The commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the restoration of the Old Bridge began with an appropriate program at the Mostar Culture Center, organized by the Center for Peace and Multi-Ethnic Cooperation, and accordingly, numerous valuable contents were arranged.
The panels, 30 of them with photos of the Old Bridge through time, were exhibited, Safet Oručević’s book “Dnevnik mimara” was promoted, and the film “Old Bridge – Monument of Peace” directed by Ahmed Imamović, for which the screenplay was written by Alija Behram and Samir Nožić, was premiered. The exhibition was opened by the Minister of Education and Science of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jasna Duraković.
“It is a great honor to be a speaker at this exhibition, as well as to be its patron. Great emotions are present, because I am someone who is deeply attached to Herzegovina. I proudly carry that around the world, both Stolac and Mostar. Thanks to Safet Oručević for the opportunity to participate in these events. This is a project that will live on the world stage”, said the minister at the opening.
This was followed by the promotion of the book “Dnevnik mimara”, which sublimates ten years of activities with the aim of restoring the Old Bridge, as well as the idea that this project will bring the world together, and the bridge will become and be a monument of peace.
Promotion of the book “Dnevnik mimara” by Safet Oručević
Reviewers Jasna Duraković, prof. Ph.D. Hamid Čustović, Elvedin Nezirović, and the author himself. Minister Duraković said that it was difficult to hold back tears while reading, that is, while watching the exhibition dedicated to the Old Bridge, with gratitude for being part of an important project, and the honor of being a reviewer of the book.
“It is always a pleasure to cooperate with Safet Oručević. With many years of hard work, work and the desire for peace to reign, he did everything to restore the splendor of the Old Bridge and Mostar’s place on the world stage. The monograph is a significant work with evidentiary material, letters and correspondence, along with a huge opus of photographs that further enrich and testify to the truth. The basic intention of the book is to connect the broken ties between people and nations. The author also points out the importance of the Old Bridge as a monument of peace, the dedicated political struggle to point out the enormous tragedy of its demolition, and to find out the real truth around the world, is also described. It also describes how only by learning about the truth can we work on reconciliation,” said Duraković.
Exhibition on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the reconstruction of the Old Bridge
She pointed out the great importance of the restoration of the Old Bridge, but also the book in which all the important events related to the Old Bridge are described in chronological detail.
“Safet’s lobbying to rebuild the Old Bridge stands out. He attributed to the bridge the characteristic of a bridge of citizens and a bridge of the whole world. The stages of reconstruction of the Old Bridge are also described. Thanks to Safet, the exhibition visited regional centers, which is an exceptional peace mission. It happened in the years when it was difficult to talk and reconcile. It was a difficult undertaking. Today, Mostar is one of the ten most desirable destinations in the world, and the Old Bridge is its icon and civilizational symbol of peace,” said Duraković, among other things.
Professor Hamid Čustović also emphasized the importance of the book “Dnevnik mimara”, also with gratitude for having the opportunity to be a reviewer. For the author, he said that he is the best connoisseur of the conditions in Mostar during and in the years after the war.
Hamid Čustović at the promotion of the book “Dnevnik mimara”
“Each of us should know, see, study, learn from everything. The Mostar bridge is really our common test. “Dnevnik mimara” is a valuable book for several reasons. It is significant for those who study the history of Mostar and Bosnia and Herzegovina. This city was the object of mutual aggression, with the aim of complete destruction, so the most important thing is that the book is full of material evidence and an insight into the later efforts of Safet Oručević to bring life back to the destroyed Mostar. The people of Mostar should be very grateful to him,” Čustović emphasized.
Elvedin Nezirović emphasized the historical importance of “Dnevnik mimara”, because, as he said, it removes doubts and dilemmas about both the barbaric demolition and the restoration of the Old Bridge.
“Safet Oručević’s book, documented and first-hand, completely removes the veil from the rebuilding process. This is not only a book about reconstruction, but also about the idea of a fairer and better Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the world. The construction of the bridge did not begin with the unification of the city administration, nor with the blessing of Croatian politics in Mostar, as this book testifies. Safet Oručević and his administration fought for a multi-ethnic Mostar, so they included not only Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the whole world in the reconstruction. In addition to being an authentic testimony of the restoration, the book tells about the vision of one man to connect peoples, states and continents with a bridge. It reveals the complexity and magnitude of the reconstruction effort,” said Nezirović, among other things.
Exhibition on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the reconstruction of the Old Bridge
At the end, the author Safet Oručević addressed the audience. He thanked those present, above all the reviewers and the editor who spoke about him in chosen words, with thanks also to the Majlis of the Islamic Community of Mostar. Of course, he remembered the beginning of the reconstruction of the Old Bridge.
“Renovation actually started in 1994. Mostar was a burning place with two streets and seven collapsed bridges. During my administration, all bridges were rebuilt. The indispensable Miro Dušić and Zlatko Serdarević worked on the book,” emphasized Oručević.
He singled out one man in particular, who played a major role in the reconstruction, but today he is not among the living.
“If, among all the people I know, who worked on the restoration of the Old Bridge, you asked me to single out someone, the first place would be Rusmir Ćišić. We must remember that man and write down what he did. He built all the bridges. My administration was a political architect,” Oručević recalled.
Premiere of the film “Old Bridge – Peace Monument”
Finally, the documentary film “The Old Bridge – Monument of Peace” was shown. Among other things, it shows authentic footage taken at the HVO position during the shelling and demolition of the Old Bridge, Alija Behram’s report to the Radio Bosnia and Herzegovina program with Safet Oručević’s statement and the message: “These are shots to the soul of every Mostar, the criminals will pay for this.” answer one day”, and the film brings many interesting records from the time of the restoration of the Old Bridge. At the end, the director Ahmed Imamović greeted the attendees.
Source: klix.ba
