SARAJEVO'S ZEALOUS AND RUSSOPHOBIC POLITICS FOUND ENEMY EVEN IN NOTES OF CLASSICAL MUSIC

ISTOČNO SARAJEVO, OCTOBER 13 /SRNA/ - Deputy Chair of the Council of Ministers Staša Košarac said that the cancellation of a concert by young Russian artists in Sarajevo was the clearest indication of how far Sarajevo's zealous and Russophobic political hysteria could go in looking for an enemy in everything, even in the notes of classical music.

"Nothing new and nothing surprising for Sarajevo. Once again, they have reminded us of their `multi-ethnicity, multiculturalism and cosmopolitanism,`" Košarac told SRNA.

He explained that in Sarajevo, only those who fit its political, religious and ideological mould are welcome.

"For example, in Sarajevo, you will receive a warm welcome if you are bandit /Albin/ Kurti, who organizes attacks on the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as attacks on the Serbian Orthodox Church," Košarac said.

However, he noted, there is no room in Sarajevo for a young Russian artist promoting cultural cooperation. His scheduled concert will be cancelled just two hours before it is due to begin.

"There is no room for you in Sarajevo if, for example, you are a diplomat from Serbia or Israel seeking to organize a reception to mark Serbias Statehood Day and Armed Forces Day, or a reception commemorating October 7, the anniversary of Hamas's attack on Israel," Košarac recalled.

He added that a European rabbi would fare no better in Sarajevo.

"There is no room for you in Sarajevo if you want to organize the Conference of European Rabbis and discuss issues important to European Jews concerning freedom of religion and belief," he said.

That is how things are, Košarac said, in the "European Jerusalem" - the "open, well-intentioned, multi-ethnic, multicultural and cosmopolitan city".

"Everyone is welcome except Serbs, except Russians, except Jews, and except anyone who does not fit Sarajevo's political, religious and ideological mold," Košarac concluded.

The Russian Embassy in BiH announced that the classical music concert "Rising Stars," which was scheduled to take place at the Bosniak Institute in Sarajevo, had been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances beyond its control, according to the embassy.

Concerts featuring young Russian musicians under the "Rising Stars" programme were held in Banja Luka and Istočno Novo Sarajevo, while a performance in Sarajevo had also been scheduled for last night.