Mostar 2024: Dialogue for the Future

The "Mostar 2024: Dialogue for the Future" conference, held on July 22-23, 2024, in Mostar, marked the significant 20th anniversary of the Stari Most (Old Bridge) restoration, a powerful emblem of resilience and unity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina in collaboration with the Center for Peace and other respected partners, the conference was designed to foster an open platform for promoting reconciliation and coexistence. Through this conference, Mostar’s iconic bridge and historic Old Town were highlighted as enduring symbols of multiculturalism and peaceful cohabitation, drawing attention to the importance of shared heritage in building future unity.

The event brought together high-level officials from Bosnia and Herzegovina and neighboring Western Balkan countries, along with international diplomats, EU and UNESCO representatives, World Bank officials, cultural heritage experts, and civil society leaders. The conference commenced with welcoming speeches from leading dignitaries and continued with a series of panels and discussions focusing on themes such as linking the past, present, and future within the EU framework and the preservation of cultural heritage in Mostar. On the first evening, a special cultural performance and flower ceremony on the Stari Most honored the victims of all wars, followed by a formal peace dinner hosted by the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The conference culminated in the signing of the "Mostar 2024 Statement for the Future," a formal commitment to fostering dialogue, cooperation, and sustainable peace in the region. This conference underscored Mostar’s role as a hub for intercultural dialogue and collaborative peace-building, setting a foundation for continued partnerships and shared goals for the future.