PAVAROTTI OPENS MUSIC CENTRE IN MOSTAR

( Editorial: --> 0128 ) MOSTAR, Dec 21 (Hina) - Famous Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti on Sunday evening opened the Pavarotti Music Centre in eastern Mostar. The tenor was the principal donor for the building of the centre, into which three million pounds have been invested to date. British humanitarian organisation War Child also assisted. Upon arriving in Mostar, Pavarotti made a tour of the Bosniak- Muslim-controlled eastern and Croat-controlled western part of town. Pavarotti promised he would give a concert whose profit will go for the reconstruction of the town's old bridge, destroyed during the conflict. The future is in your hands, Pavarotti told Mostar children at a press conference, adding they have to build peace like elsewhere in the world. The tenor said he had wanted to come and hear Bosnian children sing after seeing horrible war broadcasts on Bosnia and the suffering of its children. Pavarotti was given a special charter by the Children Embassy from Sarajevo, in gratitude for his support to children. Present at the opening of the Pavarotti Music Centre were the vice president of the Bosnian Council of Ministers, Haris Silajdzic, his deputy Neven Tomic, Bosnian Foreign Minister Jadranko Prlic, the Croat-Muslim Bosnian Federation Premier Edhem Bicakcic, Federation Vice President Ejup Ganic, Mostar mayor and deputy mayor Safet Orucevic and Ivan Prskalo, and many diplomats accredited in Bosnia. (hina) ha 212042 MET dec 97