McGuffie: The City Hall is a national monument and is managed by the state

The European Union did not request any ban on the plaque at the City Hall nor its removal, said Andy McGuffie, spokesperson for the EU Delegation in Sarajevo, for the Bosnian news agency Patria (NAP).

According to his words, the position of the EU Delegation is that, given that this is a national monument, all matters should be resolved in accordance with relevant state laws.

He thus reacted to claims by the Mayor of Sarajevo, Ivo Komšić, that the EU is demanding the removal of the memorial plaque.  

- There has obviously been a misunderstanding in which it is believed that only the City Administration is responsible for the City Hall. That is not correct; there are three institutions besides the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the National Library which will be housed in this building – McGuffie points out.  

McGuffie particularly emphasises that their position has nothing to do with the text of the plaque placed on the City Hall, which states who set fire to the National Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina and when. It is not about any attempt to rewrite historical facts.

- We are cooperating with the state Ministry of Civil Affairs, which is responsible for national monuments, and the state should decide what will be on its national monument. We only ask that the laws be respected; we do not determine what will or will not be written – says McGuffie.