Translated from Croatian

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE EVENTS

Professor dr. Božo Goluža describes the earlier disastrous damages to the bridge

Prof. dr. Božo Goluža, Who Really Destroyed the Old Bridge?, page 147

______________________________________________________________________________

Photograph No. 4. Published in Riječ in October 1992. The damage from the second Serb shelling.

Note: The picture below shows the damage to the bridge after the withdrawal of the Serbs from the left bank of the Neretva. The shells inflicted greater damage than before (the picture above). The pictures published by the Muslims as postcards in 1997 used photomontage to hide this damage and show the bridge as undamaged before its destruction in 1993.

Such a big number of cameramen at the moment of the explosion, in such a dangerous spot during the conflict, cannot be a coincidence. This has given rise to the suspicion that everything had been prearranged.

- It is still a fact that the Old Bridge was shelled by HVO artillery on that occasion, but it is also a fact that a shell could not cause such a big explosion, which is proven by the previous hits of Serb artillery. It still remains a mystery how it was organized to have HVO artillery shell the bridge at the very moment when it was needed and when the recording of the event had been prepared. But the video recording confirms the suspicion that the Old Bridge was not destroyed by shells but by an enormous quantity of planted explosives.

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Dr. Ratko Perić, Bridge on the Neretva, page 161

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(…) a bridge that was built in nine years, with ninety-nine steps and ninety-nine thousand eggs instead of concrete.²⁶

Earthquakes could shake the Mostar giant, great storm floods could have taken it away, like e.g. in the mid-19^th century: "It happened recently – wrote Fra Petar Bakula 136 years ago – that a flood carrying driftwood from Bosnia closed the entire span of the bridge. The bridge was in peril of destruction, so an audacious man had to be lowered in a basket to saw off some branches and save the bridge from harm. That hero was Ante Ančić from Mostar."²⁷ Ante again.

The bridge could have fallen down into the river in April 1941, when the Kingdom of Yugoslavia wanted to destroy it. The explosive was removed by miners from Cim: Mijo Knezović, Tomo Mijan and Jozo Petrović. Croats again.²⁸

Everything was ready to blow in 1943, when the Italians mined the bridge. The explosive was removed by Grgo Papac, a Croatian guardsman and an outlaw, who found himself there by accident.²⁹

Explosives were again planted on the eve of the last war, both in this bridge and the other six Mostar bridges, by the Yugoslav army, and in June 1992, when D. Piljević from Malo Polje was sent to activate the bomb under the only bridge still standing, the Old Bridge. He was killed, and the explosive from 1991 remained until the explosion of 1993.³⁰

The bridge could have gone down in June 1992, when it was shelled and visibly damaged by the Serb army, and protected with planks and bags by HVO. Pero was killed in action. Croats again.

It could have been destroyed in October 1992, when the Serb army inflicted even more visible damage, and when some workers from the left bank "repaired" it (…)

_______________________

²⁶ B. Žigo, Kad je čovik tica (When Man is Bird), in: Nedjeljna Dalmacija, 8 July 1979, p. 36.

²⁷ P. Bakula, Hercegovina prije 100 godina (Herzegovina 100 Years Ago), Mostar, 1970, p. 96.

²⁸ K. D. Miletić, Stari most (Old Bridge), manuscript, p. 23.

²⁹ See B. Goluža, Tko je uistinu srušio Stari most? (Who Really Destroyed the Old Bridge?), in: Motrišta, Mostar, No. 28/2003, pp. 63-64. Along with the text (pp. 58-67), which incites serious doubts (to say the least) in the systematic generalization and defamation that has been going on, the author presents drawings and photographs (pp. 67-75).

³⁰ See Vidoslov, the official paper of the Zahumlje-Herzegovina and Primorje Eparchy, Trebinje, 10/1997, p. 49.

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The Mostar bishop Ratko Perić talks about the history of damages and destruction of the Old Bridge

REPUBLIC OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

ASSEMBLY OF MOSTAR MUNICIPALITY

Municipality Crisis Headquarters

Number: 427/92

Date: 29 April 1992

DECISION

Pursuant to the Order of the Republic Civil Defense Headquarters and the decision of the Presidency of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, passed on 04 April 1992 and 10 April 1992, and the Decision on Proc+laiming Immediate Danger of War in the Area of Mostar Municipality, No. 1/92 of 09 April 1992, as well as the Decision on Withdrawing JNA Forces from the Territory of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, passed by the Presidency of the Republic of B&H on 27 April 1992, and considering the fact that Mostar Municipality is partly occupied by the forces of the so-called Yugoslav Peoples' Army (hereinafter: JNA) which, together with paramilitary forces, make armed attacks on civilian structures, plunder economic entities and family houses, and imprison the inhabitants of this municipality, and considering the fact that the so-called JNA, together with other paramilitary forces operating with it, does not recognize the legitimate and legal government bodies of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Mostar Municipality, the Mostar Municipality Crisis Headquarters passes this

DECISION

The so-called JNA, together with other paramilitary forces operating with it, are proclaimed enemy forces and aggressive forces in the area of the Mostar Municipality.

The defense and protection of the city of Mostar from the forces from Article 1 shall be entrusted to the Mostar Municipality Headquarters of the Croatian Defense Council (hereinafter: HVO), and the members of the Mostar center of the Ministry of the Interior.

III

HVO consists of the members of the Muslim and Croat peoples and the members of other peoples who recognize the legal government bodies of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and who show their loyalty to them.

The Muslims may form their own armed forces, which shall be under the joint command of HVO Mostar Municipality Headquarters.

The national composition of the commanding staff of HVO shall be in line with the national composition of active soldiers.

When new defense forces are formed, the commanding staff shall be represented according to the parity principle. This provision shall apply to the forces formed after 1 May 1992.

The task of HVO Mostar Municipality Headquarters is to liberate the entire territory of the municipality. In order to achieve the task from the previous sentence, HVO Mostar Municipality Headquarters shall coordinate with other defensive forces from the neighboring municipalities.

HVO Mostar Municipality Headquarters shall structure and organize armed forces which will guarantee peace, freedom and security to the citizens.

This function shall be performed by military police.

In order to realize the judiciary function in the domain of military right, HVO Mostar Municipality Headquarters shall found, structure and organize the operations of the military prosecutor's office and the court-martial for the territory of the municipality of Mostar.

The national composition of these institutions shall be in line with the national composition of active soldiers.

VII

In order to defend the municipality of Mostar, HVO Mostar Municipality Headquarters shall coordinate with the municipal crisis headquarters, the Ministry of the Interior and other legal bodies of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina when the circumstances demand it.

Issues in the common interest shall be resolved at the joint meetings of the Crisis Headquarters of the Assembly of Mostar Municipality and the HVO Mostar Municipality Headquarter.

All the documents for the movement of people and goods shall be issued by HVO Mostar Municipality Headquarters.

VIII

As soon as possible, the Mostar Municipality Crisis Headquarters shall form a temporary executive committee which will ensure the operation of the administrative bodies of the Assembly of Mostar Municipality.

After ending the war operations and liberating the Mostar municipality and creating the conditions for the normal operation of legal government bodies, all other issues and political solutions will be regulated regarding the competent decisions passed by the legal bodies of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

MEMBERS OF THE CRISIS HEADQUARTERS:

1. Milivoj Gagro

2. Ismet Hadžiosmanović

3. Zijad Demirović

4. Borislav Puljić

5. Josip Škutor

6. Mehmed Behmen

7. Ilija Filipović

8. Fikret Bajrić

9. Jole Musa

The decision of the Crisis Headquarters of Mostar Municipality of 29 April 1992 about entrusting the defense of the city to the Croatian Defense Council

REPUBLIC OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

CROATIAN COMMUNITY OF HERZEG-BOSNIA (HZ HB)

CROATIAN DEFENSE COUNCIL (HVO) IN MOSTAR

PUBLIC ENTERPRISE FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF MOSTAR

Number: 234/92-R

Mostar, 24 September 1992

Pursuant to the Decision on Founding the Public Enterprise for the Reconstruction of Mostar, I hereby pass this

DECISION

The Commission for the Temporary Protection of Cultural and Construction Heritage shall have these members:

1. Šećo Džiho, civil engineer – designing supervision,

2. Edin Prašo, civil engineer – contractor supervision,

3. Prof. dr. Dragan Milašinović, civil engineer – member.

For the purpose of planning the reconstruction of Mostar, the task of the Commission is to analyze the situation and protect the Old Bridge from shelling and to plan any work on the bridge to protect it from atmospheric influences.

III

In its work, the Commission may use external cooperators or experts from specific areas for the final provision of an expert opinion. Moreover, the Commission may freely choose the contractors for specific works.

After making the analyses and the study, it will verify (two words illegible) commission.

cc:

- Commission members Director

- Director of the public enterprise Boro Puljić

- Archive

The decision on appointing the commission for the temporary protection of cultural objects in HZ HB, 24 September 1992

REPUBLIC OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR MILITARY SECRET

CSS – SJS MOSTAR STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

PLAN

OF THE PHYSICAL PROTECTION OF THE STRUCTURES AND PREMISES

OF THE OLD BRIDGE

Mostar, 03 January 1993

Plan of the Ministry of the Interior of Bosnia and Herzegovina, SJS Mostar, for the physical protection of the structures and premises of the Old Bridge of 1 January 1993

Considering the importance of the structures and premises of the Old Bridge and its current function, as well as the most recent constellation of political relationships, it can be realistically expected that the only link with the left bank will be cut.

Considering the fact that the structure is badly damaged and that it has been shelled, we believe that even a small quantity of explosives would be sufficient to "finish the job".

