Napredak is a Croatian cultural society, active in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The author of the book, Miroslav Landeka, emphasised that the publication provides an authentic and well-documented view of the reconstruction of one of Mostar’s landmarks. The audience also heard about the historical context and the importance of preserving the cultural heritage represented by the Old Bridge for both Mostar and the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The president of HKD Napredak Livno branch, Ines Kaić Pervan, stressed that the book, through photographs, testimonies, and newspaper records, presents the reconstruction and symbolism of the bridge as a place of encounter and connection.
Historian Anto Ivić assessed that the construction of the Old Bridge was one of the greatest changes brought about by the Ottoman occupation of the region.
The historian added that this monument, which is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, goes beyond the boundaries of the city.
According to him, by gathering documentation in one place, the author Landeka has left a lasting written testimony of the process of reconstruction after the bridge was destroyed in the last war.
During the two-month-long "Autumn with Napredak in Livno" event, the local audience had the opportunity to enjoy a rich programme which included a performance by the Brevis choir, meetings with poets Mladen Topić and Ivan Volić, a presentation of the poetry of Dragan Keškić Gagi, and operatic arias performed by Jana Cvetković and Siniša Markanović, accompanied by Bartolomej Stanković.