PART 3

3. PROTECTION AND CURRENT MANAGEMENT

This section describes ownership, legislative, regulatory, planning, institutional and traditional measures and management system that is in place to protect and manage the property. It deals with policy aspects, legal status and protective measures and with practicalities of day to day administration and management.

3.1. Ownership

The bridge is government owned.

8 facilities in the Protection Zone are privately owned.

3.2. Protective designation

¾      By Ordinance no. 1099/51, issued by the Institute for Protection of Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Bridge was placed under the state protection. By Ordinance no. 02-741-3, dated 18 April 1962, it was registered in the Immovable Cultural Monuments Register, under the number of 208, as a cultural monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

¾      During a session held on 27 and 28 March 1990, the Commission for Categorization of Architectural Heritage, appointed by Ordinance no. 10-338-8/89, issued by the Institute for Protection of Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina, issued an Opinion that the Mehmed Pasha Sokolovic Bridge should be listed as a Category I asset of cultural and historical heritage, pursuant to Article 14 of the Law on Protection of Heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina .

¾      The Bridge was classified as Category 0 - monument of international importance in the Regional Plan for BiH up to 2002.

The historical monument - the Mehmed Pasha Sokolovic Bridge in Višegrad - is a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as laid down in the Decision no.08.2-6-101/03-5, issued at the 6th session of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments, held on 25 January, 2003.

The provisions relating to the protection and rehabilitation measures, for the National Monument designated by the Commission, set forth the Law on the Implementation of the Decisions of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments. All executive and development planning acts that are not in accordance with the provisions of the Decision are hereby revoked.

Foolowing legislation provide protection for the monuments:

¾      Official Gazzete of Republika Srpska no. 9/02, Law on the Implementation of the Decisions of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments, established pursuant to the Annex 8 of the General Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 2002.

¾      Official gazzete of BiH no. 33/02 provisional List of National Monuments (Decision of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments) pp. 1250-1259, from 2002.

¾      Official Gazzete of Repubilka Srpska no. 79/02, Law on the Spatial Arrangement, from 2002.

¾      Official Gazette of RS, no.11/95, Law on Cultural Goods, from 1995.

¾      Official Gazette of RS, no. 22/00, Criminal Code of Republika Srpska , from 2000 (item 243).

3.3. Statutory Protection/Constraints

Listed - At the 6th Session of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments (held from 21st till 27th of January 2003.) a decision to designate the historical monument of the Mehmed paša Sokolovic Bridge in Višegrad as a National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina was adopted, applying he Criteria for Designation.

Statutory protection and the statutory constrains on the National monument are quoted: “For the purpose of preserving the property and preventing its further deterioration, the Government of Republika Srpska (RS), in the shape of the Ministry of Urban Planning, Public Utilities, Construction and the Environment of RS, is responsible for acting in accordance with Ruling no. 06-362-116/90 dated 20 February 1990 issued by the Ministry of Regional Planning and the Environment of Bosnia and Herzegovina requiring that shut down the Višegrad hydroelectricity plant, in regard to which approval for trial operations expired on 1 August 1991, until such time as the conditions have been met for final operating approval as follows:

¾      The regulation of the Drina river bed downstream from the dam to the Mehmed paša Sokolovic Bridge, and

¾      The repair of the piers of the old Mehmed paša Sokolovic Bridge in conformity with the technical documentation certified by the relevant heritage protection authority of Republika Srpska.

To ensure the ongoing preservation of the property, the following zones are hereby defined:

Protection Zone I, covering the structure itself and a zone extending 100 meters upstream and downstream from the bridge, and 100 meters in width on both sides. Within this zone, the following measures shall apply:

¾      the construction of residential, commercial and agricultural facilities is prohibited,

¾      all works are prohibited other than conservation and restoration works carried out according to an approved project and under the professional supervision of the heritage protection authority of Republika Srpska,

¾      dumping of all kinds of waste is prohibited,

¾      motor vehicle traffic is prohibited until conservation and restoration of the Bridge is finished; after that, experts will give their opinion whether the Bridge can or can not be use for vehicle traffic,

¾      all infrastructural works are prohibited other than in exceptional cases with the approval of the relevant ministry and under the professional supervision of the heritage protection authority of Republika Srpska,

¾      construction of any infrastructure or power facilities, quarries and other pollutants, the construction or operation of which could be detrimental to the national monument is prohibited.”

3.4. Means of implementing protective measures

Responsibilities for the enforcement of the Commission’s decisions lies with the Entity Governments and the ministries responsible for the regional planning.

On the level of Republika Srpska:

¾      The Government of Republika Srpska is responsible for ensuring and providing the legal, scientific, technical, administrative and financial measures necessary to protect, conserve, display and rehabilitate the National Monument.

¾      Ministry of Urban Planning, Public Utilities, Construction and the Environment of RS, is responsible for implementation of the legislative protective measures.

¾      For the purpose of preserving the property and preventing its further deterioration, the Government of Republika Srpska (RS), in the shape of the Ministry of Urban Planning, Public Utilities, Construction and the Environment of RS, is responsible for acting in accordance with Ruling no. 06-362-116/90 dated 20 February 1990 issued by the Ministry of Regional Planning and the Environment of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

¾      Institute for protection of cultural-historic and natural heritage of RS is responsible for the expert supervision, building-crafts and craft works on National Monument as it is proclaimed by the Decision of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments.

¾      Authorities in charge of urban planning and land registry affairs are notified of the Decisions in order to carry out the measures stipulated by the Decisions, and the Authorized Municipal Court is notified for the purposes of registration in the Land Register.

Since the Commission passed its Decision designating the Mehmed Pasha Sokolovic Bridge in Višegrad a National Monument in January 2003 until December 2005, the following activities have been realised:

¾      The Government of Republika Srpska has secured 100 000 KM (50 000 €) in 2005 for implementing activities to protect the Bridge.

¾      The Government of Republika Srpska determined a budget of 250.000 EUR for cultural and historical heritage in 2005, which is the first such allocation since its establishment by the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1996. The portion of the budget dedicated to the Mehmed Pasha Sokolovic Bridge is 20% of the total annual budget of the RS Government.

The Institute for the Protection of Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage of Republika Srpska is

entrusted with the implementation of these resources.

The current state and measures of protection of the Bridge are a result of the status it was accorded through law regulations, planning documentation and administrative mechanisms established by the town and the state for the Bridge and its surrounding area.

The Draft Urban Plan of Republika Srpska for the period until 2015 provides a critical assessment of the state of architectural heritage, defines goals and principles of protection and recommends general protection measures for properties on the territory of Republika Srpska, including the Mehmed Pasha Sokolovic Bridge.

The Bridge's status and protection measures have been defined by the Decision, but future treatment and protection of the Bridge require adequate urban planning documentation that will provide a precise definition of the conditions of regulation for the area surrounding the Bridge.

These are the main preconditions for the functioning of the mechanism to implement planning documentation. They are defined by law and pertain to institutional competencies in controlling the making of planning and technical documentation and monitoring their realisation in the field.

Urban authorisation and licences for construction in the Protection Zone of the Bridge are issued by the RS Ministry of Urban Planning, Construction and Ecology on the basis of urban and technical approved by an authorised professional institution. The RS Institute for the Protection of Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage is also involved in this activity as it controls whether the conditions are met in the technical documentation.

The local administration, by way of its services, as well as the RS inspections are in charge of monitoring and control of activities in the field.

3.5. Existing plans

Agreed plans relating to the property:

¾      The Commission to Preserve National Monuments, at the 25 January 2003, designated the Historic Monument of Mehmed pasha Sokolovic Bridge as National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Commission’s decisions are final, and are enforced pursuant to the Law on the Enforcement of Decisions of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments, which grants to national monuments the highest degree of protection. All executive and development planning acts not in accordance with the provisions of the Decesion are hereby revoked.

¾      Preliminary Technical Assessment, adopted on 23rd session (9th of November) by the Commission to Preserve National Monuments, adopted by the Ministry for Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina (14th of October) and approved and published by the Council of Europe 5, define conservation and restoration interventions at the Mehmed pasha Sokolovic Bridge.

The other existing planning acts, with the broad planning policies are:

¾      Medium-term Development Strategy BIH-PRSP 2004-2007; Council of Ministers of BiH.

The general development framework has been defined through the Medium Term Development Strategy of BiH for 2004-2007 as adopted by the General Assembly of BiH.

¾      Urban Development Plan of Višegrad, 1990, Institute for architecture, urban and spatial planning of the Faculty of Architecture in Sarajevo.

The urban area, including the zone around the Bridge, is treated in the Urban Plan for the Town from 1990 that defined the use of areas, traffic routes and infrastructure corridors. Apart from this plan pertaining to the Bridge and its immediate surroundings, there is no other urban planning document with more detailed regulations.

¾      Development Strategy of the Municipality of Višegrad, 2004-2010.

A number of urban planning documents are currently being drafted. Depending on the level of detail that they will contain, they can prescribe guidelines and general conditions for future treatment of the location of the Mehmed Pasha Sokolovic Bridge and its surrounding area. These are: the Spatial Plan of Republika Srpska for the period until 2015, a Review of the Urban Plan of the Višegrad Municipality and the Urban Plan of Višegrad for the period until 2015.

¾      Regional Plan of the Republika Srpska to 2015, RS Assembly.

