Date of publication: 10/04/2013
The French Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina has announced that a programme of events to mark the Centenary of the First World War in Sarajevo has been submitted.
The Ambassador of France to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Roland Gilles, the mayor of Sarajevo, Mr. Ivo Komic and President of the Foundation Sarajevo heart of Europe, Ms. Jasmina Pasalic, submitted the proposals for events to mark the Centenary of the First World War at a conference on 8th April 2013.
The programme will include cultural events, commemorations, academic reflection upon the conflict, as well as athletic events for the month of June 2014.
The year 2014 will also mark 30 years since Sarajevo hosted the XIV Olympic Winter Games.
Among the initiatives to mark the Centenary presented was Sarajevo heart of Europe – a foundation created jointly by France and the city of Sarajevo, which will help to mark the conflict in June 2014.
Further agreements between the City of Sarajevo, the French Embassy and the French Mission Centenaire 14-18 aim to emphasise the “message of reconciliation and peace”.
A film, The Bridges of Sarajevo, is also under development.
The French Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina stated that “In France next year there will be plenty of events to mark this anniversary, but France wants to support events in Sarajevo, which will send a message of peace, especially to the younger generations”.
Funding from France, supported by Germany, for Sarajevo will be an important aspect as to how the Centenary events are funded in Sarajevo.
To find out more about the programme of Centenary events in Sarajevo, visit the French Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s website here.
To read further about the conference, visit the Croatian language City of Sarajevo website here.
Posted by: Tanja Bonny, Centenary News