yugoslavia in 1991.

Government & Politics

Since independence in 1992, Bosnia and Herzegovina have established various governmental systems so as to accommodate its multi-ethnic population composed of Bosniaks (Muslims), Serbians (Orthodox Christians) and Croats (Catholics). The country is divided into two distinct entities - The Federation of Bosnia & Herzegovina which is mainly Bosnian Muslims and Croatian Catholics; while Republika Srpska mainly consists of Serbian Orthodox Christians. Each entity has its own government led by a president who is responsible for assembling an executive cabinet that will handle most political matters within their respective domains.

Economy

Bosnia & Herzegovina's economy relies heavily on agriculture as well as tourism due to its picturesque landscapes. It also has some light industry such as clothing production as well as mining operations for coal, iron ore and limestone which are used in many manufacturing processes throughout Europe. Despite its limited resources, BIH has made significant economic strides since the breakup of Yugoslavia with GDP growth rates that have been consistently higher than 5% since 2005.