SRPSKA GOVERNMENT'S SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FOR CONTINUATION OF CATHEDRAL CHURCH CONSTRUCTION

ISTOČNO NOVO SARAJEVO, OCTOBER 22 /SRNA/ – Istočno Sarajevo Mayor Ljubiša Ćosić told SRNA that BAM 750,000 the Republika Srpska Government will allocate for the continuation of the construction of the Cathedral Church of Christ the Saviour in Istočno Novo Sarajevo represents an initial boost, given that the funds available so far have been used to settle obligations arising from previously completed phases of construction.

Ćosić said this is a continuation of an agreement reached just over a month ago with Republika Srpska Prime Minister Savo Minić and President Milorad Dodik.

"At the time, during talks held with the competent clergy of the Serbian Orthodox Church, a commitment was made to support the construction of the church with BAM 1,500,000 in two phases – BAM 750,000 this year and BAM 750,000 next year," Ćosić stated.

He expressed his gratitude to the Republika Srpska Government for fulfilling its promise so quickly after all the required documentation had been submitted.

"Almost BAM two million has been invested in the crypt of the cathedral church, which is of top quality. We encountered some problems with the design, but that process is now also in its final phase, as is the selection of the contractor," Ćosić said.

Ćosić noted that, weather permitting, construction work could resume before the end of this year.

He also thanked His Eminence Metropolitan Hrizostom of Dabar-Bosnia for his blessing and support, as well as the clergy. He pointed out that this church, together with the other churches built in the Istočno Sarajevo area, represents a significant symbol of the unity and spirituality of the Serb people, as well as the identity preservation.

Ćosić stated that the largest share of the funding for the church construction to date had been provided by the Municipality of Istočno Novo Sarajevo and the Istično Sarajevo City Administration, along with other individual donors.

"We are planning an interest-free loan of BAM 2.5 million, plus approximately BAM 500,000 that the municipality and the City Administration will provide this year and next year. We expect to hold a donor fundraising evening in the spring, where we will certainly raise substantial funds. Our estimate is that BAM 5.5 million could be enough to bring the church to the stage where it is fully enclosed. Of course, that will not be enough to complete everything," Ćosić pointed out.

The Istočno Sarajevo mayor thanked everyone involved in making the decision that the Republika Srpska Government provides funding for the continuation of the church construction, expressing confidence that the funds would be transferred soon.

"Extremely good news for Istočno Sarajevo. It shows that the elections are over and that we have continued working. All the major projects in this city have been completed thanks to the Government, but we initiated them and demonstrated that we are ready to co-finance and carry them out," Ćosić said.

Today, the Republika Srpska Government instructed the Ministry of Finance to allocate BAM 750,000 from the Republika Srpska budget for the construction of the Cathedral Church of Christ the Saviour in Istočno Novo Sarajevo.