Vladimir Šoljić (born 19 October 1943) is a

Bosnian Croat The Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina (), often referred to as Bosnian Croats () or Herzegovinian Croats () are the third most populous ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina, ethnic group in the country after Bosniaks and Serbs of Bosnia and H ...

politician who served as the second President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1997.

Biography

Šoljić was born on 19 October 1943. He worked at the SOKO aircraft factory in Mostar for many years. During the

Bosnian War The Bosnian War ( sh, Rat u Bosni i Hercegovini / Рат у Босни и Херцеговини) was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995. The war is commonly seen as having started ...

, Šoljić served a variety of ministerial positions within the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia, including minister of energy industry and mining as well as minister of defense. During his time as Minister of Defence, he was approached by Zoran Mandlbaum, head of the Jewish community in Mostar. Šoljić's forces provided a brief ceasefire so a diesel tanker could provide East Mostar Hospital with fuel for their generator. After the war, he was chosen by the Federal ParliamentKaratnycky, Adrian; Motyl Alexander J.; Graybow, Charles. Nations in transit, 1998: civil society, democracy, and markets in East Central Europe and the newly independent states. Freedom House. 1999. Str 126. to serve as President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Šoljić served from 18 March to 29 December 1997. He and his deputy,

Bosniak The Bosniaks ( bs, Bošnjaci, Cyrillic: Бошњаци, ; , ) are a South Slavic ethnic group native to the Southeast European historical region of Bosnia, which is today part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who share a common Bosnian ancestry, cu ...

Ejup Ganić, had little influence in policymaking, and were under pressure from the international community, the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosniak and Croat members of the National Presidency. He was

Vice-President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has two deputy Presidents indirectly elected by the two chambers of the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the two deput ...

from December 1997 to January 1999. On 24 May 1997, Šoljić became a founding member of the Croatian Community of Herzeg-Bosnia. This organization aimed not to create a new Croat entity, but to connect Croats across the country and determine strategic directions for national, cultural, and economic development. He served as president until 17 April 2010, when he became an emeritus member of the organization's general council.

References

1943 births Living people Politicians from Mostar Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidents of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Vice Presidents of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Politicians of the Croatian Republic of Herceg-Bosna Politicians of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina politicians {{BosniaHerzegovina-politician-stub