High Representative Christian Schmidt met on Sunday with members of the Intercultural Council, representatives of four cultural associations of the peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bosniak Cultural Association “Preporod,” Croat Cultural Association “Napredak,” Serb Educational and Cultural Association “Prosvjeta,” and the Jewish Cultural, Educational and Humanitarian Association “La Benevolencija.”
HR Schmidt underscored the importance of these associations as guardians of heritage, tradition and culture in a country with such rich history and tradition, and commended their decision to form a single body for the benefit of the whole society and all BiH citizens.
Upon arrival in Bosnia and Herzegovina, High Representative Christian Schmidt spent the day in Mostar. HR Schmidt visited the Karađoz-Bey Mosque, Old Bridge, Franciscan Church of St. Peter and Paul together with Monastery Library, Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity and had a stroll along Old Town and the main boulevard. During the day, he also met with Mostar Mayor Dr. Mario Kordic and President of the Mostar City Council, Mr. Salem Maric.
Mr. Schmidt praised the diverse and rich cultural and historic heritage of Mostar. He underlined that a city such as Mostar shows the potential that can be achieved by working together through open domestic dialogue and compromise. As even its name suggests, it is a city that brings communities together, under a vision of a better future for younger generations.
In the evening hours, High Representative Schmidt arrived in Sarajevo, where he was welcomed by PDHR Michael Scanlan. He also paid a courtesy visit to Sarajevo Mayor Benjamina Karić.
“It is a special pleasure to host Christian Schmidt, the newly appointed High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I sincerely welcome him and wish him a successful mission in our country, and expressed satisfaction that the City of Sarajevo is the first institution he visited upon arrival in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital Sarajevo “, Karic wrote in a post on social networks.
