BOSNIA I HERZEGOVINA

BiH FEDERATION

CITY OF MOSTAR

PCU

 

 

Number      

Date: 21.08.2000.

 

World Bank

Infrastructure Sector Unit

Regional office for Europe and central Asia

 

 

 

 

 

Report on the state of the project of »Old Bridge« in Mostar

Bosnia and Herzegovina

 

Period from 01.01.2000. to 30.06.2000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         PCU Deputy director                                                              PCU Director

 

         Tihomir Rozić                                                                       Rusmir Čišić

        


Bosnia and Herzegovina

Pilot cultural heritage project

 

Table of contents:

 

1.             Activities on the project during the abovementioned period

2.             Component of the neighbourhoods and infrastructure

3.             Technical activities on the project during the abovementioned period

4.             Procurement service report

5.             Financial report

 


1.                     Activities on the project during the abovementioned period

 

If we look the report on work of the Project Coordination Unit in the time interval from 01.07.1999. to 31.12.1999 then the the quoted period can be considered as the period of formation and enlivening of the Project Coordination Unit of Mostar. That period has not been easy, but we can say with a good reason that during that period Project Coordination Unit has made great steps ahead. Aware of the overall situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, namely in Bosnia and Herzegovina Federation, the results of Project Coordination Unit from 01.01.2000. to 30.06.2000. are exceptionally positive.

During the quoted period Project Coordination Unit has managed to sign three very important contracts whose ralization enables the preparation of the project assignment for the construction of the Old Bridge.

 

A)       Geological investigations' contract numbered 001

 

On 11.02.00 the geological investigations' contract between Project Coordination Unit-Mostar and CONEX - Yeralti Aramacilik Joint Venture Company has been signed. The leader of the abovementioned Joint Venture is the company CONEX.

The total of the quoted works amounts 1.300.000 DEM, and the deadline for completion of all the works is 27 weeks or 31.07.2000. Since the very signature of the contract regular meetings have been held where the work on geological investigations has been fully monitored. Eleven technical meetings have been held altogether up to 30th June 2000. At the beginning of the works the CONEX company has submitted the timeframe of its activities, and it has fully complied with that timeframe. Advanced equipment for the geological investigations, a high level of the expertise of the personnel, and the contemporary methodology of the work at the geological investigations have yielded the enormous results.

At the fourth conference of UNESCO’s  International Committee of Experts held from 16.06.2000. up to 18.06.2000. in Mostar the companies CONEX - Yeralti Aramacilik have presented the overall results of the investigations.

The abovementioned companies are obliged to prepared the overall documentation, and to submit it to the Project Coordination Unit till 30.08.2000 at the latest.

 

B)       Contract for photogrametry, calculations and design numbered 002

 

The quoted contract has been signed on 24.04.2000 between the Project Coordination Unit Mostar and General Engineering from Florence.

On 05.05.2000. has been held the first technical meeting among the Project Coordination Unit, General Engineering and CONEX in order to put all the problems in perspective, to see the work organization, both the joint organization and the individual work organization as well. Coordination at the prject presents one of the most important assignments for the successful accomplishment of the whole project.

After the geological investigations General Engineering has asked from Project Coordination Unit to supply the corresponding documentation which is necessary for the design of the Old Bridge. Project Coordination Unit has fully submitted the documentation through the Institute for protection of the cultural heritage of the City of Mostar. General Engineering company has participated as well at the fourt conference of the experts. General Engineering in its expositions has familiarized the experts during the preparation of the draft project of the “Old Bridge”. A large problem is posed by documentation “Photogrametry dated 1982”.

The quoted documentation possesses the Institute for photogrametry – of the Geodetic faculty in Zagreb. The expert team has made the decision that the quoted documentation must be provided and delivered to the General Engineering.

Project Coordination Unit together with UNESCO from Sarajevo has managed to receive the approval from Elektroprivreda of Bosnia and Herzegovina Federation which has paid the quoted documentation in 1982 to the Institute for photogrametry in Zagreb. This problem we consider to be solved.

General Engineering has taken over the obligation to complete te draft project by the beginning of September, and to submit them to the expert team for revision. Of exceptional importance we deem the inclusion of four young experts into the work at the photogrametry, calculations and design:

 

1.       Demirović Sulejman

2.       Krpo Jasmin

3.       Ivanković Vedran

4.       Križanac Antonio

 

They start working in September and October 2000 with the stay in General Engineering in Florence. Upon return to Mostar, they continue the joint work at the project of photogrametry, calculations and design. Please note that these four young persons are going away in behalf of the city of Mostar, without any insistence who is coming in behalf of a particular part of the city. This point we deem as af the big accomplishment of the Project Coordination Unit. General Engineering is obliged to submit the total documentation on 31.12.2000. As well we would like to point out that with this contract a design supervision has not been contracted. During the accomplishment of these works, namely the construction of the Old Bridge, this point will have to be discussed additionally.

