EU and BiH sign Protocol for the reconstruction of the City Hall in Sarajevo and City Hall in Novi Grad

Signing ceremony of the Protocol for the reconstruction of the City Hall in Sarajevo and City Hall in Novi Grad was held today  in Sarajevo.

The signing ceremony marks the beginning of the final stage of reconstruction of City Hall in Sarajevo and City Hall in Novi Grad. Ambassador Sorensen stated: “Protection of cultural heritage is a key value for the EU because we are committed to respect for diversity and identity. Therefore we have supported and will continue to support rehabilitation of BiH’s cultural heritage.” Ambassador Sorensen added: “In BiH specifically, in view of recent history and overcoming the wounds of the past, cultural heritage protection and promotion has the potential to be of real support to and a catalyst for better interethnic and intercultural understanding in the future. It has the potential to be part of building a common vision for the future on the basis of shared EU values.”

Ministar Novic, Mayor Behmen and Mayor Railic thanked European Union for this support.

European Union funds the reconstruction of the City Hall in Sarajevo and City Hall in Novi Grad from the Instrument for Pre–Accession Assistance (IPA 2009 and 2010) in the total amount of 7 million Euro (0.6 million Euro for the supervision of works, 5.4 million for the works on reconstruction of the City Hall in Sarajevo and 1 million Euro for the works on reconstruction of the City Hall in Novi Grad Sarajevo).

The EU has provided 13 million Euro for reconstruction and rehabilitation of BiH cultural heritage from the Instrument for Pre–Accession Assistance IPA since 2008.

The Protocol was signed by the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to BiH and EU Special Representative, Ambassador Peter Sorensen, BiH Minister of Civil Affairs Mr. Sredoje Nović, Mayor of Sarajevo Mr. Alija Behmen, Mayor of Municipality Novi Grad Ms. Snježana Railić as well as representatives of contractors SAFEGE SA (for the supervision of  works), Unigradnja Sarajevo (for the works on reconstruction of the City Hall in Sarajevo) and Ehta-R Derventa (for the works on reconstruction of the City Hall in Novi Grad).

Europa.ba