From the aspect of safety, the most sensitive spots of the Old Bridge are the arch, as its narrowest part, and the parts leaning on the banks of the Neretva. From the aspect of securing the place, the most sensitive spots are all the accesses to the structure and to the places on the left and right banks of the Neretva. In fact, the immediate vicinity of the bridge can be used for parking passenger or freight vehicles as potential "bombs".

The frequency is exceptionally high during the day and sometimes in the night (movements of citizens and soldiers). The structure is used to transport construction materials, weapons and ammunition, food, the wounded etc.

The current physical protection provided by the employees of the Ministry of the Interior of Bosnia and Herzegovina, considering all of the above, is not sufficient for high-quality control and guarding of the structure and premises of the Old Bridge, especially because police jurisdiction is restricted to controlling the movements of civilians.

Therefore, we propose the following measures, actions and activities in cooperation with the military police of the Army of BiH, which will certainly result in a more comprehensive prevention control of all the premises, especially the Old Bridge, and discourage any potential diversion.

(a) SECURING THE SURROUNDINGS OF THE STRUCTURE

For this kind of security, we propose the creation of three mixed checkpoints:

– a checkpoint next to the Symphony Orchestra building (checkpoint No. 2);

– a checkpoint at the crossroads of Ulica Onešćukova and Ulica Gojka Vukovića (checkpoint No. 1);

– a checkpoint at the entrance to Ulica Jusovina from Ulica Gojka Vukovića (checkpoint No. 3).

Moreover, for day and night, we propose that mixed patrols should patrol the wider area of the Old Bridge, regularly descending to the left and right banks of the Neretva. This kind of work is suitable for daytime, while nighttime patrols should be located in the facilities of the Bar or the Museum or some other place suitable for controlling the structure.

(b) SECURING THE STRUCTURE

For this kind of security, we propose the following. The existing checkpoints on both sides of the Old Bridge (checkpoints No. 4 and 5) should be reinforced with military police. They should control the persons crossing the Old Bridge and their luggage 24 hours a day. One of the policemen or one of the checkpoints must make the controls on the bridge itself or a suitable place during day and night, to discourage any unnecessary lingering or leaving any objects on the bridge. For that purpose, it is necessary to provide a lamp under the planks at the center of the bridge, which was there and functioned until recently.

The policemen at the checkpoints shall do their duty regardless of the weather conditions, 24 hours a day, every day, and their basic duty is not to let vehicles, soldiers or civilians approach the Old Bridge if they do not have the appropriate approval or need. This applies especially to the curfew period, when any movement is forbidden, except for persons with the appropriate approval, while the uniformed persons must know the valid password for that period. If a checkpoint intercepts any persons who do not know the password or do not have the appropriate approvals, they should be detained and taken to military police or, if they are civilians, to the police station II.

It is strictly forbidden to let any vehicles approach the Old Bridge or park in the immediate vicinity of the bridge. This forbiddance does not apply to the vehicles with the marks of ABiH, HVO, civilian and military police, ambulances and vehicles bringing logistical support to the units on the front lines, which will be assessed by the checkpoint policemen for each specific case. The policemen are obliged to record all the vehicles they let pass through: their make, color, license plate and the number of passengers. They must also record the time when vehicles pass through the checkpoint.

Along with the mentioned duties, the policemen at the checkpoints in the immediate vicinity of the Old Bridge must record all the persons who cross the Old Bridge and write down their residential addresses, the reasons for crossing to the left bank and the time of crossing and returning from the left bank. (this applies to civilians)

handwritten: the line under the last sentence and the comment: WHY ONLY THE LEFT BANK?

At the same time, the military police at the checkpoints on both sides of the bridge shall control the movement of soldiers and anyone bearing a uniform, with the task to detain and disarm any person without the valid ID of the member of a military unit.

(d) SUMMARY

For a successful preventive supervision and control over the premises and structure of the Old Bridge and over the vehicles, the following is necessary:

Checkpoints No. 1, 2, 3 - one military policeman

- one policeman

Checkpoints No. 4, 5 - two military policemen

- two policemen

This proposal assumes work in shifts 24 hours a day, where the checkpoints 1, 2 and 3 shall work in 6-hour shifts, while the checkpoints 4 and 5 will work in turns (12 - 24 - 48). We also propose that the change of guard must be made at the checkpoints and that the policemen may not leave the checkpoints under any circumstance until the change of guard or an order of their officer in charge.

As for the patrols, their work shall remain the same: mixed patrols during the night and policemen of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the day.

The police station II will provide four policemen for each checkpoint every day, three policemen for night patrols every day and 12 policemen for day patrols. Day patrols will be made under the orders of the commander of the police station II.

Every day, the military police of Army of RBiH shall provide four policemen for checkpoints from 1 to 5 and three policemen for the night patrol.

We propose a joint meeting of the commanders of the police station II and the commander of the military police unit of Army of BiH and the men who will physically protect the premises and structure of the Old Bridge in order to reach concrete agreements to realize the proposed tasks.

ENCLOSED: Sketch of the Old Bridge with marked checkpoints

COMMANDER OF POLICE STATION II

Senad Ibrulj

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

GREAT SUCCESS OF HVO IN THE CITY ON THE NERETVA

Chetnik Strongholds Destroyed

The Chetnik "army" has been destroyed, captured or forced to flee in panic towards Nevesinje

MOSTAR - Croat and Muslim fighters under the joint command of HVO destroyed on Tuesday the last strongholds of SDS terrorists on the left bank of the city. The North Camp, Carina, Mazoljice, the notorious Konak barracks, Bjelušine, Šehovina, the so-called "south camp" – it has all been liberated. The Serb Chetnik "army" which terrorized the city from those positions during two months has been either destroyed or captured or (most frequently) forced to flee in panic towards Nevesinje. The liberators' scout units reported yesterday that there were conflicts among the terrorists themselves.

The local Serbs, who expected the left bank of Mostar to remain within an improbable "Serbian Republic of BiH", came in conflict with SDS terrorists who came from other towns. When they plundered enough stuff in Mostar, they wanted to leave in safety with their "spoils". But the "local" terrorists felt betrayed, which caused a conflict with casualties.

Serb "brothers" from other towns did not come to help their brothers in Mostar. The promised reinforcements of "Šešelj's fighters" from Nevesinje failed to appear. Abandoned and totally compromised by their crimes, the Mostar Serbs who had supported the barbaric and genocidal policy of SDS put up a desperate fight against the HVO defenders, but nothing could stop the powerful impetus of our fighters. The Serb strongholds, used by the "Serb territorial forces" to destroy Mostar and kill its inhabitants, fell one after another. Military police still does not allow civilians or even journalists to approach the area. The freshly liberated part of the city still has many mines left by the terrorists.

Sadly, the fights for the final liberation of the city claimed the lives of 18 brave HVO fighters, Croats and Muslims. They fought side by side against their common enemy, not sparing their lives. There can be no consolation for the lost lives, but Jasmin, the commander of the Municipal Headquarters, said: "It is one more obligation to persevere on our path."

If it can be of any comfort, the Serb Chetniks had many more casualties, and many have been captured. A smaller part of the enemy forces fled to the Velež forests. They are pursued by HVO forces. This is still not the time to relax and celebrate, however. The Serb Chetniks have long-range artillery in Nevesinje and around it, which can send some more "usual hellos to Mostar and its citizens".

Ermin Krehić

Framed texts:

"This is Hiroshima!"

"This is not Vukovar, this is Hiroshima", said dr. Džemal Džudža, president of the Cultural Muslim Society "Preporod", to describe the devastation of the old part of Mostar, the famous Kujundžiluk, Prijeko Čaršije, the recently restored complex of Taphane, the quarters of Donja Mahala, Luka… Those are cultural and historical structures built in the Ottoman period, partly protected by UNESCO. "The leading restoration experts are already thoroughly researching this problem, which is far more complex than the situation on the left bank", said dr. Džudža. (E. K.)

Enemy colonel Pusara killed

According to the first information, enemy colonel Tomislav Pusara suffered the fate which his criminal mind intended for the famous Old Bridge. HVO intelligence service has a sound tape where he is heard commanding the destruction of the 400-year old bridge. Sacrificing their lives under continuous enemy fire, HVO fighters covered the Old Bridge with planks and other materials necessary for its protection. It seems that colonel Pusara will not answer before a court for the crimes he did against Mostar and its citizens, because he was killed in the battle for Mostar.

Chetnik headquarters in the church

On the last day of fighting for the final liberation of Mostar, the last undamaged religious building in Mostar was put on fire. It was the Orthodox church. Reliable evidence indicates it was done by the withdrawing enemy. In fact, during the entire war, the city defenders in and around Mostar, although they had the means, did absolutely no harm to the Orthodox church. There was good reason to do so, however, since the Chetnik headquarters was in the church basement and the enemy artillery was around it. The defenders did not want to act like SDS terrorists.

Burned Even Their Own Church

All the Catholic churches and mosques in Mostar have been destroyed; the diocesan Caritas is providing help to 7,000 families in need

MOSTAR (from the reporter of Novi Vjesnik) – Not a single Catholic or Islamic religious building in Mostar has been spared the terrorist madness of Serbian artillery. They have all been fully or partly destroyed. The diocesan administration has been completely burned down. The Franciscan Church of Saint Peter and Paul has burned down to the ground. The cathedral has been bombarded or shelled almost ten times. The buildings of the Islamic Community, which belong to the most valuable cultural and historic monuments of the city, such as the Karađozbeg Mosque (1557) or the Mehmed-paša Koska Mosque (1612-18) have also been systematically destroyed. The objective was obviously to completely obliterate any trace of Croat and Muslim communities in this region. When they were leaving, the terrorists even burned their own Orthodox church!

