Sarajevo Once Again a Hub for Global Dialogue: Deputy Mayor Predrag Puharić Welcomes the Leadership of the United Religions Initiative (URI)

The Deputy Mayor of Sarajevo, Predrag Puharić, hosted members of the Executive Committee of the United Religions Initiative (URI) at the City Hall (Vijećnica) today. URI is one of the world’s largest networks dedicated to interreligious cooperation, peacebuilding, and community bridge-building, with an active presence in over 120 countries.

The visit was organized on the occasion of the URI General Assembly being held in Sarajevo, which brought together around 40 global leadership members and representatives of this international network from more than 25 countries. This marks the second time the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina has hosted such a prominent URI gathering, serving as a powerful confirmation of Sarajevo’s significance as a city of dialogue, encounter, and coexistence.

During the reception, Deputy Mayor Puharić presented Sarajevo to the guests as a city of rich history, extraordinary resilience, and successful interreligious harmony.

Following the official meeting, the delegation toured the City Hall, an iconic symbol of the city that has stood for 130 years as a testament to the history, art, and indestructible spirit of Sarajevo and its citizens. The guests were introduced to the history of this monumental building.

Special emphasis was placed on the historical transformation of Vijećnica. In 1947, its administrative function was replaced by culture, science, and art when it became the seat of the Academy of Sciences and Arts, and from 1951, the National and University Library of BiH. The guests were also briefed on the tragic destruction of the building on the night of August 25–26, 1992. Due to heavy shelling, 80% of the total library fund—amounting to around two million books, articles, and periodicals—was destroyed, leaving this beautiful cultural monument severely ruined.

Today, alongside the rich ZAVNOBiH museum collection, the former mayors’ room, and the City Council chamber, Vijećnica preserves and presents the ICTY (Hague) Heritage across three mezzanine rooms. The URI Executive Committee members expressed great admiration for the beauty of the building, as well as a deep interest in its construction history, wartime tragedy, and the meticulous process of its reconstruction and revitalization.