When UNESCO established an international committee of experts in October 1998 to oversee the reconstruction of Mostar’s “Stari Most” (eng. Old Bridge), the organization was preparing for something unprecedented.

This wasn’t just another heritage preservation project—it was an experiment in whether cultural restoration could serve as a catalyst for reconciliation, and whether the international community could successfully rebuild not just stone and mortar, but trust and coexistence.

Twenty years after its inscription on the World Heritage List, the Mostar project stands as perhaps UNESCO’s most significant achievement in post-conflict cultural restoration.

The lessons learned along the banks of the Neretva River have fundamentally shaped how the international community approaches heritage preservation in divided societies.

International Cooperation for Cultural Restoration & Peacebuilding

The Mostar reconstruction represented a revolutionary approach to cultural heritage preservation.

A partnership model, bringing together financial institutions, cultural organizations, and preservation specialists, like World Bank, UNESCO, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the World Monuments Fund created a template that has influenced heritage projects worldwide.

What made this collaboration particularly significant was its scope and ambition.

UNESCO wasn’t simply providing technical expertise—the organization was orchestrating a complex international effort that required diplomatic finesse, archaeological precision, and coordination between donor nations, local communities, and specialized craftsmen.

For UNESCO, the Mostar project represented an evolution in thinking about the role of cultural heritage.

Technical Excellence and Cultural Authenticity

One of UNESCO’s most significant contributions to the Mostar project was insisting on absolute authenticity in the reconstruction process.

UNESCO established an international committee of experts to oversee the design and reconstruction work.

It was decided to build a bridge as similar as possible to the original, using the same technology and materials.

This commitment to authenticity wasn’t merely academic—it was philosophical.

UNESCO understood that for the bridge to serve its symbolic function, it had to be more than a replica; it had to be a genuine continuation of the original structure’s story.

Every stone had to be quarried from the same locations, every construction technique had to mirror 16th-century Ottoman methods, and every measurement had to match historical records.

Global Recognition

The World Heritage status has provided ongoing protection for the site and has helped maintain international attention on the importance of preserving Bosnia and Herzegovina’s multicultural heritage.

Twenty years later, UNESCO’s work in Mostar continues to offer lessons for heritage preservation worldwide.

The bridge stands today not just as a testament to Ottoman architectural achievement or modern restoration techniques, but as proof that UNESCO’s vision of cultural heritage as a foundation for peace is not merely idealistic—it’s achievable. One stone at a time.

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