"The Catholic and Islamic priests asked from the city's defenders not to try to destroy the Orthodox church", says Don Ivan Vukšić, the minister in the Mostar cathedral. "We kept reminding them that such an action would make them no different than those criminals. I believe that the Orthodox church should be a symbol of the dignity of the Croatian Catholic and Muslim peoples, which know how to appreciate all that is valuable, sacred and beautiful, but also as a mark of shame for its own people."

Don Vukšić commented the destruction of churches and mosques:

"The systematic destruction of religious buildings reveals the poverty of spirit of a people which did not look for spiritual food in this region for the last fifty years. As far as I know, the Serbian Orthodox Church did not hold even one hour of religious education for its young generations in the last 50 years."

"People whose spirit is poor cannot appreciate the values of the human spirit. And people who cannot appreciate the holy things of others cannot appreciate their own holy things either. This war has proven it."

Don Vukšić believes that all the religious communities should assume "their part of responsibility for everything that happened to us. This applies especially to the Serbian Orthodox Church."

Despite their hardships after the diocese was swallowed by flames, and the cathedral was completely destroyed, the diocesan Caritas provides help to those in need every day. They receive hundreds of people of different religions and nationalities: Croats, Muslims and Serbs. Nobody leaves empty-handed. Their director, Don Andrija Iličić, often goes to Zagreb to try to transport more food and other materials to Mostar, which was a city under siege until recently.

"Food is distributed on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays", says Don Vukšić. "We record everyone who receives presents, they are given cards which enable them to come to Caritas every 15 days and take the delivered food, clothes and hygienic materials. We introduced the cards to avoid large groups of citizens such as we saw in Sarajevo. The diocesan Caritas helps everyone: Croats, Muslims, people of Orthodox faith, atheists… According to our records, most help goes to Muslims." The diocesan Caritas regularly provides food, clothes and hygienic materials to 7,000 families in Mostar.

Don Vukšić expressed his special thanks to HVO and their drivers, who bring the food to the city from the warehouses in Western Herzegovina, literally driving between shells.

Articles in the newspaper Vjesnik of 17 June 1992 about the fight against the Serbian forces in Mostar

AFTER THE GREAT WAR SUCCESS OF THE THIRD MOSTAR BATTALION

Singing Ganga in the Battlefield

"We are successful because we fight with our hearts, while they only have technology. We will capture or obtain the technology, but they lost their hearts."

A hard battle was fought to liberate the northern approaches to Mostar, i.e. the suburban area of Bijelo Polje. The lion's share of the fighting was assumed by the Third Battalion of HVO Mostar Headquarters, in which most fighters come from Cim, the area populated mostly by Croats. In front of the decided and well-prepared HVO fighters, the SDS terrorists fled in panic. They withdrew to the village of Lijeska, where they tried to consolidate and put up a desperate stand. At the crucial moments of the battle, when the battalion commander Ilija Vrljić felt that the attacking force needed more support to overcome the strong resistance, he issued a strange order to the back of his units: "Ganga!" (Ganga is a specific kind of singing in Western Herzegovina, with a particular melodic range and tone of voice.) Ilija's fighters sang as loud as they could, louder than shots and explosions. The battlefield rang with ganga:

"Don't tear down the Berlin wall,

The guys from Cim will move it to Drina."

When the fighters in the first lines heard the song, they started singing too, shooting even harder in the direction of entrenched Chetniks. Who knows what the Serb terrorists thought at that moment, cowering before the incredible rain of bullets and shells, while ganga could be heard from what seemed like some fifty meters away. Whatever they thought, they ran like rabbits. They even left the stuff they had packed for evacuation. Bags with personal belongings, goods plundered in previous raids, enormous quantities of arms and ammunition, food… they left it all. Most importantly, the "Ganga Boys" managed to drive away all the Chetniks from their area of operation!

And it was really something to find the strength to sing and charge in the conditions where the Third Battalion found itself. They had reached the first stronghold of SDS terrorists after walking for ten kilometers, starting from the last place reachable by vehicles. They even had to leave the ambulance ten kilometers away! All the "Ganga Boys" were aware of it, but nobody turned back. The so-called "Serb territorial forces" were surprised by the Third Battalion, which ascended an almost vertical cliff which was not guarded by the Chetniks, who had thought there was "no chance" that anyone could climb it. Well, a whole battalion climbed it. The Third Battalion, the Mostar battalion! The first one climbing was the commander, Ilija Vrljić.

"It was such a cliff that my people thought not even a mountain goat could climb it", remembers Vrljić. "I felt the disbelief in their voices. I didn't say anything, I just started climbing. And then we were supposed to walk another 30 kilometers while fighting and carrying our full gear."

The terrain did not allow for first aid help in the first, second or third battle ranks. As for logistics, they did not need it.

The Serb houses from which the Chetniks fled were so full of weapons and equipment that not even half of it was more than enough to supply the Third Battalion. Thirty kilometers of fighting were walked by the battalion in the planned time, with three wounded soldiers.

"We are successful because we fight with our hearts, while they only have technology. We will capture or obtain the technology, but they lost their hearts."

During the fighting in Mostar Mostar citizens returning to a devastated city

The pearl of Mostar still proudly stands over the Neretva

Photographs: Darko Bandić

Journalist: Ermin Krehić

Article in the newspaper Vjesnik of 5 July 1992 with a photograph proving that the bridge was used for military actions.

MOSTAR: AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF THE OLD BRIDGE

History Fell Down into the Neretva

HVO has reported that the most recent shelling only finished the destruction of the symbol of Mostar, which started at the time of the Serb aggression against the city. The Muslim radio of Mostar said: "Let it have rahmet forever, may it find eternal peace in the water of the Neretva." UNPROFOR still does not know anything about the destruction of the bridge.

MOSTAR – The destruction of the damaged Old Bridge in Mostar has attracted great attention. Many local and foreign journalist teams have arrived to Mostar. However, there are still no reliable information about the circumstances of the destruction of the most famous symbol of this city. HVO reported already on Tuesday that the bridge was destroyed during the fighting between the Croat and Muslim artillery and that the most recent shelling only finished what had been started last year during the Serb aggression against Mostar. According to that report, neither side can be directly accused of destroying this famous cultural monument from 1566, built by the Turkish builder Hayruddin. Anyway, now, after the withdrawing Serbs destroyed the other five bridges, the Neretva can be crossed only over the prefabricated bridge put up by international organizations. Moreover, from the position on the mountain of Hum, the only relatively safe place to watch the remains of the Old Bridge, one can see the pipes-and-cables makeshift bridge connecting the two banks, but it is extremely dangerous. HVO members on Hum told us that the stone arch started falling down on Monday already, but everything went down on Tuesday morning. Now there are only the towers standing on both sides of the destroyed bridge.

The Muslim perspective of the destruction of the bridge can be learned only by listening to their wartime radio in Mostar, which is quite hard, since the radio is barely audible on the right bank. Still, it can be said that they are accusing HVO of destroying the bridge. They even said goodbye to the bridge: "Let it have rahmet forever, may it find eternal peace in the water of the Neretva."

The public relations officer of the Spanish battalion of UNPROFOR in Međugorje, colonel Antonio Castro, told us that his soldiers were not present at the moment when the bridge was destroyed, so they do not know which side the shells came from. The only official statement by the Blue Helmets was that the bridge was destroyed by anti-tank ammunition and several mortar shells; their patrols in Mostar were ordered by the Spanish command to investigate all the circumstances, but only as long as they feel safe. When we asked him whether they contacted the Muslim side after this event, colonel Castro said they did not, so he did not want to comment their radio statements claiming that the Croats were guilty of destroying the Old Bridge.

As for the consequences of this event for the city front in Mostar, it is clear that the Muslim forces on the right bank of the Neretva will be completely cut off, which will make it hard to supply them with ammunition and food.

Written by: I. PROFACA

Article in the newspaper Slobodna Dalmacija of 11 November 1993 about the destruction of the Old Bridge

Letter of Vladislav Pogarčić to Boutros Ghali

Asking for Independent Investigation of the Destruction of the Old Bridge

MOSTAR – Regarding the events related to the fate of the Old Bridge in Mostar, Vladislav Pogarčić, the head of the Office of the President of HR HB, sent a letter to the UN Secretary General Boutros Ghali. Habena agency reports the content of the letter:

"The Croat population of Bosnia and Herzegovina is deeply shocked by the destruction of the Old Bridge, built in Mostar in 1566, because that unique historical masterpiece was constructed by Croatian stonecutters from Dalmatia and Dubrovnik. The crime committed against this architectural treasure is a painful issue, but the letter sent by Muhamed Šaćirbej to the UN Security Council on 12 November is deliberately misleading, so I kindly ask Your Excellency to consider these facts:"

"The Bosnian Serb forces constantly shelled the city of Mostar from April to July 1992, using heavy artillery and mortar shells. The Old Bridge was hit by artillery shells several times, which damaged its stone parapet," says the letter of Vladislav Pogarčić to Boutros Ghali.

