Bosnia's President Heads To Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- When you hear of Bosnia, many people think of the brutal civil war a decade ago that killed thousands.

But now, as Mike Schuh reports, their president is in town to let us know those days are long gone.

Complain as we may, we tend to forget how well our government works and has for hundreds of years.  Compare it to Bosnia-Herzegovina.  A brutal civil war in the 1990s left tens of thousands dead or displaced.  Maryland National Guard troops even went in to keep the peace.

Peace has arrived under their flag, but six months after elections, there's still no countrywide government. But they do have three presidents sharing duties.  One of them came to Baltimore County to strengthen ties with the National Guard which helped to protect his country and to tell Americans his home is no longer the violent, scary, dangerous place it once was.

"You know, it was disaster some 15 years ago, ruined country, burnt villages," said President Bakir Izetbegovic.

That's changed. Now he wants Americans and American businesses and money invested in his country.

"I hope Americans will come, American business will come, and we will continue together," Izetbegovic said.

The president will host 60 businesses from his country at the University of Baltimore Wednesday.

That Balkans Business Summit includes their president, defense minister and ambassador.