The issue of the financing of the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the oldest museum in the country, should mostly be resolved now after it signed an agreement with the University of Sarajevo which will officially make it an institution for teaching and scientific and artistic research.

The Government of the Sarajevo Canton, the University of Sarajevo (UNSA) and the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina have launched an initiative to declare this museum institution a scientific and teaching base of UNSA, which has been made official on Friday.

“This is a contribution to the survival of state institutions that have lived on grants for three decades with an uncertain future. The Government of the Sarajevo Canton has supported the National Museum of BiH with the decision and will have secure funds. The University and the National Museum of BiH will jointly strengthen their capacities. We will have a series of activities to resolve the status at the state level,” said Rifat Skrijelj, rector of the University of Sarajevo.

“This year, we have allocated 4 million Bosnian Marks for scientific research projects,” said the Prime Minister of Canton Sarajevo, Edin Forto, adding that this was money well spent and that it will produce much higher returns.

The director of the National Museum of BiH, Mirsad Sijaric, said that he was happy about the decision and thanked the rector and the team that worked on realising this idea.

“As much as it may be politically questionable that the Government of KS solves issues that are for the state level, it is our obligation to preserve and use this institution for the benefit of society,” he said.