ĆOSIĆ: SARAJEVO UNIQUE IN WORLD TO ERECT MONUMENT TO OCCUPIER

ISTOČNO SARAJEVO, FEBRUARY 26 /SRNA/ - The Mayor of Istočno Sarajevo, Ljubiša Ćosić, told SRNA that the initiative to return a monument in Sarajevo to Austro-Hungarian heir Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie represents a unique example worldwide of erecting a monument to an occupier.

Ćosić noted that BiH in the 20th century was annexed by Austro-Hungary, whose authorities exploited the country's resources and oppressed its peoples.

“As an economist, I can say that the Austro-Hungarians tried to create a climate in which the country's resources were exhausted in every possible way, while giving nothing to the population. And now, more than a century later, some people say a monument should be erected to such figures!?,” Ćosić stated.

He emphasized that he respects other nations, but believes this initiative reflects confusion and wandering in attempts to construct identity.

“I haven't heard anything more absurd in a long time. Clearly, the roots of this go much deeper, and some still wander between different identity orientations,” Ćosić stressed.

The Sarajevo City Council today approved the initiative to return the monument to Franz Ferdinand and his wife near the Latin Bridge /formerly Princip's Bridge/ in Sarajevo.

The initiative was proposed by the Party for BiH councilors' club.

The monument to Franz Ferdinand and his wife was removed from the Latin Bridge site and destroyed after the end of World War I and the formation of the Kingdom of Serbians, Croatians and Slovenians.