“Mostar does not forget its friends!” Under this slogan, and with a special program including video presentation, honorary jumps with torches from the Old Bridge, and awards of recognitions, the Center for Peace and Multiethnic Cooperation of this city will mark the another anniversary of restoration of the Old Bridge and historic center under the auspices of UNESCO.
One of the main festivities will take place on Thursday, the 14th of July at 8:30 pm on the terrace of the restaurant “Labirint” in the Old Town, when the traditional international award “Mostar Peace Connection” will be posthumously awarded to the name of the famous world tenor and humanist, Luciano Pavarotti.
More than 18 years ago, Luciano Pavarotti gave the children and youth of Mostar and probably the best possible gift – beautiful music center that was built and equipped by the world standards on the foundations of the former building of a primary school in the settlement Luka. The project was recognized and supported by the British foundation “War Child” in order to help people in post-war BiH, especially the youth, with music therapy and socializing. In appreciation of the citizens of Mostar, the music center took the name of its benefactor and donor, Luciano Pavarotti, at the opening ceremony that was held on the 21st of December 1997.
For the past 18 years, thousands of children and young people attended school of guitar, ballet, animated film, modern dance, art workshops or were members of the choir Pavarotti. At that time, 18 years ago, this act meant more than just construction of a building for destroyed Mostar. It meant a new hope and a message that Mostar and its tragedy are not forgotten.
The Management Board of the Centre for Peace and Multiethnic Cooperation thus awarded this year’s award “Mostar Peace Connection”, posthumously to artist and humanist Pavarotti, confirming that Mostar never forgets its benefactors and friends.
With this award, the name of Luciano Pavarotti will be added to the names of the previous winners of this international award including Nelson Mandela, Mohammed El Baradei, Vaclav Havel, Alois Mock, Suleyman Demirel and Irina Bokova, and many others.
On behalf of her deceased husband, Mrs. Nicoleta Manotvani will receive the award at the Old Bridge. On the same day, during a visit to the music center “Pavarotti”, wife of the famous tenor will open a permanent exhibition of photographs from the opening ceremony of the Music Center, which is hosted and gifted by the Centre for Peace.
Award “Mostar Peace Connection” will be, also posthumously, awarded the same night to three journalists of the Italian state television RAI UNO – Mark Lucetto, Alessandro Sasa-Otto and Dario D-Angelo. They made the first journalistic team that entered to Mostar during the war to talk with the citizens of Mostar, and document their suffering. They died together in this honorable mission, on the 28th of January 1993, after shells were fired on them from HVO’s positions.
Center for Peace and Multiethnic Cooperation will also award their traditional award “Mimar mira” on the terrace of “Labirint” in the historical center of Mostar on the same evening, with appropriate ceremony. This will be the third time that this recognition is awarded to deserving individuals for their patient, dedicated and recognizable contribution to the construction and promotion of peace, during difficult post-war period.
(Source: E. S. H./Klix.ba)