"On 8 July 1993, professor Jozo Marić, now the Minister of Education, Science and Culture of HR HB, sent an appeal to UNESCO, requesting urgent help to protect that monument, because the Muslim forces on the east bank of Mostar were already using the bridge for military purposes and set up explosives under it. Unfortunately, our government did not receive any reply from UNESCO. Furthermore, numerous appeals were sent to UNPROFOR and the European Community observers, indicating the critical situation concerning the bridge. On 9 November 1993, the day when the Old Bridge was destroyed, mortar duels were waged between Croat and Muslim forces in Mostar. The Muslim forces on the right bank of the Neretva in Mostar were retreating, and the time of the destruction of the bridge coincides with their retreat. Also, it must be pointed out that the Muslim forces controlled the Old Bridge and its immediate surroundings for several months before its destruction," says Pogarčić in his letter and adds:

"Only explosives planted under the bridge, or heavy artillery, could have destroyed the bridge. Let me point out again that HVO forces were using only mortars on that day. Mortar shells, even if they are direct hits, can inflict only minor damage to the Old Bridge (as shown by Serb shelling from April to July 1992). The Croats in BiH strongly protest against the accusations of the Muslim Government of BiH, the hypocrisy of their letter to the UN Security Council, and ask for an urgent and independent investigation to determine the conditions in which the Old Bridge was destroyed. I believe these information have clarified the events related to the fate of the Old Bridge," ends the letter of Vladislav Pogarčić, the head of the Office of the President of HR HB, to the UN Secretary General Boutros Ghali. (Habena/Hina)

Article in the newspaper Vjesnik of 19 November 1993 about the letter of Vladislav Pogarčić, the head of the Office of the President of HR HB, to the UN Secretary General Boutros Ghali, asking for an independent investigation of the destruction of the Old Bridge

MOSTAR: VLADISLAV POGARČIĆ, THE HEAD OF THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF HR HB, SAYS IN HIS LETTER TO BOUTROS GHALI:

The Old Bridge Was Not Destroyed by the Croats!

"On the day when the Old Bridge was destroyed, mortar duels were waged between Croat and Muslim forces in Mostar. The Muslim forces on the right bank of the Neretva in Mostar were retreating, and the time of the destruction of the bridge coincides with their retreat. Also, it must be pointed out that the Muslim forces controlled the Old Bridge and its immediate surroundings for several months before its destruction "

MOSTAR (HABENA/Hina) – Regarding the events related to the fate of the Old Bridge in Mostar, Vladislav Pogarčić, the head of the Office of the President of HR HB, sent a letter to the UN Secretary General Boutros Ghali. HABENA, the Herzeg-Bosnian news agency, reports the content of the letter:

"The Croat population of Bosnia and Herzegovina is deeply shocked by the destruction of the Old Bridge, built in Mostar in 1566, because that unique historical masterpiece was constructed by Croatian stonecutters from Dalmatia and Dubrovnik. The crime committed against this architectural treasure is a painful issue, Your Excellency, but the letter sent by Muhamed Šaćirbej to the UN Security Council on 12 November is deliberately misleading, so I kindly ask Your Excellency to consider these facts:"

Talk with Vladislav Pogarčić, the head of the Office of the President of HR HB, in the newspaper Slobodna Dalmacija of 20 November 1993, which stated publicly and with arguments that the Croatian forces did not destroy the Old Bridge.

Večernji list, 16 July 1994

FRANJO TUĐMAN:

"We Will Reconstruct the Mostar Bridge Together"

It was with great pleasure that I welcomed the president Demirel and his state delegation. Our talks revealed much agreement in the views of various issues of interest not only for our two countries, but for the whole world. They are comprehensive efforts to solve the crisis on the territory of former Yugoslavia, where Croatia is primarily interested in resolving the issue of occupied areas and the crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

We concluded with satisfaction that the policies of both Turkey and Croatia helped the signing of Washington Agreements and their implementation within the federation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and confederation with Croatia. We had special talks and many agreements in the area of further bilateral cooperation. I believe that the public will approve our decision that Croatia and Turkey will reconstruct the Mostar bridge together.

Report in the newspaper Večernji list about the agreement between the leaders of Croatia and Turkey, Franjo Tuđman and Süleyman Demirel, about the joint reconstruction of the Old Bridge in Mostar.

REPUBLIC OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

CROATIAN COMMUNITY OF HERZEG-BOSNIA

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

No. 00115/93

Mostar, 27 July 1993

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 34, paragraph 1, item 1, of the Ordinance on Armed Forces (Official Paper of HZ H-B, No. 6/92) of HZ H-B, the president of HZ H-B hereby issues this

ORDER

ON APPOINTING

IN THE SUPREME HEADQUARTERS OF HVO

1. Major-General SLOBODAN PRALJAK

is appointed to the position of:

Chief of Staff of the Supreme Headquarters of HVO

Date of taking over the new position: 27 July 1993

cc: PRESIDENT

1. Supreme Headquarters of HVO Mate Boban

2. Personally (signed and stamped)

3. Personnel Administration

4. Archive

Order of 27 July 1993 about appointing Major-General Slobodan Praljak to the position of the Chief of Staff of the Supreme Headquarters of HVO

REPUBLIC OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

CROATIAN COMMUNITY OF HERZEG-BOSNIA

CROATIAN DEFENSE COUNCIL

SUPREME HEADQUARTERS OF HVO HR HB

No. 02-2/1-01-2216/93

Čitluk, 29 October 1993

RELEASE FROM DUTY

SUPREME COMMANDER OF ARMED FORCES OF HR HB

Mr. Mate Boban

MINISTER OF DEFENSE OF HR HB

Mr. Bruno Stojić – as information

REQUEST

My health is very bad because of arrhythmic heart operation and discopathy.

Since such illnesses are incompatible with my function, I hereby ask you to relieve me from my duties of the Chief of Staff of the Supreme Headquarters of HVO by 5 November 1993.

In the meantime, I will hand over my duties to General Milivoj Petković, Assistant Chief of Staff of the Supreme Headquarters, or to another officer you designate.

CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE SUPREME HEADQUARTERS OF HVO HR HB

General Slobodan Praljak

(signed and stamped)

Request of Major-General Slobodan Praljak of 29 October 1993 to be released from the position of the Chief of Staff of the Supreme Headquarters of HVO

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

CROATIAN REPUBLIC OF HERZEG-BOSNIA

PRESIDENT

No. UP.00242/93.

Mostar, 08 November 1993

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 34, paragraph 1, item 1, of the Ordinance on Armed Forces (Official Paper, No. 6/92), the Supreme Commander of Armed Forces and the President of the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia, hereby issues this

ORDER

IN THE SUPREME HEADQUARTERS OF THE CROATIAN DEFENSE COUNCIL

OF THE CROATIAN REPUBLIC OF HERZEG-BOSNIA

about releasing

1. Major-General SLOBODAN PRALJAK, Chief of Staff of the Supreme Headquarters of HVO, is released from his duties pursuant to his personal request, No. 02-2/1-01-3216/93 of 29 October 1993, because of illness.

1. Pursuant to the Order on Appointment No. UP.00241/93 of 08 November 1993, Major-General SLOBODAN PRALJAK will hand over his duties to General ANTE ROSO, Chief of Staff of the Supreme Headquarters of HVO.

2. This order comes into force immediately.

MATE BOBAN

(signed and stamped)

Order of 8 November 1993 about releasing Major-General Slobodan Praljak from his duties as the Chief of Staff of the Supreme Headquarters of HVO

UNION REPUBLIC OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

CROATIAN REPUBLIC OF HERZEG-BOSNIA

SUPREME HEADQUARTERS OF HVO

No. 02-2/1-01-3374/93

IZM Čitluk, 09 November 1993

Handover of duties.-

Pursuant to the Order of Mr. Boban, the duties of the Chief of Staff of the Supreme Headquarters of HVO are transferred from Major-General Slobodan Praljak as the giver to General Ante Roso as the receiver.

Operating and other documents managed in the Supreme Headquarters of HVO have been handed over.

The receiver has been informed about the situation on the front of HR H-B.

The handover has been performed on 09 November 1993.

GIVER OF DUTIES RECEIVER OF DUTIES

Major-General General

Slobodan Praljak Ante Roso

Document on the handover of duties on 9 November 1993 between Major-General Slobodan Praljak and General Ante Roso

Article (some sections highlighted by hand):

THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE AUTHOR OF THE FILM OF THE DESTRUCTION OF THE OLD BRIDGE

Original vs. a Hundred Copies

What the citizen of Mostar who recorded the destruction of the Old Bridge went through to win his case against TVBiH and RTV Mostar

Hadži Nedžad Kasumović must receive thirty thousand marks for his video recording of the death of the Old Bridge. This decision of the Superior Court in Mostar, according to Kasumović's attorney Mehmed Šator, has been received on the left bank like any other just decision. But he points out: "We will file a complaint." Why?

"It is a very exclusive film."

Šator is precise. As the refund of damages inflicted to Kasumović until now, by exploiting the mentioned film without his knowledge or approval, he will demand that the accused (TVBiH Sarajevo and RTV Mostar) pay 100,000 marks.

This still was also copied from TV

TVBiH dictates the price

Senad Efica, deputy director of RTV Mostar, says that his house will also file a complaint: "We had no benefit from this film. God forbid! It is insulting just to talk about it. In fact, our TV house received its signal only on 10 October '95. We were just the agents for the copying of the cassette, because Kasumović did not want to hand over the original."

Efica points out that Nedžad was an army cameraman at the time when the recording was made: "He He only did HeHHHHHe was doing his duty."

Finally, he reminds us that the verdict pronounced on 6 May was only the first-degree verdict.

Tonka Knežević, head of the legal department of TVBiH, did not want to say anything. She claims that she has not received anything from Mostar. Amila Omersoftić, director of that media house, is on a trip, so we have no comment from her either. We know, however, that she met with Kasumović some time ago to reach an out-of-court settlement that would satisfy both parties. But the court had the last word. Now nobody is satisfied.

"The lady said that she wants to remove any misunderstandings as soon as possible," says Nedžad (38), former member of the 441^st Brigade of the Fourth Corps. Their conversation ended with that promise of Omersoftić.

