Bosnia Opens First UK Consulate 30 Years After the War

The UK’s first Bosnian consulate is set to open in Birmingham this Sunday.

Bosnia-Herzegovina’s president, Denis Bećirović, will officially inaugurate the consulate during a special ceremony that pays tribute to the resilience and contributions of the British Bosnian community.

The event, which will be held at Bosnia House on Stratford Road, will also commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Bosnian genocide. The Srebrenica massacre of July 1995 is recognized by the United Nations as the most severe atrocity committed on European soil since World War II.

The broader conflict claimed over 100,000 lives, saw thousands subjected to sexual violence, and displaced around two million people.

Community leaders emphasized that Sunday’s event will celebrate the courage and perseverance of survivors who have rebuilt their lives in the UK.

After the war’s end in 1995, Birmingham became the base for the Bosnia and Herzegovina UK Network, which assisted approximately 10,000 refugees across Britain.

As part of the ceremony, Dr. Anes Cerić, the organization’s chief executive, will be officially appointed as the honorary consul of Bosnia-Herzegovina for the Midlands.

Dr. Cerić described the consulate's opening as a landmark moment.

"From suffering to success, this reflects our journey and opens doors for investment, education, cultural ties, and economic collaboration between Bosnia and the Midlands," he said.

Dr. Waqar Azmi, honorary president of the Bosnia and Herzegovina UK Network, highlighted that despite experiencing "unthinkable suffering", the British Bosnian community continues to stand for peace, unity, and compassion.

The event is expected to draw notable guests including UK Minister for Communities Lord Wajid Khan and West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker.