The Balkan Mountaineering Union (BMU) is a voluntary association of the 10 official mountaineering organizations on the territory of the Balkan Peninsula. The Union is a legal body. It is a nonparty, non-governmental and nonprofit organization. It was established by free association of the national mountaineering organizations of the Balkan states (Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey) with the aim of fulfillment and coordination of the common goals and interests and for performing activities related to mountaineering in all Balkan states.
The idea of BMU was to unite the efforts of Mountain Federations and Mountain Unions of the Balkan countries for the growth of mountaineering and mountain sports –hiking, mountain orientation, mountain climbing, marking, education of mountain guides, etc. As well as to enable the exchange of experience and good practices related to their work and development of tourist services at the Balkans. Membership in BMU bears no financial difficulties to its member countries.
The Balkan Mountaineering Union is the unique organization of this kind on the Balkans.
Now the BMU member countries negotiate and will probably manage in a nearby period – a uniform grid of all the Balkan alpine trails, which start from Turkey through Bulgaria, some in Greece or Serbia, third in Macedonia, Albania, B&H, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia to make a common marking, common network and general map of mountain trails.
The first Protocol of mutual collaboration, development and promotion of mountaineering and mountain sports in the Balkan region (initiated by the Mountain club Vranje, tourist association Osogovo and Mountain sport club Ruen), was signed among the Federation of Mountain Sports of Macedonia, Bulgarian Tourist Union and the Mountaineering Association of Serbia and Montenegro on October 18th 2003, during the first meeting in Vranje, Republic of Serbia.
In December the same year at the mountain Maljovica in Bulgaria was organized the second meeting of the three countries Protocol signatories.
The following year during the meeting in Ohrid, Macedonia, October 8th 2005, this initiative was supported by the membership of the Mountaineering Union of Albania.
The next meeting took place in the Ski Center Mavrovo (Macedonia), November 25-26, 2006, when the call to join the Balkan Union was send to the mountain associations of Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey and Romania.
During the meeting in Serbia, Kopaonik mountain, October 2007, the annex Protocol for the international collaboration between the Mountain Associations of Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Turkey has been signed.
During the time the idea maturated and the mountaineers/representatives of these countries each year had meetings discussing the organization frame of the Balkan Mountaineering Union
In Kaysery, Turkey, October 28-30, 2008, was decided that the existing Forum of the Balkan Mountaineering Federation will be transformed into the Union of Balkan Mountaineering Federation (UBMF) with location in Belgrade (Serbia).The location of different committees should be in different member countries. Macedonia will be location of the Editorial Board of the magazine Korav. UBMF will be a legal subject. Its main targets of work will be:
• approach to unification and standardization of all mountaineering activities in accordance with the rules of International Climbing and Mountaineering Association (UIAA) and European Ramblers Association (ERA)
• organization of competition in different disciplines
• environment protection
• popularization of the nature beauties of the Balkan region
• publishing
The organization of UBMF will consists of
• Assembly
• Executive board
• Committees
• Editorial board
Serbia was supposed to prepare UBMF Statute proposal.
Climbing to the summit of Mt. Erciyes in winter conditions was organized by the Turkish Mountain Federation.
The next meeting was organized in October 16-17, 2009 at the mountain of Bjelashnica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the presence of delegates of six Balkan countries (Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina), as well as Croatia as observer. During the meeting the delegations of the six Balkan countries decided to rename the organization with the official name Balkan Mountaineerin Union (BMU). Jovica Ugrinovski, from the Macedonian Mountain Sport Federation was nominated the president of BMU. The secretary general was nominated from the Mountain Union of Serbia
It was decided the on-line BMU Magazine editor-in-chief to be Katica Garoska Acevska (Macedonia). The annual championship to be organized in the following disciplines: mountain orientation, mountain biking, rock climbing, ski touring and mountain running.
After the official meeting the participants climbed the mountain Bjelashnica peak, and the wreaths were laid at the monument to the fallen mountaineers and to the children killed during the war in Sarajevo.
The next meeting took place in Nigde, Turkey, October 16-17, 2010. Besides the six BMU member states the meeting attended the delegation of the Hellenic Federation of Mountaineering & Climbing as observer member.
After the official program trekking tour across the canyon of Aladaglar Mountains was organized.
The host of the constitutive meeting of the Balkan Mountain Union was the Federation of Mountain Sports of Macedonia. The meeting took place in Skopje, May 28th, 2011.
During the meeting BMU statute was adopted and the Executive committee was established. For the first president of BMU the vote of confidence was given to Prof. D-r. Jovica Ugrinovski, president of the Federation of Mountain Sports of Macedonia, one of the initiators of the Balkan Mountaineering Union setting up.
Executive Board members were nominated: Mirsad Huseinovic (BiH), Alaatin Karagja (Turkey), Pavle Bandovic (Montenegro), Venceslav Udev (Bulgaria).
Meeting conclusions:
– no membership fee
– the seat of BMU to be in Skopje, Macedonia
– logotype of BMU was adopted
– the seal of BMU was adopted
– the first BMU expedition to peak Lenin, Georgia, to be organized by the Turkish Mountain Federation
Hellenic Federation of Mountaineering and Climbing was accepted as observer member
Plav, Babino Polje, Montenegro, October 15-16, 2011
The regular meeting of the BMU took place in Babino Polje, the picturesque mountain eco settlement at the junction of the three states border, organized by the Mountaineering Association of Montenegro and hosted by the Mountaineering Club Hrid from Plav.
The meeting attended the delegates from all countries members of BMU: Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey.
The main activity during the previous period May-October was the official registration of the BMU. On September 6th, 2011 the BMU was registered in the Central Registry of the Republic of Macedonia under the number: IDNC 6723586.
The report of the first joint Balkan expedition Peak Lenin 2011 was presented and this expedition unanimously was evaluated as very successful.
The application of the Mountaineering Association of Slovenia as associate observer member was unanimously accepted.
Tour to Gusinje, Grebaja, Ropojane and the natural beauties of the Prokletije mountains was organized by the hosts.
Karlukovo, Bulgaria, May 19-20, 2012 meeting was organized by the Bulgarian Tourist Association attended by the representatives of all member countries, excerpt Turkey.
The application of Croatian Mountaineering Union as associate member was accepted.
Participants debated whether it is appropriate for UIAA to continue to be a bureaucratic and administrative unit, not the practical and useful structure and what needs to be done for this purpose.
Special attention was paid to the mountain roads of the Balkans and their marking as well as the necessity of creating networks of several routes between two or more countries.
Guests from Slovenia presented their experience in terms of the projects funded by the European Union. Initiative for the possible mutual projects between the BMU members was discussed.
The BMU would support the establishment of the European Mountaineeing Association.
After several years of discussions and preparation, with the membership of Croatian Mountaineering Union, BMU became recognized factor in international circles being the only regional organization covering 10 Balkan countries in one. Our mountains are alike, we have the same problems but a different mentality. It is natural such neighbor countries to make an association.
The second day of the meeting the guests had the opportunity to see some of the most interesting places in the area around Karlukovo. During the road trip organized by the hosts of BTU they were acquainted with Provartenika phenomenon, perched on the top of a rocky table-land. The Prohodna cave with its beauty literally left them breathless and silent.
Llogara, Albania, October 5-6, 2012
The meeting of the BMU took place at the Llogara National Park situated on the slopes of the Llogara Mountain, 1025m above the sea level, along the Vlora-Saranda highway.
The meeting hosted by the Albanian Mountaineering Association attended the delegates from eight countries members of BMU, excerpt the delegates from Turkey and Croatia.
During the meeting the following topics were discussed:
Objections and conclusions of BMU on the work of the UIAA:
• more practical work, less bureaucracy
• to sooth the problems, and not to produce them
• to work in the interest of the sport of all members
BMU is open for cooperation with any similar international organization based on mutual respect, reciprocity and non-interference in the internal work.
The preliminary meeting for collaboration with the Club Arc Alpin. The mutual topic would be: walking paths and nature protection.
After the UIAA meeting in Amsterdam, October 14th the newly settled EU Mountaineering Forum will have its first meeting. The discussion about the future of this Forum, its benefits and duties will be initiated. No participation fee. The notes from the EU Forum will be posted on the web site of the BMU Magazine.
The Guides Commission has been established with the following members:
Bulgarian Tourist Union (president)
Mountaineering Association of Bosnia & Herzegovina
Mountaineering Association of Serbia
The report of the joint second Balkan expedition Kazbek 2012 with the participance of 16 countries has been presented. The expedition leader was Ersan Basar, Turkey.
The Protocol of interstate collaboration for the mutual projects under the patronage of the BMU has to be signed to strengthen the power in front of the international, national and local bodies.
Memorandum of reciprocity to be signed by the BMU members in terms of the mutual visit to the mountain huts and tourist objects owned by the BMU member countries.
The Youth Commission has been completed with the following members:
Goran Tintoski – Macedonia (president)
Neda Milosevic – Serbia
Selver Ajrulahi – B&H
Zdenka Mihelic – Slovenia
Litohoro, Greece, May June 1-2, 2013
The regular spring meeting of the Balkan Mountaineering Union took place in Litohoro, the picturesque village at the foot of the legendary Olimpus mountain, hosted by the Hellenic Federation of Mountaineering and Climbing (E.O.O.A) as part of the events dedicated to the Centenary of the first Mount Olympus summit ascent.
The meeting attended the delegates from all ten member countries of BMU.
The report was given by the BMU president about the events between the two meetings of BMU: the UIAA meeting in Amsterdam and the first meeting of the EU Mountaineering Forum.
The project: Ten Balkan Peaks initiated by the Bulgarian Tourist Organization (BTS), inclusion of highest peaks of each BMU member country, will represent the continuity of the Bulgarian project 100 highest peaks in Bulgaria.
During the meeting the following topics were discussed:
The annex of the Memorandum of Collaboration for all parties in agreed partnership towards the overnight stay prizes in the mountain huts in the BMU member countries was signed (not by all member states because of the different status of the huts in their countries, as well as the previously signed international agreements);
The Memorandum (International agreement) of cooperation for the mutual supporting projects under the patronage of the BMU was signed;
The Balkan Youth Camp scheduled for August 2013 has been postponed for the next year.
Visit to the Dion archeological site and museum was organized, as well as lunch to Prionia, the last point before hiking to Mt. Olimpus.
Some of the participant climbed Mt. Olimpus with complementary overnight stay in Spillios Agapitos refuge.
Bavsica, Slovenia, October 18-18, 2013
The regular meeting of the BMU took place in Bavshica, the Mountaineering training centre of the Alpine Association of Slovenia settled in Bavshica valley below the Bavshki Grintavec in the Julian Alps, hosted by the Alpine Association of Slovenia (Planinska Zveza Slovenije, PZS) as part of the events dedicated to their 120th anniversary.
The welcome addresses were given by the president of the PZS, Bojan Rotovnik and the vice president Borut Persolja.
The meeting attended the delegates from all ten member countries of BMU.
The applications of the Alpine Association of Slovenia (PZS) and the Croatian Mountaineering Association (Hrvatski Planinarski Savez, HPS) to become the fully members of MBU were approved with consensus.
The report for the BMU 2013 expedition Mt. Damavend. The expedition was successfully accomplished and all 16 participants reached the peak (5671m)
The next expeditions were scheduled for Mt. Elbrus, July/August 2013 under the leadership of the Federation of Mountain Sports of Macedonia and Mt. Ararat, February 2015, organized by the Turkish Mountain Federation.
The report was given by the BMU president about the EU Forum in Trieste, August 30-31, 2013, with the purpose to “Build the Europe of the Mountains” by signing the Memorandum of understanding by the representatives of 13 European countries.
The report about the UIAA General Assembly & EU Forum in Pontresina-Trieste was given by Matej Planko (Slovenia)
The report about the 44th ERA meeting in Vrsac, Serbia was given by Boris Micic (Serbia)
The idea about the mutual project 10 Balkan peaks (initiated by the Bulgarian Tourist Association BTS) was accepted. It needs to be developed.
The project Balkan Mountain Orienteering Competition, the idea born during the meeting in Sarajevo, and performed by the PZS and PSS has to be discussed during the next BMU meeting
The idea about the project Balkan Mountain Huts on Google map was given by the PZS. Links to all the mountain huts of the BMU member countries has to be added and published on the BMU magazine web site.
The Balkan Youth Camp was scheduled for August 2014 in Macedonia.
Information about the forthcoming International Symposium: “Mountain Huts in the function of tourism development in Bosnia & Herzegovina and the experience of the countries from South-East Europe” Fojnica, B&H, November 1-3, was distributed.
Sightseeing tour and visit to the Triglav National Park was organized.
15th B M U Meeting was hosted by the Croatian Mountain Association (HPS) at the beautiful island of Mljet, near Dubrovnik, Croatia, May 31-June 1, 2014, as part of the events dedicated to their 140th anniversary.
The meeting attended the presidents and delegates from all ten member countries of BMU, as well as the presidents of CAI (Club Alpino Italiano) and ERA (European Rambling Association). The overall number of delegates was 35.
The project Balkan Mountain Huts on Google map was successfully realized by the Slovenian Mountain Association (PZS). Links to the mountain huts of the BMU member countries were added and published on the BMU Magazine website.
Besides the great number of useful un-formal discussions, the delegates visited the attractive sites of the island of Mljet and tour to the local hiking trials was organized by the local authorities.
Konjic, BiH, October 25, 2014
The 16th meeting of BMU took place in Konjic, B&H, the alpine town located between the mountains of Prenj, Bjelasnica and Bitovinja, Herzegovina, divided by the rushing waters of Neretva river, known as rafting paradise. The meeting was hosted by the Mountaineering Union of Bosnia&Herzegovina in the frames of the 3rd International Symposium: “B&H mountains in function of tourism development and experience of the countries of South-Eastern Europe” where the BMU representatives took participation.
The meeting attended the presidents and delegates of all ten members of BMU
Report about the BMU Youth Camp Ohrid 2014, organized by the FMSM, was given by FMSM representative.
The BMU Youth Camp 2015 which will take place in Macedonia supported by UIAA was announced (3 participants from each country member of BMU)
Presentation of the membership card of the ongoing project “10 Balkan peaks” was presented by the representative of the Bulgarian Tourist Union, Georgi Karpachev. The remarks made by certain countries has to be send to the project holder.
Changes of the BMU Statute: remarks made by the Alpine Association of Slovenia were fully accepted. It was agreed that election of the BMU President and Executive Board would take place the next BMU meeting, in spring 2015. By December 2014 the BMU secretary has to make briefing by e-mail about the suggestions made by the BMU members.
The Balkan Team Orientieering competition organized by the PSS and PZS was announced. The announcement of the event scheduled for 2015 to be posted on the wall of the BMU Magazine by the end of 2014.
Report about the UIAA annual meeting in Flagstaff, Arizona, USA, was given by HPS representative Darko Berjak.
Expeditions organized and realized by BMU:
Peak Lenin (7135m), August 2-19, 2011,7 participants from 3 countries (Macedonia 3, Montenegro 1,Turkey 3)
Mt. Kazbek (5050m), August 17-25, 2012, 16 participants from 6 countries (Turkey 7, Macedonia 3, Serbia 2, Slovenia 2, Montenegro 2)
Mt. Damavand, (5671m), August 1-13, 2013, 16 participants from 4 countries (Albania 3, Croatia 4, Macedonia 8, Slovenia 1)
Mt. Elbrus (5642m), August 1-8, 2014, 16 participants from 4 countries (Albania 10, Croatia 1, Macedonia 4, Montenegro 1)
Mt. Ararat (5137m), February 4-10, 2015, 38 participants from 4 countries (Albania 5, Macedonia 5, Montenegro 1, Turkey 27)
