Flag of the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia

The flag of West Herzegovina Canton and Herzeg-Bosnian Canton flag in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the same as the flag of the former Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia (1992–96). The flag consists of three equal size, horizontal stripes in the pan-Slavic colours arranged in Croat tricolour: red, white and blue. In the middle is the coat of arms of the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia stylised with a triple wattle at the top.

Usage 

The flag was adopted by the short-lived Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia in 1992 as a variation of Croatian flag and used throughout the war. Since the entity's incorporation into the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1994–96, the flag has come to represent all Croats in the country. However, no official decision has been made about it, since no body has the competency to decide upon this matter. It is more favoured by the country's Croats than the official state flag. Between 1994 and 1996, before the Bosniak-Croat Federation adopted its own symbols, three flags were hoisted in the sessions of the Parliament of the Federation: the flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina of the time, the flag of Bosniaks, and the flag of Herzeg-Bosnia "(that is, the flag of Bosnian Croats, red-white-blue with chequy coat of arms)."

As an unofficial flag of Bosnia's Croats, it is present in the office of Croat member of state presidency, as well as in many Croat-majority municipalities and schools in the country. Croatian National Assembly uses it regularly, just as all mainstream Croat political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Canton flag 
Since the creation of Bosniak-Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1994 and the establishment of its 10 cantons in 1996, as Herzeg-Bosnia was abolished, it was used as the official flag of three Croat-majority cantons (Posavina Canton, Canton 10 and West Herzegovina Canton). In 1997 and 1998 the Constitutional Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina ruled its usage as a canton flag unconstitutional, since the symbols of cantons and municipalities cannot represent just one ethnic group. Posavina Canton changed its flag in 2000, while it is still used as an official flag of West Herzegovina Canton, where Croats comprise 98,8% of the population, and Canton 10, where 77% of the population are Croats.

Other flags of Bosnian Croats

See also 

 Flag of Croats of Serbia
 Coat of arms of the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia
Symbols of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina
List of flags of Bosnia and Herzegovina

References

External links

Category:Culture of the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia
Herzeg-Bosnia
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Category:Flag of defunct Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia