A worker cleans a tombstone at Radimlja necropolis near Stolac March 10, 2015. Four former Yugoslav republics, torn apart by war in the 1990s, expect success in their unprecedented joint bid to win United Nations protection for thousands of medieval tombstones that are part of their shared heritage, a minister said on Tuesday. Known as "Stecci", the tombstones date to the 12th century and are revered in the Balkans for their unique decorative symbols and carvings, often linked to the medieval Kingdom of Bosnia. Around 60,000 have been found in Bosnia, and nearly 10,000 in neighbouring Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro. "We expect UNESCO to add Stecci to the World Heritage list and place them under its protection," Bosnian Civil Affairs Minister Sredoje Novic said. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic (BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA - Tags: SOCIETY)