The first Austrian ball was held in the Sarajevo City Hall last evening. With this unique event, Sarajevo has become one of the 40 cities in the world in which this event took place. Ambassador of Austria to Bosnia and Herzegovina Martin Pammer said at the opening ceremony that the main cause is the friendly relationship between the two states and their major cities of Sarajevo and Vienna.
Ambassador Pammer welcomed many officials, diplomats, ministers, and officials of the Canton and the City of Sarajevo as well as Vienna’s councilors, guests from BiH and other countries. The Mayor of Sarajevo, Abdulah Skaka, said that thius unique event represents a testimony of friendship between the two towns and peoples and the continuation of good cooperation between Vienna and Sarajevo.
Participants of the event were also welcomed by a councilor from Vienna, who gave a friendly greetings from the Mayor Michael Haupla, and emphasized that in the introductory art of the ball, the connection between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Austria could be seen.
The first Austrian ball in Sarajevo began with the intonation of the anthem of BiH and Austria. The introductory part was crowded with participants, dance pairs and members of folklore, and then the Baščaršija Cultural Center performed traditional dance from BiH, while the Vienna Opera Ball, administered by the Uwe Theimer, danced the Vienna Waltz.
The aim of the organization of this event, noted Pammer, is building a culture of dance, the involvement of all segments of society and the attempt for this event to become a tradition and an attraction for the citizens of Sarajevo, as well as the intention “to show to the whole world that Sarajevo has its own ball as well”.
Mayor of Sarajevo Abdulah Skaka accepted this initiative on behalf of the City of Sarajevo and offered his full support, adding that the maintenance of this ball actually represents a continuation of good cooperation between Vienna and Sarajevo, as well as BiH and Austria.
Honorary sponsors of the First Austrian Ball in Sarajevo are Austrian Federal Minister Sebastian Kurz and the Mayors of Sarajevo and Vienna Abdulah Skaka and Michael Haupl. Moreover, the great merit of holding the event belongs to the Austrian Ambassador to BiH, Martin Pammer.
(Source: fena)