 

C)       Laboratory tests contract numbered 003

 

This contract has been signed on 15.06.2000. between Project Coordination Unit Mostar and LGA from Nurenberg. At the very day of the signature of the quoted contract, a technical meeting has been held at the Project Coordination Unit. On the occasion all the problems in the field of the laboratory tests of stone, lead, iron and mortar and the other materials out of which the Old Bridge was built have been discussed. The test of the bridge remains was taken as a extremely important position and urgent one in order to use the existence of the scaffolding which the CONEX company has set up for its needs. In addition to this activity, LGA has set out investigating stone at the “KOMOS” city dump, and the stone which has been extracted from the Neretva river as the remnants of the Old Bridge. the work on the structure has been planned in duration of 60 days, whereas the remaining part of time is planned in the LGA laboratories in Nurenberg. At the technical meeting with Mr. Stolarski, he has proposed that in laboratory tests four young students studying their final years at Civil engineering faculty in Mostar should be included. Project Coordination Unit has fully accepted the proposal, and appointed the following students:

 

1.       Svjetlana Pekić

2.       Ivanka Bevanda

3.       Azra Krvavac

4.       Majudin Muratović

 

The abovementioned students work jointly with the LGA experts till the full completion of the laboratory tests. This is an exceptionally important step in establishing of the young experts who will after the construction of the Old Bridge will keep on taking care of the bridge. With the joint work and making friends these young people are breaking the barriers of the divided city of Mostar, and the Old Bridge project once again shows that with this project the peoples who live in these areas are joined too.

 

The comprehensive works at the laboratory tests will be ended on 31.12.2000.

 

D)      In the last period the preparations for two additional tenders have been made:

 

1.      Tender for the preparation of the project documentation of the Tara and Halebija towers

2.      Cutting stone tender

 

2.1.    “Tara and Halebija” tower project assignment has been prepared in the month of May, but it has had a number of comments from the World Bank, which were to be amended. As well the selection of the domestic companies for the design, and the overall procedure of the advertising of this project assignment has been conducted in compliance with the rules and methodology of the World Bank. Since the cost of these works amounts 200 000 USD, the Project Coordination Unit has to implement the international tender, and to make a selection of the six companies who are experienced in such works. The preparations for the tender in question are underway, and we believe that we shall be able to accomplish it successfully as well, and to sign duly the contract.

 

2.2.    Cutting stone tender has undergone certain changes. For the quoted tender the World Bank experts and International Committee of Experts have provided certain instructions, as to how to make a project assignment for the cutting of the stone, and the supervision project assignment, according to which the cutting of the stone will be carried out. The cutting of 400 m3 at the city dump in “Komos” will provide the final findings if the additional stone is necessary or not. With the operation of cutting of the stone we make a great step forward in to the construction of the bridge.

 

As you know the fourth conference of experts has been held from 16.06.2000 to 18.06.2000. The conclusions from the conference of the expert team in question are as follows:

 

DECISIONS

 

1.       Relating to the abovementioned decision taken by the Government of Turkey, ICE shall prepare the Description of the assignments of the team of archivists of Ankara and Istanbul.

2.       As for the nomination of Mostar to the list of the world heritage, International Committee of Experts will write a letter to the Committee for the world heritage in order to draw attention to the danger jeopardizing city of Mostar and its surroundings, represented by the illegal building taking place in Mostar.

3.       International Committee of Experts shall demand from the City of Mostar to prepare a regulation plan and the legislation for the protection of the cultural heritage in Mostar, in particular for the old city part.

4.       International Committee of Experts proposes to the Project Coordination Unit not to continue with the cutting stone tenders until it receives the data from the draft project solution, which relate to he quantity and the specifications for the cutting of the blocks.

5.       International Committee of Experts, aware of the necessity of the continuation of the technical assitance of the Project Coordination Unit, is asking from the World Bank to find a financial solution for te continuation of the services.

6.       International Committee of Experts asks from the General Engineering to prepare only one solution of the project based on photogrametry prepared in 1982, with the option of making smaller corrections. This point has to be prepared by the September 2000 for the next meeting of the Project Coordination Unit.

