Ph.D.

Snježana Musa, Associate Professor

University of Mostar
Faculty of Sciences
snjezamusa@hotmail.com

SPATIALLY CONDITIONED FACTORS FOR CO-OPERATION OF HERZEGOVINA

REGION IN EUROPE REGION

Introduction

In the area of largest European karst space, length of 600 and width of 100 up
to 300 km, being a part of Dinaric mountain range, Herzegovina has nested. It is a
historic province with traditional and geographical boundaries. On the space of
around 10.000km2, nowadays some 400 000 inhabitants live there in 899
settlements. Population has been unevenly settled.
The greatest population density is met in
the municipalities of Grude, Ljubuski, Citluk, and
the smallest in the municipalities of East
Herzegovina: Ljubinje, Berkovići, Nevesinje,
Neum and Ravno. Majority of settelemnts belongs
to the group with up to 300 inhabitants, while the
villages with only several inhabitants are very
frequent.

Natural boundary of Herzegovina with Bosnia

could be lined along the mountain ridge of
Zavelim, Ljubuša, Raduša, Bitovnja, Ivan-
mountain, Bjelašnica, extending to Zelengora and
over Čemerno to Volujak.

New
Municipality 1948 1953 1961 1971 1981 1991 2004 Space space in./km2
Bileća 13531 14026 14125 13444 13199 13284 14591 633 633 23
Čapljina 17943 19140 20388 23459 26032 27882 19414 249 256 76
Čitluk 14462 14290 14278 15539 14101 15083 16462 181 181 91
Gacko 14424 14628 14033 12033 10279 10788 11500 736 736 16
Grude 19046 18902 18972 19203 17767 16358 13381 218 221 61
Jablanica 7286 10707 9822 10938 11903 12691 13079 221 301 43
Konjic 29656 32943 38333 40879 43677 43878 30051 1101 1300 23
Lištica 23212 24051 24732 27285 26076 27180 30047 388 388 77
Ljubinje 5776 5665 5476 4837 4516 4172 4258 326 326 13
Ljubuški 25959 26177 26630 28269 27603 28340 22075 289 293 75
Nevesinje 19384 20434 20287 19933 16326 14448 18280 923 923 20
Mostar 51823 58471 72452 89580 110377 126628 105572 1300 1109 95
Neum 5415 5396 5155 4781 4030 4325 4757 230 225 21
Posušje 15217 15568 15847 16882 16455 17134 16148 372 461 35
Prozor 14401 15783 17276 17963 19108 19760 17415 477 477 37
Stolac 18201 18041 18542 19230 18910 18681 17221 541 271 64
Trebinje 27148 27558 30140 29024 29372 30996 31299 1205 765 41
Ravno 1854 11973 440 46
Berkovići 2799 270 10
East
Mostar 794 118 7
416287 440190 471925 490429 507259 526303 481469 38in/km2 12277 39

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 No. of settelemnts per year
Area of
settlement 1948 1971 1981 The very mentioning of natural
1991
boundaries of Herzegovina,
0-299 614 612 643 631
pointed at the range of sea level
300-599 221 199 173 125 from 0 meters above the sea in
600-1999 138 136 120 115 Neum up to Čvrsnice being on
2228 m and Volujak on 2336m
2000-4999 33 57 55 21
above sea level. The Neretva
5000-14999 0 2 5 5 River Valley, with its delta and
Over 15000 1 1 2 2 tributaries, and belonging fields
Total 1007 1007 998 899 Gabela, Svitava, Ljubuški –Vitina
field, Čitluk-Cerin, Bekija, Mostar
Blato (Mud), Trn, Kočerin, Mostar, Bijelo, Bišće and Popovo Fields, along with
Brotnjo-Dubrava plateau, form the lower part of Herzegovina, the so called Low
Herzegovina.
In social sense, Herzegovina is a part of sub-Mediterranean and Mediterranean
space. Its south-west border is the border with the Republic of Croatia. There are no
natural borders here, being witnessed by two historical exits of old Herzegovina to
the sea. Also, ethnic justification of these borders does not exist. They separate
Croat population into two states.
On such a small space, air distance of only 40km, climate, soil, relief, vegetation, and
culture are being changed.
Exotic area of Herzegovina is very interesting for tourists, both to those wanting to
visit Holy Mary Shrine in Medjugorje or those wanting to experience rafting on the
Rakitnica River, to enjoy in paragliding, or to taste very good vines...Yet, the life in
Herzegovina is not of a good quality. In spite of numerous conveniences for
integration into Europe region, there are many determinants of Herzegovina delay in
economy. Today, we will present what Herzegovina could offer to Europe region.

Regional approach in geography and economy

Regional approach enables insight into content and structures which are not directly
visible.
It is grounded on various numbers of perceived occurrences. It reveals groupings,
unities, combinations in the area, which is the matter of geographical research. The
studies on regions were almost focused on geo-economy and geo-functional level
being either directly or indirectly predetermined by the problems of territorial
planning.

Four primary determinants answer the question on what is a region:

1. First refers to climate and morphology
2. Second is of esthetic nature
3. Third presents historical, cultural and archeological dimension of settelemnts
(which overlaps with esthetic one)
4. Fourth presents creating cultural stereotypes in mass tourism

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Regionalism could be made differently if we take into consideration basic natural
elements, like for example the areas of water basins that could be perceived as a
kind of eco-systems, since geographers have been treated them as special regions
for a long time. One of such a rare regionalism was made at the beginning of
nineteenth century in south Italy by the engineer Carlo Afan de Rivera, at that time
Director of the Administration for ships, roads. forest, water, hunting and fishing in the
Kingdom of Two Sicilys. He was supporting regionalism based on water basins
areas.
Landscape as an element of regionalism in such a region, has always been very
human-subordinated. Nowadays it has been yielded to stress, pressure and
overpopulation; burdens that have not been expressed ever in history so far. Thus,
landscape is a reflection of current society but also of past time visible in its
appearance.

Europe region

Euro-regional co-operation is being established between boundary territories of two

or more countries. As Denis de Rougemont said: "cross-border region is a potential
region not dividable in geography, history, ecology, ethnic groups, economy
possibilities and similar, but dispersed by mastery authorities governing within each
side of its border". Such areas in principle have regional characteristics in geography
sense. They always encompass certain administrative territorial units from both sides
of border.

Models are different for creating cross-border (euro-regional) co-operation in the

sense of territory. As an example, we may mention several territorial types of euro-
regions: two regions along a joint border (euro-region "Tatra" ), areas of three
countries along a joint border (euro-region "Neisse-Nisa-Nysa" ), complex type of
euro-region including areas of thee countries (Carpathian euro-region ), type of euro-
region separated or connected by joint sea (euro-region "Pomeranian" ) and many
euro-regions along German-Dutch border, euro-region Alps Adriatic, Mediterranean
Union, Adriatic region etc.

A common characteristic for the mentioned types of euro-regions is an intact area in

physical-geographical sense; unity in many elements of social geography. Very often,
such regions have similar history and certain history stages were experienced
together; ethnical communities are frequently the same in both sovereign
neighboring countries. Everything points at the fact that even geological processes
and problems arisen from them are common, so they have to be solved as such.

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Euro-region Alps-Adriatic

Euro-region Danube-Drava-Sava

Euro-region Carpathian

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Euro-region Neisse-Nisa-Nysa

Bordering regions along German-Dutch border

Euro-region Pomerania

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Euro-region Tatra

A joint starting base for all these regions is the fact that boundary areas in own
countries mainly have peripheral position both in geographic and very frequently in
developing sense. Connecting with neighboring cross-border area in the conditions of
European integration, these areas change their position from peripheral into central
one. This is the way how Europe transforms the former peripheral position of many
boundary areas into the central position within Europe. This fact is also a motive for
gathering member states into euro-regional co-operation.

