FBIH ENTITY GOVERNMENT COFINANCES THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THREE CHURCHES AND ONE JEWISH CEMETERY

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 11,2007) – Agreement on cofinancing and protection of three Catholic churches in the FBIH entity and the Old Jewish Cemetery in Sarajevo was signed at the FBIH Entity Government headquarters in Sarajevo.

Salko Obhodjas, Minister of Urban Planning, signed the agreement on behalf of the FBIH Entity Government. He said that those monuments are important for Bosnia's cultural heritage and that no funds have been provided for their reconstruction.

The FBIH Entity Government made that step on the basis of the Bosnian state law on Protection of the National Monuments and on the basis of decisions of the department commission. Minister Obhodjas urged the cantonal, municipal and other level authorities to participate in programs of national and cultural heritage protection.

On the basis of the agreement signed, 50.000 Bosnian Marks is to be used for reconstruction of the St. John’s Church in Tarcin, 40.000 Bosnian Marks for the reconstruction of the St. Michael’s Church in Vares and 50.000 Bosnian Marks for the reconstruction of the St. Mary’s Church in Stup.

75.000 Bosnian Marks is to be used for reconstruction of the Old Jewish cemetery in Sarajevo.

Cosignatories are representatives of the Cahtolic Offices of the churches that are to be reconstructed – Pero Tunjic, Ivica Vidak and Ivo Paradzicm, as well as the President of Sarajevo Jewish Community Boris Kozemjakin.

The religious officials thanked the FBIH Entity Government for the donation and told the press that the Vares church is the oldest church in Bosnia and that the church in Tarcin is no older than 70 years, and are both “thriving for a reconstruction”. The Stup church was considerably damaged the 1992-1995 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia. It is about 120 years old and has become a tourist attraction.

Over 1 million Bosnian Marks has been invested into the reconstruction of the Old Jewish Cemetery in Sarajevo.

”The money donated by the FBIH Entity Government is not enough to complete the reconstruction. However, it is a significant donation that may lead others to invest”, Kozemjakin said.

Minister Obhodjac, emphasized that the FBIH Entity Government has already planed to invest more money into the reconstruction of the Old Jewish Cemetery and the Guca Gora Convent near Travnik.