INTERVIEW
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WE ARE BUILDING A NEW AND MODERN TREBINJE MIRKO ĆURIĆ
Mayor of Trebinje
In the last few years, we have invested significant funds in the development of infrastructure, because this is a prerequisite for economic growth
ocated on the border with Croatia and Montenegro, Trebinje is a unique place. It is also called ‘the town of the sun and plane trees’ and is the hometown of our great poet and academic, Jovan Dučić and the miracle worker St. Vasilije Ostroški. Culture is an important segment of Trebinje’s identity, while its abundant cultural heritage makes it the cultural centre of the region of Eastern Herzegovina. Dučić's legacy – ‘Trebinje - a town of culture’ - is also well known. We spoke with Mirko Ćurić, the mayor of Trebinje, about the town’s economic development, rich cultural and historical heritage and plans.
Focus
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 2021
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What are you especially proud of when it comes to Trebinje, and what
are the biggest challenges for you as the mayor of Trebinje? Cultural heritage, long history and rich tradition, as evidenced by the legacy of many greats such as the famous Serbian poet and successful diplomat
CULTURAL HERITAGE, LONG HISTORY AND RICH TRADITION EVOKE THE SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE GREAT CARE OF EVERYTHING THAT OUR ANCESTORS LEFT US
Jovan Dučić, the holy and miraculous St. Vasilije Ostroški - Tvrdoški, as well as other important figures from our past such as the prominent philanthropist Luka Ćelović Trebinjac, are segments of our collective memory that embody the spirit of this place and evoke the sense of responsibility to take great care of everything that our ancestors left us. I am especially proud of that because today you will recognize the people of Trebinje by their truly caring attitude towards their hometown, ancestors and past, and especially by their efforts to preserve the authenticity of Trebinje. In this respect, bearing in mind the town's rapid modernization and the need to adapt to today's way of life, the greatest challenges are related to Trebinje's urban planning, since our town has the highest number of construction sites in the Republic of Srpska. Despite this, we work hard to ensure that modernization processes and lifestyle changes do not destroy the local spirit and purity, both physically and spiritually, as well as our past recollections and numerous cultural and historical monuments, because these components unequivocally speak of our identity, who we are, and where we belong. In other words, we seek to preserve Trebinje's authentic values while supporting modern tendencies of development.