Peripheral position of Herzegovina is evident. This position conditioned economy

underdevelopment and inferiority in the environment, but it does have at its disposal
comparative advantages that are surely interesting for the communities Alps-Adriatic,
Mediterranean Union and perhaps even to other regions. Resources of Herzegovina
are water, bauxite, fertile soil, biological diversity and numerous contrasts in small
space. Herzegovina is a region of spiritual peace, since it hosted biggest Marian
Shrine in this part of Europe, and third by space in the region of European
Mediterranean.

Yet, the nature creates conditions for regional connecting and imposes its necessity.
Thus, in conditions of Herzegovinian karst there must be regional co-operation
regardless of state borders. It has been reflected in the possibilities for implementing
a project on water resources in limestone like Gornji Horizonti. There, by the system
of plants and accumulation, waters of East Herzegovina are being collected, but it
also means that underground flows are not controlled. Such system could be used
both for good but also for bad purposes.

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To support the claim, we should stress that a reason for gathering is usually a certain
project, and here, there could be several of them like construction of European
highway along European corridor V/C which is going to connect these areas and also
to provide better communication with middle Europe in one direction and Adriatic Sea
in the opposite direction, then construction of „Dalmatina“-which will be the first to
connect Dalmatia inland with Herzegovina after Roman and French constructors.

Position of Herzegovina in Euro region Alps-Adriatic

There has not been unique model of cross-border co-operation in the Europe, so the
same is in regard to individual goals. Therefore, efforts should be put in presenting
Herzegovina region and its advantages in whole but also in pointing at failures in

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order to attract those interested to invest. This mainly refers to the needs of
construction of modern communication system, both land and air one, without which
the connecting is not possible; then to invest in agriculture, tourism and so on. The
underlined goals are the result of the fact that euro-region is always interesting
organization finding its foundation in

-geographical relation
-joint resources and potentials (economy and geo-ecological aspect)
-historical affairs and relations (political, social and psychological aspect)
-minorities from both sides of border (demographic aspect)
-situation with inter-state relations (political aspect)
-inter-state and regional projects (interests and technical aspect)

Geographical relation is reflected in the absence of borders in the nature. The nature
gave to Herzegovina limestone. Its main characteristic is noticed in no regularly
developed surface water net. Water is the resource of Herzegovina, but it is
underground. If we do not treat it with caution it will change flows and turn fertile
meadows into desert. That is the matter with Hydro-electric power plant Gornji
Horizonti. It collects waters from karst field of east Herzegovina. These waters were
filling so far the sources of the Buna and Ombla Rivers and Hutovo Mud, and would
appear in estavellas in Mali Ston channel as well. The future will show whether HP
Gornji Horizonti will be a special mean in the implementation of politics or only an
economy facility of energy.

Water resource is in the Neretva River which has been the only surface river in
Herzegovina. More than a half of its hydro potentials has already been used, and its
beauty is tried to be protected from devastation. A special kind of co-operation at the
border is demanded by the Delta of Neretva River. The delta starts next to Pocitelj
and not knowing for the borders it expands towards the Adriatic Sea. All pesticides,
herbicides and numerous fertilizers finish in the channels of delta. They are returning
to us in the leaves of lettuce, spinach, fishes…. Monitoring in the agriculture has not
been known to us and that is also a source of great danger. Melioration of the Delta
exterminated mosquitoes, floods, hunger, but it has also brought a steady production,
over salted water in the channels, change in the structure of fish species and so on.
All above mentioned points at urgency in establishing the monitoring over delta from
both sides of border.

Neretva Mud is a wide area that could be included in the Delta: Hutovo Mud,
Bacinska Lakes, Kuti, all of them are specifics of Low Neretva area, being in danger
of vanishing if HP Gornji Horiznti is not going to have a humane character.

The resource of Herzegovina is exit to Mediterranean, i.e. to the Adriatic Sea in

Neum; Neum bay is of low water level, some 25 m deep, narrow and rather closed. In
the bay, natural change of water needs 70 years to happen. Managing of this system
is very sensitive. Burdening with infrastructure, sewage system, asphalt, concrete
and other could cause great problems. That is only a starting point of problems. If
one only thinks about industrialization and building of a port, then fear becomes
completely justified feeling.

