The National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina saved by a historical decision

Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton, Mr. Edin Forto, Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj, University of Sarajevo Rector and Dr. Mirsad Sijarić, acting Director of the National Museum of BiH held a press conference today on the initiative of the Prime Minister of KS and UNSA representatives related to the support of the National Museum of BiH.

For more than two decades, the National Museum of BiH has had an unresolved status, and considering the complexity of this issue, the joint initiative intends to create a model that offers at least a partial systemic solution for financing teaching and research activities of this museum. artistic research activities of the University of Sarajevo.

Prime Minister Forto said that the initiative, in addition to systematically resolving a good part of the financing of the National Museum of BiH, connects two such important scientific research institutions.

“Their cooperation will be based on research and development, which is one of the few branches that can get our country out of the situation we are in today.” This will enable not only the daily financing of the museum, but also investing in the knowledge of young researchers. In the coming years, the National Museum of BiH will return to its rightful place, which is the most important scientific research institution, not only in BiH, but also in the region” said Prime Minister Forto.

According to Rector Škrijelj, at a time when the National Museum of BiH is fighting for its bare survival and preservation of invaluable treasures, a new positive moment has emerged thanks to the Sarajevo Canton Government, which, understanding the importance of this institution, together with the University encourages institutional resolution.

“The University of Sarajevo, as the oldest and largest institution in the field of education in BiH, has the honor and pleasure to propose to its organizational units to proactively engage in resolving the status of this important scientific institution, by giving the status of teaching and scientific base UNSA to our National Museum BiH. I would be happy if the state of BiH would treat the National Museum on an equal footing with other institutions of interest to the state. As the rector, I will do everything to make this institution, through this type of connection, together with our founder - Sarajevo Canton, experience better days than those in the last three decades” said Rector Škrijelj.

Dr. Sijarić said that they were pleased with the possibility of the relevant institutions getting involved in solving most of the problems related to financing.

“What is more important is to finally approach the systematic and serious, controlled supervision of the work of this institution, participation in the scientific life of BiH and to contribute to the fact that in the next five to 10 years, the National Museum of BiH will take its place again. which he had before “, said Sijarić.

The National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, founded in 1888, is the oldest museum institution in BiH, which with its collections and archives materially testifies to the history of this area. The role and scientific research significance of the National Museum are immeasurable, and during the decades of its existence it has inherited the most important part of the cultural and national heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina.