Karić: City of Sarajevo is not the organizer of Toni Cetinski's concert, money cannot be paid to a private company without a public call

(Patria) - Mayor of Sarajevo Benjamina Karić addressed the public on social media regarding the cancellation of the concert by Croatian singer Toni Cetinski, who was supposed to perform on February 10th in front of the Eternal Flame to mark the 40th anniversary of the Winter Olympic Games in Sarajevo. This announcement caused numerous criticisms from citizens who believed that Bosnian singers should have been engaged for such an anniversary.

"The City of Sarajevo neither contracted Toni Cetinski's concert nor is it canceling it. I have been performing my duties honestly since I took office.

Every mark of the City of Sarajevo Budget has been spent purposefully and will remain so as long as I am at the head of this institution. I am always open to the public and I do not allow anything I do to be tarnished.

The organization of the 40th anniversary of the Olympics is a large and demanding task, and numerous institutions have been involved in the realization of this project, and I thank them for that," Karić stated.

She emphasized that in the previous months, together with partners, she was involved in creating a program that is attractive to all ages and generations.

"Jure Franko, Katarina Witt, Torvill and Dean are coming, hundreds of participants will skate, sled, ski, play hockey, there will be entertainment on every corner. What I was not involved in was the organization of the concert in front of the Eternal Flame. I did not choose the performer, the location, the production. In the realization of all activities, including this one, the imperative that is above all else is respect for laws and procedures. For me, the letter of the law comes first. The money allocated to the City of Sarajevo, which was expected to be, among other things, intended for a private company for the organization of the concert, cannot and will not be spent due to the impossibility of legal and regulation-based entry and expenditure of the same," she stated.

She stressed that the City of Sarajevo will not and does not want to dispose of money without a transparent public call and prescribed procedures.

"There is no pressure that can force me to act illegally; I am completely immune to such pressures. I defend and stand behind everything I do with my knowledge and honor. It will remain that way and no other way," Karić said.