prijava
MOSTAR, November 10 (FENA) – The anniversary of the destruction of the Old Bridge in Mostar was marked yesterday. At 10:16, at the exact time when the Old Bridge arch collapsed in Neretva in 1993, Jasmin Kreso jumped off the Old Bridge and dived into the Neretva River. Dozens of spectators watched in silence and threw the flowers down the river, but didn't applause which is a custom in the city.
A spokesperson of the Mostari Diving Club, Saša Oručević, said that the destruction of the Old Bridge was the darkest day in the city's recent history.
“The Old Bridge has been a symbol of love, coexistence and everything that people have been giving up lately. Today, we sent a message that this nonsense or anything similar should never happen again,” said Oručević.
Old Bridge diver Jasmin Kreso said this was the hardest, but also his favorite, jump.
“The destruction of the Old Bridge always brings sadness for me, my emotions are mixed and this jump is my hardest and dearest at the same time. Before the jump, I prayed for myself and all the soldiers and veterans. I just wish the weather was nicer, it took a lot of courage, but that is our job and we will do it no matter what,” said Kreso.
The Old Bridge is built according to the design of Hajrudin, disciple of one of the greatest Turkish architects, Sinan. It was built between 1557 and 1566.
On 8 November 1993, as part of the offensive, an HVO tank fired throughout the day at the Old Bridge until it was unusable and on the verge of collapse. The Bridge then collapsed on the morning of November 9, 1993.
The Old Bridge was rebuilt in 2004 and many of the edifices in the Old Town were restored or rebuilt with the contribution of the international scientific committee established by UNESCO.
(FENA) A. B.