Kasumović says, just like last year when we wrote the first article about this court case and when he went through several expert investigations, that money is not the most important thing. What then?

"I could not save the bridge, but I recorded its destruction on tape," says this citizen of Mostar, who has been making amateur films for years. He was born near the bridge. He was in Jusovina on those wartime days when the east bank was a pile of stones and rubbish. On the west bank, as he remembers, "the Ustashi were threatening over a loudspeaker that they would destroy the bridge."

On 8 November '93, Kasumović recorded the shelling of Hayruddin's structure. The recording of our interlocutor is truly a historical and impartial witness that the claims of the "other side" were not correct, both then and later. The film has a date: 8 November '93. No author's name. The "accused parties" were holding strong to that fact.

Praises and oblivion

For that reason, they (TVBiH and RTV Mostar) claimed that the shelling of the Old Bridge was recorded by an anonymous author right before his death.

But on that rainy, cold day, Kasumović recorded the shelling of the white arch, packed the cassette to protect it from water and crossed the suspension bridge in Donja Mahala. His cassette was copied in the war studio of our army. ("I did not want to give the original to anybody, of course.") One of the first persons to see it was General Arif Pašalić, who personally told the brave citizen of Mostar that he would "make history" with his recording. But he made a court claim instead.

Also, to prove that he, soaking wet, brought the dry cassette on that evening, he counted on the fact that Sulejman Budaković Tetak, the commander of the Fourth Corps at the time, ordered Amer Bilanović, who worked in the intelligence section, to take the cassette to Sarajevo and give it personally to the commander in chief of the Army, as it would maybe preserve the bridge. For that reason, Amer appeared before the court too. He described his trip to the Bosnian capital and his thoughts: that the THING on the tape must be seen by the world. He was near Bradina when he heard that the bridge was destroyed.

At the moment when it happened, a camera was turned towards the bridge by a Scotsman, who was in the city as a member of the British army. He was also ordered by Budaković to go to Sarajevo, accompanied by the members of military security of the command of the Fourth Corps. But instead of giving the precious document to the director of RTVBiH as it was agreed, he jumped on the first UNPROFOR plane and left Bosnia.

While the Scotsman was making money on his film, Kasumović was told at the court that his recording was not a cinematographic work. What was it then? The lawyers explained: your honor, it is daily news (!?). If they could, they would have said: call it whatever you like, but the important thing is not to give it copyright, which it is entitled to, according to the Bern Convention. They said: Kasumović could not have had the idea of the destruction of the Old Bridge as the idea for a creative work (way to go, lawyers!), he just grabbed the camera and accidentally (you don't say!) recorded the event.

Kasumović still remembers the evening when they told him he would "make history" and used the hair dryer to dry his legs out of respect. (The headquarters had electricity, of course.) When everything suddenly became questionable, including the evening of its first viewing, and the film itself, the "accused party" held to their last hope. The lawyers said: Oh, yes, we forgot. Kasumović is the author, but the price he demands (why is he demanding it, they asked themselves) is too high. RTVBiH has its price list. It clearly says how much they pay per minute. The lawyers pointed out: we will pay our debt according to the price list. This is how the amount of 30,000 marks was established.

Who is using the authorship?

"It is too little," says Mehmed Šator. He reminds us that it is exceptional war material, that RTVBiH earned money from its contract with BBC for the series "Death of Yugoslavia", which used Kasumović's film.

Of course, even the least informed people know that the recording of the bridge's death was used not only in that series, but also in many other shows, both domestic and foreign, and that RTVBiH benefited from all of them pursuant to precisely concluded contracts. Kasumović, who made it possible, must fight through courts to get a small part of that benefit. This is why he talks about humiliation: "Didn't I have to prove that Budaković, who commanded the Fourth Corps, did not order me to take the camera, as the defendant's lawyers claimed? Budaković himself entered that courtroom and confirmed my words. It would have been truly surreal if one high-ranking officer (Slobodan Praljak) issued the order to destroy, while another high-ranking officer (Sulejman Budaković) issued the order to record it."

The newspaper Oslobođenje of 19 June 1997 wrote about the Odyssey of the author and his video recording of the destruction of the Old Bridge

TOPIC: Old Bridge, data on destruction.-

On 9 November 1993, at 10:16 precisely, the Old Bridge in Mostar was destroyed. It happened during heavy artillery and infantry clashes in the city, within the conflict between Croats and Muslims.

According to the operational information of the Center, the bridge had been used for military purposes by the members of the Fourth Corps of ABiH despite several warnings by the military representatives of HVO to the members of the international forces stationed in Međugorje.

This Center does not have valid data about the perpetrators, the exact origin of the shooting, and the man who ordered it. But the analytical section of the Center has been following the "media treatment" of the destruction of the Old Bridge by the information service of the Fourth Corps, the reporters of the newspaper Oslobođenje Omer Vatrić and Alija Behram, Izet Šahović and others. It is hard to understand and even harder to accept all the charges against the Croatian people in general and its leadership in HR HB and Croatia!

Furthermore, the analytical section of the Center has an article from the newspaper Večernji list of 20 November 1993 with several photographs of Mostar bridges and an article from the newspaper Slobodna Dalmacija of 22 December 1993, titled "The Destroyers of the Old Bridge Under Investigation", where the District Military Court in Mostar stated that an investigation was started against three HVO members who used a tank to fire several shells, some of which hit and destroyed the Old Bridge.

The report of the District Military Court in Mostar, reported by HABENA, said that the investigation was started against the following persons:

- Tomo Topić, son of Marko, born in Široki Brijeg in 1963,

- Dragan Rezić, son of Marin, born in Široki Brijeg in 1963,

- Senaid Čavčić, son of Muhamed, born in Rogatica in 1970, living in Mostar.

"This was done because of the reasonable suspicion that they are the perpetrators of the criminal act of destroying "cultural and historic monuments" from Article 151 of the Criminal Law taken from the former Yugoslavia. As the members of the tank crew of HVO forces, on the right bank of the Neretva in Mostar, on 9 November 1993, around 10:00 hours, during intense fighting between HVO and MOS, at the time when the Muslim forces were moving the members of the Muslim army and heavy war machinery over the Old Bridge from the left bank to the right bank of the Neretva, they perpetrated the act on their own initiative – without any order of the responsible commander – by using their tank to fire several shells, some of which hit the Old Bridge… and the bridge was destroyed." /*

Opinions and proposals:

We believe this event has not been analyzed nor documented enough or comprehensively. Therefore, a valid overview of findings cannot be made.

In order to widen the findings, we propose to refer to the report of the District Military Court in Mostar, to collect data, and to request the data on the military use of the bridge by the PD and the command of ZP Mostar.

The data apply to the recording of the destruction of the Old Bridge in Mostar.

A man called Kasumović, from the part of Mostar controlled by (illegible, maybe "MOS"), phoned to someone called Ante in Dalmatia around 22:00 hours on 01 December 1993, had a friendly talk and then explained to him that he recorded the destruction of the Old Bridge.

Ante said that he would recognize the recording of Kasumović's camera and agreed with Kasumović that it was "Ustashi vandalism".

On the same day, around 22:10 hours, Kasumović called his mother in a refugee center in Dalmatia and explained to her too that he recorded the destruction of the old bridge and that he stood only fifty meters away. Kasumović also told his mother that his wife Snježana gave birth to a girl six days ago, i.e. on 25 November 1993, and that she looks like Olja when he was little. Olja is probably his brother, and his mother said that he left the refugee center and went to Zagreb, where he was studying at the Medresa, which was all organized by the Arabs from IGASA.

Opinion of the worker:

Kasumović's first name should be established, his parents should be identified, as well as that Ante, to find out how Kasumović sent the images to Dalmatia and what he intends to do with them.

DISTRICT MILITARY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IN MOSTAR

No. KT: 2843/93

Mostar, 22 November 1993

OFFICIAL NOTE

Pursuant to the request of Vladislav Pogarčić, the head of the Office of the President of HR HB Mate Boban, to deliver the names of the persons from HVO who participated in the shelling and destruction of the Old Bridge in Mostar, together with Velimir Marić, president of the District Military Court in Mostar, I went to Lučić Ivica, head of SIS. After a discussion about this topic, he gave us the names of three persons suspected of destroying the Old Bridge, with the remark that SIS is still working to clarify that event.

According to the statements from SIS, the suspects are: Tomo Topić, son of Marko, born in Široki Brijeg (his current residence) on 22 October 1963, Dražen Rezić, son of Marin, born in Široki Brijeg (his current residence) on 28 June 1963, and Senaid Čavčić, son of Muhamed, born in Rogatica (his current residence is Mostar) on 21 September 1970.

According to the data of SIS, they were the crew of the tank that controlled the left bank of the Neretva from its right bank on 9 November 1993. Around 10 hours, at the time of intense fighting between MOS and HVO, at the time when the Muslim forces were moving the soldiers and heavy war machinery over the Old Bridge from the left bank to the right bank of the Neretva, they acted on their own initiative, without any order of the responsible commander, and fired an unknown number of shells against the Muslim forces, some of which hit the Old Bridge, which was destroyed, since it was already crumbling because of the damages inflicted by the Serb side and especially the Muslim side, which used the bridge to transport military machinery over the entire duration of the conflict.

***

Official note of the District Military Prosecutor's Office in Mostar on 22 November 1993

Since there is a reasonable suspicion that they are the perpetrators of the criminal act of destroying cultural and historic monuments from Article 151 of the Criminal Law taken from the former Yugoslavia, this prosecutor's office will require the District Military Court in Mostar to start an investigation against them. This official note will be considered as the criminal charge against them.

