Renovation of the Armed Forces of BiH Hall Begins, on the List of National Monuments of BiH Since 2006

(Patria) - At the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina Hall, a national monument of BiH, a contract was signed today for the selection of a contractor for construction works on the exterior renovation of the building. The contract was signed by the Mayor of Stari Grad Sarajevo Municipality, Irfan Čengić, and the Director of the Construction Company "Bišina" d.o.o. Mostar, Mirsad Bajgorić, in the presence of the Minister of Defense of BiH, Zukan Helez. Also present were the Commander of the EUFOR Mission in BiH, Major General Laszlo Sticz, and the Chief of the NATO Headquarters, Brigadier Ferenc Kiss.

The value of the project amounts to nearly 2 million KM. It will be partially financed with funds from the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Sarajevo Canton, while the remaining funds will be provided by the Stari Grad Sarajevo Municipality. The planned works include the renovation of the exterior and parts of the roof of the Armed Forces of BiH Hall building, as well as the replacement of all joinery. All necessary approvals from the competent institutions have been obtained for the execution of these works.

"The Armed Forces of BiH Hall is important to us from two aspects, primarily as a representative of our Armed Forces of BiH who use this facility, which must be worthy of our army and all friends from around the world who visit us. On the other hand, it is a reflection of our municipality and the City of Sarajevo, and it is important that we renovate this beautiful building and, in the second phase, create a square with a fountain and gain a new meeting place, for events, and a new square that actually used to be here. I thank Minister Zukan Helez for his cooperation, as well as the Government of the FBiH and the Sarajevo Canton for their support of this project," emphasized Mayor Čengić.

Minister Helez spoke about the history and significance of this building, emphasizing that the hall was the center of culture and cultural life of the city of Sarajevo. He thanked Mayor Čengić, who recognized the importance of this building, as well as Prime Minister Nikšić and Minister of Finance Toni Kraljević for their support in this project.

"The attitude towards cultural and national monuments is not an attitude towards others, it is an attitude towards ourselves," emphasized Minister Helez.

The building of the Officers' Casino, today's Armed Forces of BiH Hall, was built as a one-story building in 1881, and according to the project by Karl Paržik, in 1912 it was expanded and upgraded with a floor housing a large concert hall.

In the cultural life of Sarajevo, this building has played a very significant role from its opening to the present day. In 1881, the first public concert in Sarajevo was held there, featuring military orchestras, and since then, concerts, exhibitions, lectures, and various other social events have been regularly held there.

The concert hall of the Armed Forces of BiH Hall is considered one of the most acoustically sound halls in Southeast Europe, and the Armed Forces of BiH Hall also has several smaller halls, office spaces, a restaurant hall, and an atrium where various events also regularly take place.

The building of the Officers' Casino / Armed Forces of BiH Hall was placed on the list of national monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2006.