Johan Verheyden

Johan Verheyden (born 1971) is a Belgian national who served in various capacities in international organisations in post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina. His most visible posts included a spokesmanship for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) between 1996 and 1998 and with the Provisional Administration of Herzegovacka banka (2001-2003). During the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he was based in the capital Sarajevo from where he covered the war for then Belgian Radio and TV (BRT), De Standaard and Knack.
Post-war years
During his wife's pregnancy with their son, the couple wrote a book, Bosnie, on their experiences during the war.
Several more postings in the international community followed, including:
* Programme Manager for the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) on the minority return assistance program to facilitate the return of minority families, currently living in exile, to their homes of origin in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia.
* In April 2001, the then High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Wolfgang Petritsch imposed a Provisional Administration on Herzegovacka bank - officially to stop "misconduct" but unofficially to stop the Bosnian Croats from declaring their own entity. The takeover sparked angry Bosnian Croats to stone international officials, beating up employees of international organisations and ransacking a local office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Johan Verheyden was asked to lead the public information effort and to swing opinion and served almost two years officially as the spokesperson and public policy adviser.
Publications
* The Europa Diary and Teacher's Guide 2008-2009 - Informing and protecting young Europeans (Contributing author), Generation Europe (09/2008)
* Enciklopedijski rjecnik diplomatije i medjunarodnih odnosa: englesko - francusko - bosanski (Encyclopedic Dictionary of Diplomacy and International Relations), Muhamed Hajdarevic, Connectum, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (01/2007). Johan Verheyden was an active contributor (English and French) and later on lector/proofreader for English and French
* Investment Opportunities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (www.fipa.gov.ba), (12/2006) - A promotional booklet (40 pages) outlining the benefits of investing in BiH to foreign investors. The booklet was financed by the EC Delegation in BiH.
* EC FUNCTIONAL REVIEW OF THE RETURN SECTOR IN BIH, Dirk Blink e.a. (Johan Verheyden as co-author), EC Delegation to BiH (04/2005), A study on the status of the return sector with recommendations for the future handover to the local authorities of the return process - taking stock of achievements. The study was part of a series aimed at reforming the public administration in the country.
* Bosnië, Johan Verheyden, Aida Verheyden, Davidsfonds Leuven, 1996 (10/1996)

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