This prosecutor's office will ask the SIS service to provide comprehensive information about the destruction of the Old Bridge in Mostar and possibly widen the investigation to other persons.

DISTRICT MILITARY PROSECUTOR

MLADEN JURIŠIĆ (signed)

DISTRICT MILITARY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IN MOSTAR

No. KT: 2843/93

Mostar, 23 November 1993

TO THE DISTRICT MILITARY COURT

MOSTAR

Pursuant to Article 45, paragraph 2, item 3, and Article 158, paragraph 1, of the inherited Criminal Law, I hereby file this

REQUEST

to start the investigation

AGAINST:

1. TOMO TOPIĆ, son of Marko, born in Široki Brijeg on 22 October 1963, residing in Široki Brijeg,

2. DRAŽEN REZIĆ, son of Marin, born in Široki Brijeg on 28 June 1963, residing in Široki Brijeg

3. SENAID ČAVČIĆ, son of Muhamed, born in Rogatica on 21 September 1970, residing in Mostar.

Because of the reasonable suspicion that they:

As the members of HVO forces, as a tank crew, on 9 November 1993, around 10:00 hours, during the armed conflict between HVO and MOS in the city of Mostar, at the time when the MOS forces were moving the soldiers and heavy war machinery over the Old Bridge from the left bank to the right bank of the Neretva, they acted on their own initiative and without any order of the responsible commander and used their tank to fire several shells against the Muslim forces, some of which hit the Old Bridge, which fell down into the Neretva because of those hits and earlier damage.

Request of the District Military Prosecutor's Office in Mostar of 23 November 1993 to start the investigation of the destruction of the Old Bridge in Mostar

Therefore, by breaking the rules of international law during an armed conflict, they destroyed a cultural and historical monument and structure.

It would mean they perpetrated the criminal act of destroying cultural and historic monuments from Article 151 of the Criminal Law taken from the former Yugoslavia, so

I PROPOSE

1. That the investigating magistrate calls and hears as the accused the following persons:

- Tomo Topić, Dražen Rezić and Senaid Čavčić, who are all members of the "Penal Battalion" from Široki Brijeg, regarding all the circumstances of the realization of the act hereunder, and especially regarding the circumstances related to their tank commander, whether they were ordered to shell the Old Bridge, whether they intended to destroy the Old Bridge or tried to shell Muslim forces, how many shells they fired, whether somebody else was shelling the bridge etc.

2. That the investigating magistrate finds out the identity of the commander of the accused from them, and that he calls him and examines him as a witness regarding all the circumstances in which the accused parties perpetrated the act.

3. That the investigating magistrate calls the Operating Zone Southeast and obtains from them the information whether there was fighting and armed conflict between MOS and HVO in the quarter of the Old Bridge around 10 hours on 9 November 1993, and whether MOS forces were using the Old Bridge for tactical/operational purposes of transporting soldiers and war equipment.

4. That the investigating magistrate orders the expert analysis made by a civil engineering expert regarding the extent of prior damage to the Old Bridge during the Serb aggression and the effect that the transport of heavy war equipment by MOS could have had on the statics and load-bearing state of the bridge.

5. That other investigative actions should be undertaken if their necessity is perceived.

EXPLANATION

The justification of the suspicion that the accused perpetrated the criminal acts hereunder results from the data obtained in the Headquarters of SIS HR HB and stated in the official note of this prosecutor's office.

Pursuant to recordings made by the Muslim side, it is notorious that the Old Bridge was destroyed by shelling which originated on the west side of the bridge. Because of the great publicity among global public and the great cultural and historical importance of the Old Bridge, there should be a detailed investigation and it should be determined whether the Old Bridge was destroyed pursuant to a plan and concept or whether its destruction was the result of earlier damages to the bridge, which would significantly affect the legal qualification of the act.

Pursuant to the above, this request is justified and legally founded.

DISTRICT MILITARY PROSECUTOR

MLADEN JURIŠIĆ (signed)

otp. 23.II.1993

Prof. dr. HRVOJE SOČE

FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Ul. Ante Zuanića 14

MOSTAR

22-94/95

COURT MARTIAL IN MOSTAR

To the INVESTIGATING MAGISTRATE

(Mr. Ivan Hrstić)

Topic: The expert analysis in the investigation against accused Tomo Topić and others

Pursuant to your letter No. Ki 173 of 24 November 1994, I have been appointed the coordinator for the expert analysis of the causes of the destruction of the Old Bridge in Mostar, all in relation to the current investigation against the accused Tomo Topić and others because of the criminal act from Article 151 of the Criminal Law taken from former Yugoslavia. In accordance with the order, I have appointed the expert analysis commissions.

The expert analysis should provide the answers to the following questions:

The degree of the earlier damage to the Old Bridge (before the destruction).

Was there a prior reduction in the mechanical resistance and stability of the bridge? If yes, how big? How much could that reduction have been caused by the transportation of heavy fighting equipment over the bridge?

Was the Old Bridge in Mostar destroyed by artillery or other shells fired from the right bank of the Neretva on that fateful day (9 November 1993) and earlier, or was the bridge destroyed by something else (e.g. explosives that were previously set up and activated etc.)?

However, pursuant to the review of the investigation document, a founded conclusion on the causes of the destruction of the bridge cannot be issued. Therefore, in order to be able to make a valid conclusion, we ask the Court Martial to deliver the following before the field investigation:

Expert analysis of the commission from the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Mostar of 30 January 1995 for the investigating magistrate of the Court Martial in Mostar about the destruction of the Old Bridge

- video recording of the destruction of the bridge,

- any recordings (or other data) of the situation before the destruction of the bridge,

- detailed plans of the bearing structure of the bridge,

- data on shells (and other explosive devices) shot at the bridge, to be able to use the data from the previous lines, and with the help a military expert for the effect of shells, to identify the causes of the destruction of the bridge.

Mostar, 30 January 1995

Enclosed: Report of the commission members

No. 21-93/95 of 30 January 1995

Civil Engineering Institute of Croatia

Members of the commission:

1. Zulfo Robović, Minister of the Rebuilding and Development of HR H-B (signed)

2. Hrvoje Soče, Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering (signed)

3. Zvonimir Lucović, director of D. G. P. "Hercegovina" - high rises (signed)

Civil Engineering Institute of Croatia

Ki. 173/93

21-93/95.

COURT MARTIAL IN MOSTAR

Investigating magistrate Ivan Hrstić

Topic: Expert analysis in the investigation against the accused Tomo Topić and others

Zagreb, 30 January 1995

Pursuant to your letter No. Ki. 173/93 of 24 November 1994, dr. Petar Đukan, director of the Institute, appointed us the members of the expert analysis commission in the investigation against the accused Tomo Topić and others. Our expert analysis should answer the following questions:

- The degree of the earlier damage to the Old Bridge (before the destruction).

- Was there a prior reduction in the mechanical resistance and stability of the bridge? If yes, how big? How much could that reduction have been caused by the transportation of heavy fighting equipment over the bridge?

Aside from the mentioned letter, we received only the investigation document about the topic. After perusing the investigation document, however, especially the minutes from the examination of the accused and the minutes from the examination of witnesses, it is impossible to issue a founded conclusion about the causes of the destruction of the bridge. Therefore, we ask the Court Martial to provide us with the following before the field investigation:

- video recording of the destruction of the bridge,

- any recordings (or other data) of the situation before the destruction of the bridge,

- detailed plans of the bearing structure of the bridge,

The expert analysis of the Civil Engineering Institute of Croatia of 30 January 1995 for the investigating magistrate of the Court Martial in Mostar regarding the destruction of the Old Bridge

Members of the commission:

1. Dražen Aničić (signed)

2. Zvonimir Marić (signed)

3. Petar Sesar (signed)

(stamped)

Zagreb, 23 October 1997

Topic: The destruction of the Old Bridge

· asking for broader findings

Deliver comprehensive findings about these persons:

1. Tomo Topić, born in Široki Brijeg on 22 October 1963,

2. Dražen Rezić, born in Široki Brijeg on 22 June 1969,

3. Senaid Čavkić, born in Rogatica on 21 October 1997.

For the above persons, deliver findings about their participation in HVO forces, especially at the time when the bridge was destroyed (unit, hierarchical line of command, their role in the "destruction" of the Old Bridge), their current status etc.

Provide all your available findings about the bridge destruction act itself, especially the findings about the warnings sent by HVO to the international organizations and observers regarding MOS's usage of the bridge for military purposes (moving soldiers and military equipment, removing the protection from the bridge, findings about its damage during the war devastation of Mostar by the Serb forces etc.).

If you have broader findings about the persons called Nijazim and Snježana Kasumović, please deliver them to us too.

Since the bridge was shelled for a long time, and the course of the shelling was recorded on a VHS camera, starting at 9:57 hours on 08 November 1993 and ending at 10:16 hours on 09 November 1993 (when the bridge was completely destroyed), it is necessary for that purpose to try to identify the connection between the cameraman (the Kasumović couple or someone else) with the Croatian side.

For now, do not talk to the above HVO members.

Document of 23 October 1997 about broader findings regarding the destruction of the Old Bridge

Zagreb, 14 October 1997

Dear Mr. President,

When you talked about Bosnia and Herzegovina, you said twice that I destroyed the Old Bridge in Mostar.

I did not destroy the Old Bridge in Mostar and I had nothing to do with its destruction.

I asked for a three-minute reception to tell you the exact information and reduce the possibility of you "co-signing" a possible accusation of the Hague court against me for that act.

You refused to receive me, so I am writing to you now.

