In his first public address, the newly elected Mayor of Sarajevo, Samir Avdić, thanked the public for the trust shown to him, emphasizing that it is an honor and privilege to be the Mayor of Sarajevo because this position was held by people who left an indelible mark on Sarajevo. He expressed his belief that the new leadership of the City of Sarajevo can act as a team, diverse but dedicated to the same goal.
Avdić says that Sarajevo deserves more than mediocrity – it deserves vision, order, justice and progress.
The promotion and affirmation of the city of Sarajevo is the focus of the future work of the city’s leadership, and the strategic areas are urbanism, sustainable development, digitalization, ecology, protection of the Miljacka River, international cooperation, culture and museums, education and inclusion, youth, sports and associations, and cooperation with all levels of government.
“Our Sarajevo must remain a city with a soul, but also a city that is developing. We will focus on balanced urban development while preserving cultural and historical heritage. We are planning the implementation of capital projects in accordance with an integrated urban approach that will harmonize modern needs with the spirit of heritage,” Avdić emphasized.
A special focus, as he announced, will be on improving public space, greening the city, integrating bicycle paths, increasing the availability of children’s playgrounds and creating safe pedestrian zones.
Given the contemporary challenges of urbanism, such as uncontrolled growth and pressure on spaces, Avdić said that the Old Town and Baščaršija are looking for planning responses that will balance development and preserving identity. In this context, efforts will be made to improve the coordination of urban plans, respect for the profession, public debate and transparency.
According to Avdić, priority will be given to revitalizing public areas, while preserving protected areas, and the participation of Sarajevo citizens will be in all processes, together they will create an environment for development in line with climate goals.
They will continue to strengthen Sarajevo’s role as a leader in European projects, and they will continue to implement more than 20 international projects in the field of urban mobility, energy efficiency and waste management. The goal, says Avdić, is to make Sarajevo a green, ‘Smart City’ and inclusive city.
“I do not see this mandate as a political function, but as a call to serve the citizens. On behalf of all who love this city, we are working together to make Sarajevo better than we found it. Sarajevo is a serious city. Sarajevo is the capital of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said the Mayor of Sarajevo, Samir Avdić.
