Presidency of BiH boasts about "Konak" being a representative facility, while it is falling apart

Sarajevo was marked last month by the commemoration of the centenary of the start of World War I. Numerous cultural, historical, and entertainment-sports programs were held, but for the entire duration of the events, no one even mentioned "Konak", a building in the Sarajevo settlement of Bistrik completed in 1869, which in its time was one of the most beautiful and tallest buildings, writes the Patria news agency.

It is known that the Presidency of BiH building has not been maintained for a long time, but some sources have confirmed to Patria that the "Konak" residence has long been maintained by the Service for Joint Affairs of Institutions of BiH. The "Konak" residence has been falling apart for years and needs urgent renovation.

- This facility is so important and has symbolism with June 28, but it wasn't mentioned anywhere, because how could it be when it's falling apart – says our source.

Otherwise, in one of the chambers of "Konak" was the deathbed of Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie, immediately after the assassination carried out on June 28, 1914, when they were killed by Gavrilo Princip, which was intensely discussed in the last month.

On the website of the Presidency of BiH, it is stated that the "Konak" residence is now a representative facility of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and serves the needs of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, state receptions, and the stay of high foreign delegations during their visits to Bosnia and Herzegovina, but for a long time it has clearly not served its purpose. And so, numerous tourists left Sarajevo without even hearing about "Konak".

The last information about a reception at "Konak" that can be found on the internet search engine is that a formal reception was held as early as 2010 during the Sarajevo Film Festival.

The "Konak" residence was a representative facility during the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, as well as during the communist period. The most distinguished high-ranking guests stayed in its chambers.

During the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 1992 to 1995, "Konak" suffered partial damage, which is visible on part of its facade and on the stained glass window on the central staircase. The first tripartite meeting of the heads of state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was held in "Konak" on July 15, 2002.