As per mentioned facts, we believe that the resources of Herzegovina

-Water
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-Fertile soil
-Bauxite
-Wind
-Bio-diversity

have become very jeopardized, and in natural surrounding that jeopardy influences
the territory of Croatia, which justifies our efforts to become the region of Europe and
to achieve more thorough protection than it has been so far.

Historical connections and relations are reflected in political, social and psychological
aspect of co-operation and activity. Shared history, national belonging, language,
religion and customs are surely the advantage in regional co-operation, and diversity
just contributes to the need for getting knowledge, since only by education we might
diminish the prejudices.
Political fame of these areas points at states which through history stipulated a
constant fight for more just status. This was the origin of a special social frame of
keeping specific customs, idiolects, family relations. The feeling of belonging and
closeness or openness to the world has been psychologically created. That feeling
of belonging to certain cultural circles is the wealth of this area and as such it
presents an interesting combination in the area both of Mediterranean and Alps-
Adriatic regions.

Demography aspect should be analyzed through the same national structure, same
religion structure, but here historical fact of emigration has been interesting. Long
time ago it was caused by dry weather, sometimes by diseases of grape, attacks of
caterpillars but very often by wars. The number of population has been decreasing.
Population politics in neighboring Croatia has been felt in this area too; more
comfortable, easy and more quality way of living has been taking away more and
more inhabitants of Herzegovina. As to my knowledge, population politics has not
been defined in Herzegovina, so consequently the same is with the problems of
inhabitants.

Modern political aspect of activity in Europe region has its reflection even in these
areas. Problems do exist and are difficult to be solved. Most exposed are the
situation of interstate relation between B&H and Croatia seen in the problem of using
Ploce harbor, constructing of roads along the Delta of Neretva, building of port in
Neum, HP Gornji Horizonti. These are visible problems, and it is highly likely that
democratization is going to reveal numerous problems being not observed so far.

Europe region is our necessity also because of delaying in technical and

technological aspect of development. Negotiations on interstate and regional projects
have not been achieving full consent, so the works on Dalmatina through B&H have
not commenced, the highway on the Corridor Vc is still on papers as well as National
park of the Neretva Delta from both sides of border.
Since political borders are a problem for co-operation everywhere, we believe that
they should be taken here as a motive of gathering and to bring into better future
historical region of Herzegovina which has been peripherally positioned towards both
B&H and Croatia.
As per the above reconsiderations as a basic goal of Euro regional co-operation, the
investments are expectable for improving economy and cultural relations,
harmonization of economy development programs, establishment of relation between
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educational, science and researching institutions, realization of new aspects on
programs for environment protection, getting knowledge, understanding and
acknowledgment to the value of different cultures, since only by education we
overcome barriers that were the reasons for prejudice.

For Euro-regional investments there have been significant resources in the domain of
spatial planning, preserving nature and protecting environment, building of traffic and
communication, tourism, health, science, culture, sport and also in exchange of
information.

Conclusion

Regional approach has to be primarily accepted at home since it enables the insight
into the form and structure of area that has not been directly noticeable. It has been
grounded on different number of observed occurrences and brings on the surface
grouping, unities, combinations in space which is actually the focus of geographical
researches. The main opposite standpoints about region that should be taken into
consideration are-

1. region is an abstract term, as a kind of ‘model’ in researches

2. region is an objective spatial unity, by researching it should be detected,
‘recognized’ and not to make it as a goal for researches

A modern regional term in the world is Vernacular (perceptive) region. That is the
term coming to us from North-American cultural geography, and has been named as
per Latin expression vernaculus – aborigine, host. It refers to mental construction
originating from spatial perception of common people about unity or diversity. The
perception could be of joint unique characteristics of region like natural, cultural,
economy, historical, so it has been considered as a part of joint tradition and cultural
identity. It has been bounded with personification, identification, which gives and
shapes the regional awareness and feeling of belonging. As per such classifications
of region, Herzegovina is completely ready for Europe region. Only politically defined
standpoints are missing.
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