MOSTAR'S OLD BRIDGE MOSTAR, Nov 10 (Hina) - This weekend was the tenth anniversary of destruction of the Old Bridge in Mostar, southern Bosnia-Herzegovina. The reconstruction of the mediaeval bridge is nearing completion.
MOSTAR, Nov 10 (Hina) - This weekend was the tenth anniversary of
destruction of the Old Bridge in Mostar, southern Bosnia-
Herzegovina. The reconstruction of the mediaeval bridge is nearing
completion. #L#
The bridge was destroyed by Bosnian Croat forces on November 9, 1993
during the fiercest clashes between Bosnian Croats and Muslims.
The reconstruction of the bridge, which was built in the 16th
century during the Ottoman rule, will be completed by the end of
this year. The bridge will be officially opened on July 23, 2004.
The incumbent President of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Dragan Covic, invited US President George Bush to the opening
ceremony during a brief meeting at the 54th annual session of the UN
General Assembly.
The bridge has been reconstructed in the same way it was built.
Each stone block that was built into the arc of the bridge was shaped
by hand. Reconstruction works on the bridge and the old part of the
city, worth US$15 million, are financed by the governments of
Croatia, Turkey, Italy, France, and the Netherlands, as well as by
UNESCO and the City of Mostar.
(hina) rml