Skenderija Director: The situation is alarming, we have requested an urgent meeting with the KS Government and Assembly

(Patria) - Following the collapse of part of the facade parapet at the Skenderija Center, director Šenaj Avdić told TVSA that the situation is alarming due to decades of neglect.

An urgent meeting with the Government of Sarajevo Canton has also been requested.

The incident of the collapse of the cornice (decorative wall) at the Skenderija Center has once again raised the issue of the safety and future of this symbol of Sarajevo.

Although experts have assessed that the roof structure is not endangered, the director of Skenderija sent a sharp message to the founder - Sarajevo Canton, emphasizing that "the time for cosmetic repairs has expired".

He also confirmed that court experts immediately went to the site and that the news, in terms of damage, is nevertheless reassuring.

- The good news in this catastrophic situation is that the parapet or cornice, which has a decorative function, has collapsed. It has nothing to do with the roof structure and as such does not affect the rest of the building at all - said Avdić.

He added that his offices are located immediately behind that part and that the experts found no damage inside the space itself.

Avdić also states that tragedy was avoided thanks to the vigilance of employees who conduct daily visual inspections of the complex.

- A crack was noticed precisely on this part of the cornice, where we reacted in a timely manner and fenced off this area before the fall - explains Avdić.

Despite the immediate danger being removed, he adds, this is a symptom of a much deeper problem - Skenderija is a "victim" of neglect for more than two and a half decades.

- I have informed the founder who is responsible - Sarajevo Canton, the owner of the building - that this is the final warning to start strategic planning of what we want with the Skenderija Center. It deserves to be the heart of Sarajevo and to start renovation and rehabilitation, there is no more time to wait - notes Avdić.

He also referred to the previous actions of the management, such as closing part of the Business City due to the danger of "stalls", which at that time met with a lack of understanding from part of the public.

- Unfortunately, I have continuously sought solutions to start rehabilitation, removal of stalls, but that has not happened yet. A year has passed since that situation and I definitely do not want to go further with this.

Regarding the facade, for any work we must obtain a building permit, contact the municipality, but also the Commission for the Protection of Monuments. Without their decision, we cannot even repair this, even if we wanted to. Therefore, the founder must resolve this - emphasizes Avdić.

Although the current Management is often blamed in the media, the director dismisses these accusations as unfounded, pointing out that they are doing their best within the available (and insufficient) funds.

- Without financial resources, without investment in the reconstruction of a building that is realistically old and neglected for more than 25 years, we cannot expect anything better. We are doing what we are hired for... but the responsibility for the entire center, for its investments, lies with the founder - he points out.

When asked if there is a danger of further collapse, he said: "There is no expert who can predict and say 'this or that part will collapse'. We are not in a position now to react without instructions from cantonal, federal, and municipal inspections."

An urgent meeting with the Government and Assembly of Sarajevo Canton has been requested for tomorrow. The management expects concrete steps, not just promises.

- We do not have a rehabilitation plan at the moment because we do not have a reaction from the founder. I am requesting an urgent meeting for the Assembly to state how we should treat the Skenderija Center and how to carry out its rehabilitation - added Avdić.

While awaiting a strategic decision from the authorities, the Skenderija Center remains in a state of "readiness", proving through successful events like the Book Fair that it is still essential for citizens, despite the dilapidated walls that are slowly giving way under the weight of time.