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Palazzo Zorzi, Castello 4930
30122 Venice (Italy)
tel. + 39 041 2601511
fax: + 39 041 5289995
Email: veniceoffice@unesco.org |
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BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: Old Bridge in Mostar
1993, year in which the Old Bridge in Mostar collapsed into the waters of the Neretva River after being hit by heavy shells.
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UNESCO's action to rebuild the Mostar Bridge
The Old Bridge was destroyed for its symbolic value and for this same reason UNESCO promised to rebuild it. "We are present in Mostar in order to breathe fresh life into an exceptional heritage which, after having been used as a target, needs to become a rallying sign, a sign of recognition, the powerful symbol of a plural identity founded on mutual trust," said Koďchiro Matsuura. On 10 March 1994, UNESCO launched an appeal for its reconstruction. A first UNESCO fact-finding mission visited Mostar in June and proposes initial emergency measures.
In 1998, UNESCO, the World Bank and the city of Mostar issued a joint statement and launched an appeal for the reconstruction of the Old Bridge in Mostar, which was answered by five donor countries (Croatia, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey), as well as the Council of Europe Development Bank. While the World Bank was responsible for the financial part of the project and the city of Mostar handled the disbursement of the funds, UNESCO's main task was to ensure the technical and scientific coordination. An international Committee of experts was named to that purpose. In 2001, reconstruction work began and the new bridge was completed in April 2003.
The action of the Section for Culture of the UNESCO Office in Venice
UNESCO Office Venice - Section for Culture will contribute to, and participate in, the Regional Conference in Mostar, in particular for the elaboration of the Draft Declaration and the Plan of Action, as well as in the follow-up of the main works of restoration in Mostar. Cooperation is also foreseen with the BiH government for the inauguration of the Mostar Bridge and the follow-up of the Conference.
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Inauguration of Mostar Bridge - Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina 26-07-2004 - 26-07-2004
26 July 2004, Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina. By the Director-General of UNESCO, Koďchiro Matsuura, and the President of Bosnia-Herzégovina, Sulejman Tihic, in the presence of a dozen regional Heads of State |
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MOSTAR
Rebuilding of Stari Most (old bridge) and the rehabilitation of the old town of Mostar |
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Chronology
1557:
Suleiman the Magnificent decides to have a bridge built over the Neretva River in Mostar, which at the time was an important commercial center.
1566:
Ottoman architect Mimar Hajruddin, a disciple of the famous Sinan, completes construction of the bridge, named Stari Most ("Old Bridge"), after nine months of work.
Photo: © UNESCO/L.Iglesias
1993:
On November 9, Croatian artillery units destroy Stari Most, the target of two days of intense bombings, with more than 60 shells hitting the structure.
1994:
On March 10, UNESCO launches an appeal for its reconstruction. A first UNESCO fact-finding mission visits Mostar in June and proposes initial emergency measures.
1995:
Signing in December of the general framework for peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (known as the Dayton Agreement),which provides for the creation of a Commission to Preserve National Monuments and tasks the UNESCO Director-General with naming two of its five members, including the president of the Commission.
1997:
On May 13, the Commission to Preserve Bosnia and Herzegovina's National Monuments inscribes Stari Most on the list of protected monuments.
Hungarian army divers retrieve hundreds of the bridge's original stone blocks from the Neretva River, in an operation that lasts from August until December 1st.
1998:
On July 13, UNESCO, the World Bank and the city of Mostar issue a joint statement and launch an appeal for the reconstruction of the Old Bridge in Mostar.
2001:
June 7: reconstruction work begins.
2003:
April 14: the first arch stone is placed, as residents of Mostar look on.
July 27: official opening of the construction site, attended by Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.
August 29 and 30: the heads of state of eight southeastern European states meeting in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia adopt the Message from Ohrid, in which they approve the idea of organizing a reopening ceremony at the Mostar bridge and say they plan to attend together.
2004:
July 23: official inauguration of the bridge attended by UNESCO Director-General Koďchiro Matsuura, representing the entire United Nations. |
Country profile: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Location: Southeastern Europe
Capital: Sarajevo
Area: 51,233 sq. km
Total Population (2002): 4.1 million
Adult Literacy Rate (2000-2004): 94.6%
Life expectancy at birth (2002): 74 years
GDP (2002): 5.2 US$ billion
Joined UNESCO: 2 June 1993
Sources: UNESCO, World Bank. |
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Inauguration of Mostar Bridge
26 July 2004, Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina. By the Director-General of UNESCO, Koďchiro Matsuura, and the President of Bosnia-Herzégovina, Sulejman Tihic, in the presence of a dozen regional Heads of State |
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