BOSNIA: MOSTAR: BOSNIAN WAR HAS DIVIDED CITY INTO TWO PARTS

(17 Jan 1996) Serbo-Croat/Nat The Bosnian war has divided the city of Mostar into two parts. The Muslim population lives in the east, while the Croats live on the western side. But the city is much more than just ethnically divided, because the Muslim part suffered much more during the war because of the heavy Croat artillery. Amid the ruins of Mostar, the Muslim population has to survive in heavily damaged buildings and destroyed streets. This is in stark contrast to the Croat side of the city, where only the area around the former frontline - the so called boulevard - is seriously damaged. Further into the city the Croats live their lives unaffected by the ravages of the war.. For 43 year old Majda, a Muslim mother living close to the old frontline, life isn't what it used to be. Her husband has been missing for several years and she had to flee her apartment because of the war. Now in her new home, she lives with her daughter and with her memories. It is a struggle to find enough food on the local market - where the prices are high in comparison to the richer Croat side. SOUNDBITE: (In Serbo-Croat) "Now it's very different. There isn't too much here but compared to the war period it is satisfying. The prices are a bit too high but we manage to get by." SUPER CAPTION: Majda, a Muslim mother in Mostar Her daughter, 18 year old Arijan, tries to avoid the western part of Mostar as much as possible. She only goes to there once in a while to buy goods because they are cheaper on the other side. SOUNDBITE: (In Serbo-Croat) "I don't go there (West) very often. If I go there I go for business, or to buy something because it is much more cheaper there than here." SUPER CAPTION: Arijan, a Muslim teenager in Mostar The Croat side of Mostar suffered much less from the war. Life looks normal here with pleasant streets and cafes. Nives is a 22 year old Croat woman. She acknowledges that life on the west is more comfortable than on the Muslim side. But to her that is fine. But she says she wants to keep her living standards and does not want to share it with the people from the east. SOUNDBITE: (In Serbo-Croat) "I think it is much better economically if it remains like this (divided). I think I know the mentality of the people that live in the east part of the city and I think it will be much better economically developed if it stays divided." SUPER CAPTION: Nives, Croatian woman from west Mostar Therefore a divided Mostar is for her the best option for the future. Together with her husband and ten month old child, they live in an undamaged apartment in the Croat center of Mostar. But Nives' husband, 28 year old Mario, is more pessimistic about the future. SOUNDBITE: (In Serbo-Croat) "I don't think there is a better future here at least not for the younger people. Too much blood has been shed and it is going to be very difficult to have peace around here." SUPER CAPTION: Mario, Croat man from west Mostar Whatever happens in the future, nearly everyone in Mostar believes the city will never be the same again. Too much pain and misery from the war has seen to that. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...