The High Representative Valentin Inzko has today joined the staff at the National Museum of BiH and did shift work in order to show his support to the ongoing “I am the museum” action organized by Association Akcija Sarajevo.
“National Museum of BiH is lična karta of this country. What Prado means for Spain, Hermitage in St. Petersburg for Russia or Louvre for France, National Museum is for BiH. Its collections tell the story of centuries of BiH’s history and it is an obligation of its current guardians to preserve this heritage for future generations. This Museum is neither “carski” nor “spa’iski”, it belongs to every people in this country. I am here today to support the staff of the Museum who are very well aware of its importance for entire Balkans and European and world’s common heritage and who – despite the lack of funding – have not given up on reopening of its doors for BiH’s public.” – High Representative said.
The High Representative welcomed the conclusions adopted by the BiH Council of Ministers in July 2015, aimed at finding both temporary and long-term solutions for the financial and other problems related to the unresolved legal status of the seven Cultural Institutions of Special Importance for BiH, including the National Museum of BiH. He praised efforts of BiH Minister for Civil Affairs, Adil Osmanovic who initiated the process of resolution of this serious problem through official, institutional channels and who will also play the key role in the ongoing implementation efforts aimed at helping these cultural institutions.
The High Representative called upon all relevant stakeholders to treat this matter as the highest priority so that the Memorandum of Understanding, proposal of which has already been signed between representatives of the BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs, FBiH Ministries of culture and sports and education, Canton Sarajevo Ministries of culture and sports and education, City of Sarajevo and five Sarajevo Municipalities, Centar, Stari Grad, Novo Sarajevo, Novi Grad and Ilidza, can enter into force as soon as possible and doors of the National Museum of BiH can be reopened for public.