ŠKOBO: WIDE RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN COOPERATION BETWEEN TWO CITIES

ISTOČNO SARAJEVO, AUGUST 13 /SRNA/ – There are wide-ranging opportunities for strengthening cooperation between Istočno Sarajevo and Nizhny Novgorod, with their recently established twinning offering particular potential, Deputy Mayor of Istočno Sarajevo Aleksandar Škobo said.

Škobo, who is on a several-day visit to Nizhny Novgorod to mark the city's 805th anniversary, today addressed the hosts at the International Forum "Twin Cities and Partners," the Istočno Sarajevo City Administration said.

He said it was a great honor and privilege to congratulate Nizhny Novgorod, on behalf of Istočno Sarajevo, its leadership and citizens, on the major anniversary.

"The history of your city, rich in spirituality, culture and industrial progress, is an inspiration and proof of how tradition and modern development can complement each other in the best possible way," Škobo stated.

He presented Istočno Sarajevo to the Forum participants as a city that preserves the traditions and culture of Sarajevo's Serbs and is deeply connected to the historical and cultural roots of the Serb people.

"In a historically very short period, we have managed to achieve a great deal, and today we can take pride in being a modern university city with all the necessary facilities, urban areas, educational, security, cultural and other institutions, as well as positive demographic trends," Škobo said.

According to him, there is scope for cooperation between the two cities in numerous areas - from exchanging experience in managing urban systems and cooperation between universities and businesses to joint cultural and tourism promotion.

Tomorrow, Škobo will meet with Nizhny Novgorod Mayor Yury Shalabayev and members of delegations from twin cities, after which he will visit the International Fair of Folk and Artistic Crafts and Applied Arts.

Istočno Sarajevo and Nizhny Novgorod officially became twin cities in August last year, when the agreement was signed by mayors Ljubiša Ćosić and Yury Shalabayev.

At the time, it was stressed that the agreement was not merely a formality, but confirmation of the historical, cultural and spiritual ties between the Serb and Russian peoples.