Please, ask Mr. Miroslav Tuđman, Mr. Markica Rebić and Mr. Ivo Lučić to answer these questions to you:

(a) Who did it?

(b) Was it a military or political act?

(d) Why was the bridge destroyed by day and at a time when the sun is under the best angle for video recording?

(e) How many cameras recorded the destruction of the bridge?

(f) Why was the Old Bridge not destroyed by central shelling (the destruction would last 30 seconds at most), but shelled on the right side, next to the shore, where it is the thickest?

(g) How long did the destruction take and what purpose did it serve?

(h) Why was the investigation not completed? Why was it discontinued?

(i) What happened to the people who were the tank crew?

(j) Why did everyone so readily accept me as the destroyer, although I immediately said both officially and publicly that I had nothing to do with it? Why is still everyone insisting on that attitude although they know what this is about?

Yours sincerely,

Slobodan Praljak

Letter of General Slobodan Praljak to the Croatian president Franjo Tuđman of 14 October 1997

POSITIONS OF OPPOSED FORCES IN NOVEMBER 1993

A view of Mostar and the Old Bridge from Hum

POSITION OF THE TANK THAT WAS SHELLING THE OLD BRIDGE

Area controlled by ABiH

Distance of the tank from ABiH positions

View from the Old Bridge towards the position of the tank which was shelling the Old Bridge

ANALYSIS OF THE DESTRUCTION OF THE OLD BRIDGE BASED ON THE AVAILABLE VIDEO TAPES

Dr. sci. Muhamed Sućeska, chemist

Prof. dr. sci. Slobodan Janković, mechanical engineer

Dr. sci. Aco Šikanić, mechanical engineer

Zagreb, January 2006

Expert analysis of the destruction of the Old Bridge, the front page of the original

Dr. sc. Muhamed Sućeska

Ljerke šram 4

10000 Zagreb

Tel. 6504-140; 098-315-618

E-mail: suceska@hrbi.hr

CURRICULUM VITAE

1. Personal data

I was born on 10 December 1954 in the village of Krivače (Han-Pijesak, Bosnia and Herzegovina). I am married and father of two. I work in Brodarski Institute in Zagreb as the leader of the Laboratory for Thermic Analysis. I am the president of the Scientific Council.

2. Education

I went to the primary and secondary school in my birthplace. I graduated from the Technical Military Academy in Zagreb, chemistry/technology section, specialized in pyrotechnology (1997).

I graduated from the postgraduate course at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in Zagreb, chemistry section, with the MA paper called Dynamic Mechanical Analysis of Solid Rocket Fuels (1986).

I defended by my Ph.D. paper called Reological and Detonational Characteristics of Cast Composite Explosives with Polyurethane Binding at the Technical Military Academy in Zagreb and obtained the title of the doctor of military technical sciences, specialized in explosives, in early 1991.

I speak English and Russian.

3. Scientific and educational vocations

In 1993, I became a scientific associate at the Faculty of Chemistry and Technology in Zagreb. In 1999, I became a senior scientific associate. In 2004, I became a scientific advisor in Brodarski Institute.

4. Jobs

From 1977 to 1982, I worked in the Yugoslav Army in the area of ammunition storage and maintenance. From 1982 to mid-1991, I worked in the Military Academy in Zagreb as an assistant (until 1986) and then as the lecturer of the course Physics of Explosive Matter.

From 1991 to 1993, I worked in the company Pires, which developed and produced ammunition. As a constructor/technologist, I worked in that company on the development of ammunition and explosives.

Since 1993, I have been working in Brodarski Institute as the leading researcher in the area of explosives. Since 1996, I have been the head of the Laboratory for Thermic Analysis of Materials.

In early 2000, I was elected president of the Scientific Council of Brodarski Institute. I was reelected twice to that position (in 2002 and 2004), which I hold today.

Curricula vitae of the experts who made the analysis

CURRICULUM VITAE

of dr. sci. Slobodan Janković

He was born in Brussels, Belgium, in 1932. He went to the primary school and comprehensive secondary school in the former Yugoslavia. He graduated from the military polytechnics in Brussels in 1958. He graduated from the postgraduate study in fluid mechanics at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in Belgrade in 1964. He received his Ph.D. in the area of mechanics of flight at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Belgrade in 1968.

He started working as an engineering officer in the precise mechanics factory "Vlado Bagat" in Zadar in 1960, and then in the Military Technology Institute in Belgrade, where he worked on the issues of exterior ballistics. At the same time, he worked as an assistant at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Belgrade in the course of "Exterior ballistics".

Since the foundation of the Military Technical Academy in Zagreb in 1967, he was the head of the joint teaching areas of weaponry, rocket technology and automatic piloting. In 1973, he was no longer an officer, but became an associate professor at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Belgrade, where he lectured the courses of "Aerodynamics of Projectiles" and "Flight Dynamics of Projectiles". In that period, he cooperated with the military industry and the Military Technological Institute for the aerodynamic design of the GROM missile.

In 1979, he started working in the Military Technological Institute again, this time as the main aerodynamic expert in the guided missile department. He continued lecturing at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. When the aerodynamic design of the GROM missile was completed in 1984, he returned to Zagreb, where he became a professor at the Military Technical College for the courses of "Aerodynamics" and "Flight Mechanics" and managed the department for missile technology. He cooperated with the military industry (Pretis, Energoinvest, Makpetrol etc.) and with the Croatian Meteorological Institute on the issues of hail prevention as the permanent external associate of the institute. In 1990, he became a scientific advisor at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Shipbuilding. He was the secretary of the Scientific Council for Traffic of the Academy of Sciences and the expert of the Ministry of Defense (of former Yugoslavia) for the issues of aerodynamics and missile flight mechanics.

From 1991 to 1995, he worked in Brodarski Institute, where he made shooting tables and fire management software. Then he was retired. As an emeritus, he lectured airplane flight mechanics and aerodynamics at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Shipbuilding in Zagreb. He worked on the creation of the model of remote controlled missiles in the server training area and on the flight model for MiG21 in the pilot training area.

He published several scientific papers and wrote six handbooks in the area of aerodynamics and flight mechanics. He lectured at various postgraduate studies and mentored several MAs and Ph.D.s. In 1994, he was a guest professor at the Catholic University in Leuven. In 1993-99, he was an external scientific associate of the weapons department of the military polytechnics in Brussels. In 2000, he was invited to participate in the consulting called "European Forum on Ballistics of Projectiles".

For his theoretic work, he was awarded twice with the highest scientific award in former Yugoslavia, "22 decembar", in the area of military technical sciences.He speaks French and reads English and Russian. He is a Roman Catholic.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Dr. sc. Aco Šikanić is a mechanical engineer. He was born in Brvnik near Bosanski Šamac in 1954. He graduated from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Shipbuilding in Zagreb in 1979, specialized in mechanical constructions.

At the end of his studies, he was on a military grant. When he completed his army service, he was given a job in the military industry "MMK Bratstvo" in Novi Travnik. He worked there for almost ten years, first as a constructor and technologist, and then as project manager and new product development manager. Here are some of those projects: tank guns, anti-armor guns, coastal guns, long-range guns, mortars of 122, 152 and 155 mm, and long-range rocket launcher. As chief project engineer, he spent a year in Iraq, helping in a newly built factory. On several occasions, he lectured and mentored students of engineering, mostly foreigners, who specialized in weapon construction.

Along with work, he attended postgraduate studies at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Shipbuilding in Zagreb, specialized in the theory of construction, where he defended his MA paper called Dynamic Analysis of Support Devices for Artillery Weapons in 1989. At the end of that year, he came to Brodarski Institute in Zagreb, where he did research and design work for military shipbuilding, such as the design of the maritime variant of the rocket launcher and the maritime fire management system.

Since September 1991, when Brodarski Institute started working for the independent Republic of Croatia, he actively participated in finding and realizing solutions which are necessary for the defense system of the country. He managed projects of training, reconstruction, adopting, modifying, developing and implementing rockets and rocket weapons, as well as artillery weapons and ammunition, armored vehicles, mortars of 120 mm on wheels, MOLs and others. He instructed engineers in Croatian industries. He worked on issues and procurement of weapons and ammunition. He participated in expert analyses and investigations as a member of commissions of the Ministry of Defense. He was one of the main participants in several studies for equipping and finding more reliable methods of measurement and examination of developed or bought weapon systems.

From early 1995 to early 1998, he worked as the director of the Special System Development Department in Brodarski Institute, which develops new defense projects.

Since the school year 1995/96, he has been lecturing "Construction of weapons" at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Shipbuilding in Zagreb, Construction Department. Since 1996/97, he has also been lecturing at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Slavonski Brod. He wrote the university handbook for that course. He also lectures at the Croatian Military Academy.

In early 1998, he filed his Ph.D. paper, called Researching the Dynamics of Non-Symmetrical Multipart Mechanic Systems at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Shipbuilding in Zagreb. He successfully defended it in June 2000.

He managed many complex technical projects. He published several scientific and expert papers. He participates in the creation of scientific and technological projects of the Ministry of Science and Technology. He is currently working as the manager of activities of Applied Tehnology in Brodarski Institute, which deals with complex technical systems, new technologies for environment protection and renewable energy sources.He has obtained the vocation of scientific adviser.He is married and a father of two, speaks English,German and Russian.

ANALYSIS OF THE DESTRUCTION OF THE OLD BRIDGE BASED ON THE AVAILABLE VIDEO TAPES

Muhamed Sućeska, PhD. C. E.

Slobodan Janković, PhD . M . E . prof . retired

Aco Šikanić, PhD. M. E.

Zagreb, January 2006

1. GEOGRAPHICAL MAP OF THE LOCATION WHERE THE OLD BRIDGE HAS BEEN DESTROYED

The picture below displays part of the geographical map of Mostar in which the positions of the objects are marked.

Picture 1 . Part of the map of Mostar

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE INCIDENTS

By analyzing the video documentation, which has been made available to us, on the incidents in November 1993 and connected to the military actions around the Old Bridge in the city of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, some facts have been noticed which must be taken into consideration if the destruction of the Old Bridge wants to be explained from the objective point of view . We have taken out two sequences from the received video documentation which show the destruction of the bridge and the happenings which immediately preceded the destruction of the bridge . The first tape is a broadcast by HRT of a TV ORF 2 news show, while the second one is originating from a video tape belonging to TV Mostar which lasts 16 seconds . Both sequences are annexes to this report.

The fire of a military tank of the Croatian Defence Council is being held responsible for the destruction of the Old Bridge in the city of Mostar . The tank was located south at the west, that is the right bank of the Neretva River at 1,40 kilometres distance from the bridge itself (picture 1) . The tapes of several TV stations which have recorded the afore-mentioned happenings show that the Old Bridge has been exposed to attacks of various projectiles, even to tank attacks, during the morning (09 .57 hours) and in the afternoon (at 15 .52 hours) on 08.11.1993. This conclusion can be drawn on the basis of the recorded visual effect of the explosion . Flying projectiles are also visible on some tapes . This is logical with regard to the fact that the typical speed of recording is 25 shots per second, which means that a projectile flying at a speed of 800 meters per second can be noticed/ recorded every 32 meters on its flight path, while a projectile flying at a speed of 300 meters per second can be noticed/ recorded every 12 meters on its flight path, etc.

However, the recordings on picture 2 from TV ORF 2, which immediately precede the destruction of the Old Bridge itself, indicate another possible conclusion of the destruction of the Old Bridge, which happened on 09 .11 .1993 around 10 .00 hours .

Picture 2

According to these recordings, a water pillar is visible in relation to the line which runs from the east bank, south of the bridge, to the east support girder of the bridge . The water pillar

rises almost up to the half of the bridge height . At the same time, a cloud of dark smoke is noticeable at the east support girder . Immediately after the occurrence of the water pillar, the bridge collapses, which is visible on the recording of picture 3, also from the video recording of TV ORF 2.

Picture 3

Picture 4

In the meantime, not even one projectile can be seen to hit the bridge . This longitudinal water pillar could be a consequence of an activation of a detonating cord, which has been in the water south of the bridge from the east bank to the east bridge pier. The cloud of dark smoke at the east support girder could be a consequence of the activation of the explosive charge.

These happenings are even better visible on video recordings of TV Mostar as shown in picture 4.

2.1 EXPLANATION

The fact that a “water fountain” of 30-50 meters length is appearing in the water along the east bank on the recordings of TV ORF 2 and TV Mostar, and at the same time, an explosion is visible at the lower part of the bridge, indicates the following conclusion:

The characteristic “water fountain”, that is the water pillar along the stream of the Neretva River, could have been caused by a detonation of the detonating cord in the water . The expansion of gas-like products, arisen by the detonating cord under the water, has raised the water which is then visible as the characteristic “water fountain” . The detonation at the lower part of the bridge (visible by the cloud of dark smoke) at the same time could mean that the explosive charge (or any mine-explosive mean) has been activated by that detonating cord, as marked on picture 5 from the records of TV ORF 2, and schematically displayed in pictures 6 and 7 which have been shown on the recordings of ORF 2 and also TV Mostar.

The detonating cord, as displayed on the recording of picture 5 and schema of picture 6, could have been activated either by a safety fuse or electrically.

With regard to the fact that the detonation speed of the detonating cord is on the basis of PETN (respectively the speed in which the detonation wave is running along the detonating cord) about 6500 meters per second, this means that the detonation wave runs approximately fifty meters (which is somehow visible on the tape) in 0 .008 seconds or 8 milliseconds . Taking into account that the speed of the camera recording (25 shots per second) between two consecutive shots is 40 milliseconds, only the shot of the situation just before the detonation is visible and the shot immediately after the complete detonation of the detonating cord and explosive charge.

This afore-mentioned conclusion has also been proven experimentally . The experiment has been set up in a way to simulate the activation of the explosive charge through water as assumed in schema of picture 6.

2.2 DESCRIPTION OF THE EXPERIMENT

The experiment has aimed to proof that the noticed water pillar has been caused by the effects of the detonating cord, which has been positioned in the water along the east bank of the Neretva River, while the explosion in the eastern arch of the bridge by a detonation of the explosive charge, which has been set up at the bottom part of the east arch of the bridge as displayed on Picture 8-a.

Picture 8a Picture 8b

For this reason, a detonating cord has been set up at an artificial lake (with a core made out of PETN with an explosive mass of 20g/m along a distance of 20 meters and at a depth of approx . 50 cm under the surface as marked on picture 8.

That detonating cord has been activated from the right end with an electric detonator . The explosive - TNT of mass 200g - has been set up at the left end of the cord.

The detonation process has been hereby recorded by camera vertically to the direction of the cord laying . A TV camera has been used for recording with a speed of 25 shots per second.

2.3 RESULTS OF THE EXPERIMENT

The entire experiment has been recorded by a camera of the same speed and is attached to this text as a video record on DVD 3 . The pictures below show important facts which confirm the afore-mentioned assumption.

• After 40 milliseconds (which is the shortest time interval a camera can record), a “fire ball” at the left corner of picture 9-b is noticeable, which presents the detonation of 200g TNT.

• at the following shot on picture 9-c, after 80 milliseconds, the occurrence of a longitudinal water pillar is clearly noticeable. This pillar is made of water drops that have been thrown into the air by a flood wave of gas products resulting from the detonation of the cord.

• The raising of the in-line water pillar due to inertia of the water mass comes late in relation to the detonation of the cord. Therefore, the 200g TNT detonation is firstly visible and then the raising of the water pillar, picture 9-d.

Picture 9. The result of the experiment

2.4 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE EXPERIMENT AND SEQUENCES OF THE OLD BRIDGE DESTRUCTION

The comparative analysis of the sequences before and during the destruction of the Old Bridge and the results of the experiment proof the justification of the assumption that the Old Bridge has been destroyed by mine action as marked on picture 5, and not by hits of artillery projectiles.

Pictures 10, 11 and 12 show events happening at the same time according to a) TV ORF 2 and b) according to the experiment. Based on the comparison of these simultaneous events, the following conclusion poses itself:

• that the longitudinal water gush along the east side of the Neretva river is a consequence of a detonation of the detonating cord, which has been set up in the river.

• that the explosion in the bottom part of the eastern bridge arch, just before the raising of the in-line water pillar, is a consequence of the detonation of explosive charge which has caused the destruction of the bridge.

These parallel pictures indicate a high similarity of the effects, which have been gained during the experiment, and the scenes of the destruction of the Old Bridge on the recordings of TV ORF 2 and TV Mostar.

In addition to that, the parallel shots of a) the sequence of TV Mostar and b) the results of the experiment of the same events on picture 13, 14 and 15 point to the similarity of effects .

This means that there is high probability that the Old Bridge has been destroyed by mine action and not by hits of artillery projectiles.

3. OPINION

Based on the studying of the accessible video documentation and the conducted experiment, the following can be concluded:

a) There is a high probability that the Old Bridge has not been destroyed by attacks of gun tanks, but by a detonation of the explosive charge (or mine-explosive means) which has been placed in the bottom part of the bridge arch . The activation of the charge itself has been done through a detonating cord which has been activated from the close vicinity of the Old Bridge . This happened most probably from the left, respectively, the east bank of the Neretva River.

b) A detailed study of the recordings of TV ORF 2 and TV Mostar, which have recorded the afore-mentioned events immediately before and during the destruction of the Old Bridge itself, point to this conclusion . A part of the examined scenes of TV ORF 2 is shown on pictures 2 and 3, and part of the examined scenes of TV Mostar is shown on picture 4.

c) The proper longitudinal pillar (“water fountain”) that is visible in calm waters along the eastern bank just before the destruction of the Old Bridge itself, has most probably been caused by a detonation of the detonating cord set up in the water . The expansion of gases, which are a product of the cord detonation underneath the water, lead to the raising of a water pillar in form of a characteristic “water fountain” which dimension depends on the type and quantity of explosive charge and the depth where it is placed . This statement is realistically confirmed by the experiment shown on DVD 3, which is annex to this text.

d) Looking at the time perspective and due to the slowness of the camera, the water fountain practically appears at the same time as the explosion at the bottom part of the bridge, which is noticeable by the dark cloud- this is a product of the detonation of the explosive charge.

e) The experiment which has been conducted with the aim to confirm the afore-mentioned thesis and which has been organized in such a way to simulate the assumed way of destruction of the Old Bridge by a detonating cord, has shown that the destruction of the Old Bridge has been done with high probability by activating the explosive charge in the bottom part of the bridge arch, through a detonating cord, and not by gun artillery as stated before.

Enclosed to this text are the following:

• DVD 1, which shows sequences recorded by TV ORF 2, just before the destruction and during the destruction of the Old Bridge . The first video recording shows events in real time, while the second one shows the same events in slow motion.

• DVD 2 shows sequences recorded by TV Mostar just before the destruction and during the destruction of the Old Bridge (in continuity) . The first video recording shows events in real time, while the second one shows the same events in slow motion.

• DVD 3, shows the experiment firstly in real time and then in slow motion.

Muhamed Sućeska, PhD. C. E.

Slobodan Janković, PhD . M . E . prof . retired

Aco Šikanić, PhD. M. E.