On 22 and 23 July, Ambassador Marco Di Ruzza took part in the commemorations organised by the Bosnian-Herzegovinian authorities in partnership with UNESCO to mark the 20th anniversary of the reopening of the Old Bridge (Stari Most) in Mostar on 23 July 2004. Italy was invited to the event as one of the guests of honour, having distinguished itself at the time as the first donor country in the international solidarity effort that made the rebuilding of the bridge and its subsequent inclusion in the UNESCO heritage list possible. A commitment, the Italian one, crucial for the achievement of the objective and with a strong symbolic value, as witnessed by the participation of the then President of the Republic Carlo Azeglio Ciampi - on that occasion accompanied by Defence Minister Antonio Martino - in the ceremony that started the reconstruction work, on 27 June 2002.
Built in 1557, a jewel of medieval Ottoman architecture, the Old Bridge has always been the most iconic and evocative symbol of Mostar, an expression of coexistence between the Christian West and the Islamic East. Its destruction offered one of the most dramatic and lacerating images of the war that shook Bosnia Herzegovina as part of the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. The structure was in fact cannonaded on 9 November 1993 as part of the 'conflict within the conflict' that pitted Croat-Bosnian and Bosnian-Muslim forces against each other in Mostar.
The celebrations took place over two days and included a wide-ranging package of events, with the participation of the highest state authorities, with the President-in-Office Denis Bećirović, the President of the Council Bojana Kristo and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmedin Konaković; local authorities, starting with the Mayor of Mostar Mario Kordić and the President of the City Council Salem Marić; of the international community, including the former President of Slovenia Borut Pahor, Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman, Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Burhanettin Duran, UNESCO Deputy Director General Qu Xing and the Vice President of the World Bank for Europe and Central Asia, Antonella Bassani of Italy; and finally, various NGOs, including the Mostar "Centre for Peace and Multiethnic Cooperation", headed by the former Mayor of Mostar Safet Orucević.
On the evening of 23 July, on a stage set up at the foot of the Bridge and with images of the reconstruction as a backdrop, Mayor Kordic and City Council President Marić - Bosnian-Bosnian and Bosnian-Muslim respectively - presented an award to representatives of the international actors who contributed most to the reconstruction of the Old Bridge, including Italy of course.
"The decisive Italian contribution to the reconstruction of the Stari Most - stated Ambassador Di Ruzza - is a clear testimony of our action in support of inter-ethnic pacification and stability in Bosnia Herzegovina. The reconstructed Bridge is undoubtedly one of the most significant emblems of a reconciliation process that, although tortuous and incomplete, has nonetheless allowed the Balkan country - also with Italian support - to obtain the status of candidate for European membership and to make concrete the prospects of starting the relevant negotiations".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