The most extensive spatial plan document treating the area of Višegrad is the Draft Regional Plan of RS to 2015. This document identifies the significance of the Mehmed Pasha Sokolovic Bridge in Višegrad within a complete analysis of architectural heritage in the territory of Republika Srpska. This document provides a critical analysis and assessment of the state of cultural properties, defines the main goals and principles of protection and recommends general planning measures of protection. Maps AII 14 and AII 15 show some thematic maps from that plan.

¾      Town Plan of the Municipality of Višegrad to 2010.

Municipality of Višegrad has also initiated the procedure to revise the Town Plan of Višegrad to 2010. The new document was open to public scrutiny and is now in the phase of adoption. The plan identifies the potentials of the Municipality and lays down the development guidelines highlighting the value of the cultural-historical and natural heritage in the context of the development of tourism. Map C16 shows what the areas are intended for.

¾      Urban development plan of Višegrad to 2015.

A new urban development plan for the town of Višegrad is being drafted. As the plan is now in the

working phase, it is necessary to incorporate in it the protection measures of the Bridge defined in the Decision of the Commission designating it as a national monument. In this plan, the area on the right bank of the Bridge is shown as the place of an urban centre, and the area on the left bank is designated as a protected green area. Map AII 17 shows the designated use of areas from the Draft Urban Plan of Višegrad.

Annex I: Documentation

AI 3: Decision of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments of BiH no.: 08.2-6-101/03-5

AI 10: Decision of the Ministry for Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina to adopt the PTA

AI 11: Decision of the Commission to adopt the PTA

AI 16: Excerpts from Development Strategy of the Municipality of Višegrad, 2004-2010

Annex II: Maps

Annex II: AII 14 Draft Regional Plan of RS to 2015

Annex II: AII 15 Draft Regional Plan of RS to 2015

Annex II: AII 16 Town Plan of the Municipality of Višegrad to 2010

Annex II: AII 17 Draft Urban development plan of Višegrad to 2015

Available documentation:

¾      Urban Development Plan of Višegrad, 1990, Institute for architecture, urban and spatial planning of the Faculty of Architecture in Sarajevo.

¾      Regional Plan of the Republika Srpska to 2015, RS Assembly, from the RS Regional Plan.

3.6. Legal Status

Pursuant to the Article V para. 4 Annex 8 of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Official Gazette of Republika Srpska no.9/02.) and Article 39 para. 1 of the Rules of Procedure of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments, at the 25 January 2003, designated the historical monument of Mehmed pasha Sokolovic Bridge as a national Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A National Monument is an asset or property that the Commission to Preserve National Monuments has designated as national monument, a well as assets or properties registered on the Provisional List of National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The national monument benefits from the highest degree of legal protection.

3.7. Responsible institutions

¾      The Commission to Preserve national Monuments is an institution of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina established pursuant to Annex 8 of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Decision of Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina responsible for issuing the decisions designating movable and immovable property as a national monument applying the Criteria on the Designation of National Monuments (Official Gazette of BiH no. 33/02).

¾      The Government of Republika Srpska is responsible for ensuring and providing the legal, scientific, technical, administrative and financial measures necessary to protect, conserve, display and rehabilitate the National Monument. The Government of Republika Srpska shall be responsible for providing the resources for implementing the necessary executive regional planning documentation, ensuring the ongoing protection of the Bridge.

¾      On the level of Republika Srpska, the Ministry of Urban Planning, Public Utilities, Construction and the Environment of RS is responsible for implementation of legislative protective measures.

¾      Institute for protection of cultural-historic and natural heritage of RS is responsible for the expert supervision, works of conservation and restoration on National Monument as it is proclaimed by the Decision of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments.

¾      On the level of municipality, Municipality Višegrad is responsible for implementation of legislative and protective measures.

3.8. Sources and levels of finance

Commission to Preserve National Monuments is responsible for implementation of all projects founded through international or foreign founds pursuant to the Decision of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Government of Republika Srpska is responsible for ensuring and providing the legal, scientific, technical, administrative and financial measures necessary to protect, conserve, display and rehabilitate the National Monument, pursuant to the Law on the Implementation of the Decisions of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments.

The Government of the Republika Srpska provided 100 000 KM (50 000 €) in 2005 for the implementation of the activities to protect the Bridge.

3.9. Sources of expertise and training

¾      Commission to Preserve National Monuments and Council of Europe “Regional Integrated Rehabilitation Project Plan / Survey of the architectural and archaeological heritage (IRPP/SAAH)”

¾      Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Sarajevo University

¾      Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Banja Luka

¾      Faculty of Civil Engineering in Banja Luka

¾      Faculty of Civil Engineering in Sarajevo

¾      Institute for the Protection of Cultural-historical and Natural Heritage of the RS

Apart from the employees in the Institute of the RS, the external associates from the Faculties of Civil Engineering of Banja Luka and Sarajevo were recruited to draft the Project of structural repair of the bridge’s piers. The research works are planned to continue in 2006, along with the activities to produce the project documentation.

3.10. Presentation and promotion

Promotion policies focus on the universal values of the Bridge and on its endangered status.

Commission to Preserve National Monuments after adopting Decision to Designate the Bridge as National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and considering its state of conservation also adopted Decision to inscribe the Bridge on the List of most endangered monuments of BiH in 2003, as one of three priorities for protection. (List of endangered monuments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, established by the Commission in 2003.)

In 2003. the Commission launched the campaign for endangered monuments “Cultural Memory –

Vanishing Treasury” in order to raise awareness of public about the importance of heritage and also to raise donations for their protection. The part of the campaign is the exhibition and multimedia presentation of endangered monuments. As the Bridge is considered for the priority, the promotional materials for Bridge were specially designed for the campaign. The exhibition have been hold around cities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad, International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington 2003., within UN Habitat event in Barcelona in 2004, Siracusa-Italy in 2003., Beograd in SCG in 2005, World Congress of Architects in Istanbul in 2005.

¾      The Mehmed pasha Sokolovic Bridge in Višegrad is inscribed on the List of 100 most endangered sites for 2006 World Monument Watch, proposal by the Commission to Preserve National Monuments.

¾      The Bridge is also placed on the Priority Intervention List of the Council of Europe / European Commission in 2004. Priority Intervention List has the aim to raise international awareness about the endangered status of heritage inscribed and need for their protection in order to preserve international identity too.

¾      In 2005 the Commission to Preserve National Monument and local expert engaged together with experts of Council of Europe drawn up Preliminary Technical Assessment of the Bridge. Preliminary Technical Assessment has an aim to ensure donations for the preservation of its values and serve as a project proposal.

¾      Through the Commission’s project of the unique identification and signage system of national monuments in BiH the Bridge is presented at notice board posted at the very site with basic data’s on moment.

¾      The Bridge is presented at the web page of the Commission www.aneks8komisija.com.ba

¾      As an inspiration, the Bridge was a part of the popular creative endeavours, being mentioned in the works of writers and artists.

Annex I: Documentation

AI 13: Decision of the WMF List of the world’s 100 most endangered monuments in 2006

AI 15: Priority Intervention List of the Council of Europe, pertaining to the Mehmed pasha Sokolovic Bridge

Folder 4 of the Nomination file

Excerpts from:

¾      Commission to Preserve National Monuments, Exhibition catalogue

¾      Commission to Preserve National Monuments, Brochure of the Bridge

3.11. Staffing levels

1. Commission to Preserve National Monuments

i.          At its 119th session, held on 21 December 2001, pursuant to Annex 8 of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in BiH and its Decision on the Commission, the Presidency of BiH issued a Decision on the appointment of the members of the Commission, consisting of 3 domestic and 2 international members who experts in field of history of art and architecture, history, architecture.

ii.          Secretariat of the Commission, consist of professional, experienced staff specializing respectively in the archaeological heritage, the architectural heritage, architectural heritage ensembles and cultural landscapes, movable heritage items, legal affairs, financial affairs and technical coordination.

2. RS Institute for protection of cultural-historic and natural heritage consist of expert staff from field of architecture, history of art, history, archaeology, conservation of architecture and art, sociology.

3. Municipality of Višegrad, urban planning department consist of experts from the field of architecture and urban planning.

3.12. Appendices to part 3

For part 3 see following documentation:

Annex I: Documentation

AI 11: Decision of the Commission to Preserve National Monuments of BiH no.: 08.2-6-101/03-5

AI 13: Decision of the WMF List of the world’s 100 most endangered monuments in 2006

AI 15: Priority Intervention List of the Council of Europe for the Mehmed pasha Sokolovic Bridge

AI 17: Decision of the Ministry for Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina to adopt the PTA

AI 18: Decision of the Commission to adopt the PTA

Annex II: Maps

Annex II: AII 14 Draft Regional Plan of RS to 2015

Annex II: AII 15 Draft Regional Plan of RS to 2015

Annex II: AII 16 Town Plan of the Municipality of Višegrad to 2010

Annex II: AII 17 Draft Urban development plan of Višegrad to 2015

Available documentation:

¾      Development Strategy of the Municipality of Višegrad, 2004-2010.

¾      Urban Development Plan of Višegrad, 1990, Institute for architecture, urban and spatial planning of the Faculty of Architecture in Sarajevo.

¾      Regional Plan of the Republika Srpska to 2015, RS Assembly, from the RS Regional Plan.

Folder 4 of the Nomination file

Excerpts from:

¾      Commission to Preserve National Monuments, Exhibition catalogue

¾      Commission to Preserve National Monuments, Brochure of the Bridge