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The Bosnian city of Mostar Friday joyfully unveiled its rebuilt 16th-century bridge, almost 11 years after its destruction in war became a symbol of the conflicts that tore the former Yugoslavia apart.
The new "Stari Most" (Old Bridge) over the Neretva River, which separates the mainly Muslim and mainly Croat sides of Mostar and afront lineduring the 1992-95 Bosnian war, was inaugurated at a spectacular ceremony with a guest list of international dignitaries.
Fireworkslit upthe sky high above the elegant single-span arch and nine of Mostar's legendary divers, brandishing torches, leapt into the green rushing waters of the Neretva from the bridge packed with children singing an anti-war song.
"I think this is a new beginning, that's what citizens have been telling me too. You can feel a special atmosphere all over," Mostar's Muslim mayor, Hamdija Jahic said.
More than 2,000 people took part in the evening ceremony, including Bosnian folk dancers, child choirs and brass bands from both sides of the divided town as well as leading Bosnian musicians and singers.
Hundreds of Mostar citizens and tourists watched the celebrations, perched in houses and cafes around the bridge. Thousands then flooded the Old Town, eager to take a walk across the bridge.
"This feeling is hard to describe. I spent my childhood, my youth, my whole life here. I just hope other things in Mostar will soon look more like they were before," said Amela Hadrovic, a 38-year-old ethnic Muslim office worker, after crossing over.
Britain's Prince Charles, leaders from other Balkan states, French and Italian Foreign Ministers Franco Frattini and Michel Barnier and European Union external affairs commissioner Chris Patten were present. A choir sang Beethoven's "Ode to Joy."
Throughout the day, the 95-foot bridge was the focus of all attention in the eastern Muslim quarter. The narrow streets in the Old Town were packed despitescorchingheat and heavy security.
The end of the reconstruction comes a few months after Bosnia's peaceoverseersimposed a new statute intended to finally unify the town. Catholic Croats and Bosnian Muslims still lead separate lives, but tensions have eased in recent years.
In a painstaking reconstruction, Turkish engineers and other experts used white marble from the nearby quarry, and employed a combination of old techniques and new technology to build an exact replica.
But many think it can only be "a beautiful copy" that will not bridge the differences between Mostar's communities.
(Agencies)
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上周五（7月23日），始建于16世纪的莫斯塔尔老桥在波斯尼亚城举行了令人欢欣鼓舞的重建落成典礼。大约十一年前，这座老桥在战火中被摧毁，它也成为前南斯拉夫分裂战争的标志。
横跨内雷特瓦河的新Stari Most（老桥）的落成仪式相当隆重，来宾名单上有许多国际名人。作为当年波黑战争（1992-1995）的前沿阵地，老桥将莫斯塔尔分为两派，一派主要由穆斯林人组成，另一派主要由克罗地亚人组成。
烟花照亮了这座造型典雅的单孔拱桥上方的天空，九名非凡的莫斯塔尔跳水者挥舞着火炬，从桥上跳入内雷特瓦河滚滚绿波中，桥上挤满了唱着反战歌曲的孩子们。
莫斯塔尔的穆斯林市长哈姆迪珈·亚希奇说：“我想这是一个新的开始，市民们也一直这么告诉我。你能感觉到（这里）到处都洋溢着一种特殊的气氛。”
2000多人参加了晚上的典礼，包括波斯尼亚民族舞蹈家，儿童合唱团和铜管乐队，他们来自这个分裂小镇的两边，还有最出色的波斯尼亚音乐家和歌手们。
几百名莫斯塔尔市民和游客在老桥附近的家中或咖啡馆里观看了这次庆典。随后有好几千人像潮水般涌入老城，迫切希望能在桥上走一走。
“这种感觉很难描述，我在这里度过了我的童年、青年，我的一生。我只希望莫斯塔尔的其他事物也能很快变的更像原来的样子。”38岁的穆斯林教徒、办公室职员阿梅拉·哈德里维奇在走过老桥后说。
出席庆典的有英国王子查尔斯、巴尔干半岛地区其他国家的领袖、法国外长佛朗哥·弗拉蒂尼、意大利外长米歇尔·巴尔涅尔，以及欧盟外事专员克里斯·帕滕。一个合唱团还演唱了贝多芬的名曲“欢乐颂”。
那天，95英尺长的老桥成为东部穆斯林地区所有人关注的焦点。尽管天气酷热难当、安全警戒森严，老城狭窄的街道上还是很拥挤。
重建工程竣工前几个月，波斯尼亚的和平监督者们制订了一条新法令，旨在实现该城的最终统一。尽管（该城）信奉天主教的克罗地亚人和穆斯林教的波斯尼亚人仍然过着彼此隔绝的生活，但近年来紧张局面有所缓和。
在艰苦的重建工作中，土耳其工程师和其他专家使用来自附近采石场的白色大理石，并将新老技术相结合，以期建造一件原汁原味的复制品。
但很多人认为这仅仅是一件“美丽的摹仿品”，并不能为莫斯塔尔社会中存在的差异架起（沟通的）桥梁。
（中国日报网站译）
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Updated: 2004-07-27 15:01
