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November 9, 1993

Discussion in '"Today in History", Literature & Media Review' started by Martin Antonenko, Nov 9, 2022.

  1. Martin Antonenko A Fixture

    Country:
    Germany
    The famous "Stari Most" is blown up!



    It has been in its place since 1566 and is the landmark of the Bosnian city of Mostar:

    [IMG]

    The world famous "Stari Most" - the "Old Bridge" over the Neretva - here in 1913...

    [IMG]

    ...and here in 1974...:

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    For almost 450 years the famous building - to which the city of Mostar owes its name - had defied all times and wars.

    Targeted artillery fire from the Croatian besiegers of Mostar...

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    ...heavily damages the "Stari Most" on November 8, 1993, but does not cause her to collapse...:

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    In the following night Croatian "commandos" plant an explosive charge on the bridge, which blows up in the morning hours of November 9, 1993, causing the structure to collapse...:

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    The order was given by the Croatian General Milivoj Petković (at the right in the following pcture)...

    [IMG]

    ... the commando operation was led by Captain Berislav Pušić...:

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    as a result, the residents of Mostar can only get from one part of the city to the other via a rickety makeshift bridge over the Neretva River...

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    ... but only a few residents make use of it, since the Bosnians have their residential areas on the one hand and the Croatian residents on the other.

    It was only when the highly honorable commitment of the EU administrator (and former mayor of Bremen) Hans Koschnick (here in front of the destroyed bridge and below of it the temporary bridge)...

    [IMG]

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    ...the conditions in Mostar had normalized to some extent, the reconstruction of the "Stari Most" can be started.

    As many original parts as possible that were salvaged after the destruction are used...:

    [IMG]

    The cost of reconstruction - 17 million euros - was shared by the European Union, UNESCO, the World Bank and the Republic of Turkey.

    The "Stari Most" was reopened on July 23, 2004 - Mostar has its landmark again!

    [IMG]

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    In May 2013, the International Criminal Court in The Hague sentenced six leaders of the "Croatian Republic of Herceg-Bosna" to long prison terms for serious war crimes and crimes against humanity, but also for destroying the bridge:

    Jadranko Prlić, Prime Minister of the Republic of Herceg-Bosna, to 25 years
    Bruno Stojić, their defense minister, to 20 years
    Slobodan Praljak, former general, to 20 years
    Milivoj Petković, former general, to 20 years
    Valentin Ćorić, Commander of the Bosnian Croat Military Police, at 16 years
    Berislav Pušić, former officer, to 10 years.

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    Praljak committed suicide on November 29, 2017 in The Hague after he had been sentenced to 20 years in prison on appeal and had criticized his conviction. The judgments against his co-defendants were also confirmed in the second instance.

    EU Administrator Hans Koschnick, who unfortunately died in 2016 and is not forgotten in Bremen, was deservedly awarded the Carl von Ossietzky Medal for his work in Mostar...:

    [IMG]
  2. Nap Moderator

    Country:
    England
    Such unnecessary destruction but what a wonderful achievement to see it rebuilt

    Thanks Martin

    Nap
    Martin Antonenko likes this.

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