7.       International Committee of Experts draws attention to the drainage and infiltration of the waters behind the towers and the Old Bridge supports and demands from the Joint Venture CONEX - Yeralti Aramacilik to propose an urgent solution to this problem.

8.       International Committee of Experts demands from the Joint Venture CONEX - Yeralti Aramacilik to test the cavity in the left upstream side of the left support  and to make a report regarding the measurements and its possible utilization.

 

Project Coordination Unit has completed accepted all the abovementioned points, and it wants to implement them fully.

 

With the cease of the contract of Mr. Gilles Pequeux on 21.06.2000, with European Commission Project Coordination Unit was brought into a very difficult position, and it has largely blocked the work of the Project Coordination Unit. We thank to the efforts of the World Bank to find the means for funding of Mr. Gilles Pequeux for the next five months or, to be more precise, from 01.08.2000. to 31.12.2000, which will normalize the work of the Project Coordination Unit. The inclusion of the additional engineer for the subsequent period lasting five months will strengthen the expert team of Project Coordination Unit, and expedite the work on the future positions as well. When we are talking about the cadre changes in the Project Coordination Unit we wish  to point out that since 01.06.2000. Mr. Anton Novak Project Coordination Unit deputy director has been discharged of his position, and to his position was appointed Mr. Tihomir Rozić, BSc. Archit. Mr. Rozić is a person with an extensive work experionce in the field of protection of the cultural heritage fot he city of Mostar. Working in institute “Stari grad” he was directly involved in the Old Bridge protection, and the old city part of Mostar. As well we wish to point out that with arrival of Mr. Rozić into the Project Coordination Unit the personal relationskips have developed a still higher level of cooperation among the employees of the Project Coordination Unit.

The leadership of the Project Coordination Unit has on several occasions held meetings with the mayor and deputy mayor of the city of Mostar Mr. Oručević and Mr. Tomić, and it received the full support in the realization of our project. They have also shown their readiness in the solution of the emerged problems. One of the burning problems of the Project Coordination Unit is the provision of the means of the city of Mostar for the mentioned period namely for the period of eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth month of this year. The total sum for the mentioned period amounts 80.000 DEM.

As you know out of these means Project Coordination Unit pays taxes, rates, contributions, and the remaining material costs.

As well, the financial construction of the whole project has not been fully implemented yet.

In the month of March 2000 the holding of the donor conference was planned. Owing to several reasons it has not taken place, but as well an agreement among the Project Coordination Unit, World Bank and UNESCO has been reached that the following donor conference should take place by the end of September, possibly in the early October 2000. We deem that this is the last deadline for holding of the donor conference where finally the means for the realization of this project would be provided. As well we wish to point out the exceptionally good cooperation with the World Bank and the UNESCO during the past period. This cooperation we stress since the project of the reconstruction of the Old Bridge daily enters the growing problems which necessitate the engagement of the experts in particular fields.

 

2.                     Component of the neighbourhoods and infrastructure

 

We deem the component of the neighbourhoods a very important one. In December 1999 World Bank has supported the neighbourhood project and approved 450 000 USD, taking into account that 10% of the mentioned amount is provided by the city, and 90% by the World Bank from the IDA credit. This assignment has been entrusted to the Aga Khan Trust Fund and to the Project Coordination Unit Mostar.

On 07. and 08.03. World Bank visited Project Coordination Unit in Mostar and on the occasion it has provided the streamlines for the component of the neighbourhoods.

Aga Khan Culture Trust Fund has prepared the presentation of the components, which was well received and which was approved by everyone.

It was agreed that the Aga Khan Culture Trust Fund would prepare the descriptions of the projects and qualifications for the implementation of the works, thereafter the Project Coordination Unit will prepare the bidding documents, it will invite the contractors for bidding and it will accomplish the evaluation of the bids. Aga Khan Trust Fund has made the preparations for 11 structures, and in the next period it sets out to prepare the detailed projects and the bills of quantities. Project Coordination Unit has always been insisting on the importance of infrastructure, and its resolution. In the program for neighbourhoods, Aga Khan Trust Fund has covered the infrastructural structures, and set out to resolve them. Streets: Jusovina, Ćemalovića, Ramića, Onešćukova will permanently resolve problems regarding infrastructure.

In spite of many problems in the past period, Project Coordination Unit Mostar has made great improvements in the realization of the Old Bridge project in Mostar.

At the same time we wish to point out that in the mentioned period we want to accomplish still bigger and better results.