Page created: 14^th August 2000 Last updated: 29^th August 2004
^The FAME is site devoted to systematic and scientific study of flags and coats of arms. Such symbols often bear strong political and other messages. Inclusion of those symbols here does not mean that the author support or approve the ideas they may stand for.

Una - Sana Canton

Unsko-sanski kanton

Una - Sana Canton
- Una - Sana Canton, 1997 -1999

Una - Sana Canton - Communities

See also:

Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina

on flags used by Western Bosnia during the war

Una - Sana Canton

Unsko-sanski kanton

Capital: Bihac

1:2

Adopted: 5^th September 2000
Source: Zakon o grbu i zastavi Unsko-sanskog kantona, 9. maja 2000. (text of the adopted proposal, with explanations, not yet issued in the official gazette at the time of writing)
Zakon o upotrebi grba i zastave Unsko-sanskog kantona, 9. maja 2000. (text of the adopted proposal, not yet issued)

In December 1999 the Canton made a concourse for a new flag and coat of arms. Out of 28 proposals that arrived there were three that were chosen into further consideration and for public debate. They were published also on the Net, at http://www.uskanton.org. In May 2000 the variant that is effectively the "neutralisation" of the previous symbols was adopted.
In the blue shield there is a white embattled wall with entrance and windows, above it three golden eight-pointed stars, representing the three nations and eight communities, and below are two green "twisted ribbons", representing the rivers Una and Sana. The shield is bordered with white within a golden border.
The flag is tricolour of the colours from the coat of arms, now of equal width with blue at top. The coat of arms is offset eight-pointed the hoist for better visibility when waving in the wind.

Una - Sana Canton, 1997 -1999

4:7

Adopted: 28^th July 1997
Abandoned: during 1999
Source: Odluka o proglašenju Zakona o grbu i zastavi Unsko-sanskog kantona, 4. august 1997, Službeni glasnik USK, br. 2/97, god. I, Bihač, 11. august 1997, str 13.
Zakon o grbu i zastavi Unsko-Sanskog Kantona (sic!), 28. jula 1997, Službeni glasnik USK, br. 2/97, god. I, Bihač, 11. august 1997, str 13.
Odluka o proglašenju Zakona o upotrebi grba i zastave Unsko-sanskog kantona, 4. august 1997, Službeni glasnik USK, br. 2/97, god. I, Bihač, 11. august 1997, str 13.
Zakon o upotrebi grba i zastave Unsko-Sanskog Kantona (sic!), 28. jula 1997, Službeni glasnik USK, br. 2/97, god. I, Bihač, 11. august 1997, str 14-15.
Odluka Visokog predstavnika, Službene novine Federacije BiH, br. 34/99

The coat of arms contains eight stars for the eight communities that make up the Canton, and three larger stars for the three constitutional nations. That the Canton is predominantly Bosniak populated is seen by the book (Koran) and oriental scimitar. In the middle there is a defensive battlement and two blue "trenches" - symbolical for the two rivers after which the Canton is named. The colours in the flag are based on the colours of the coat of arms, and the design is influenced by the flags used by Bosniaks during the recent war. The ratio of the flag is rather unusual 1:1.75 (i.e. 4:7), and the width of stripes is 1:3:12:3:1. The height of the coat of arms is half the flag hoist, and it is set in the middle of the flag.
By the decision of the High Commissioner regarding the displaying and using of the common, neutral and inoffensive symbols, the legal and other acts not complying to it are invalidated. The implementation instructions of this decision consider the symbols of this Canton among such, so the flag is both legally and practically abandoned in 1999.
Note: in some vexillologic sources there is a flag reported without the "outer" white stripes, based on previous partial data. It is an error - such flag was never used.