With FIET in Mostar

Mostar, our European
cultural heritage in ruins.
The destruction of war
defies all description.

Many Mostar houses are
still unusable, particularly
on the eastern side.

But also reconstruction is going on.

If someone still doubts whether we need
a European Union, that person should visit Mostar.
This bridge over the Neretva was only one of
the many achievements of the EU administration.
During the war, young Europeans from different
coutries helped save thousands of lives,
risking their own.

Hanni Ruecker from Germany is one of them.
Today she continues to work for women and
children in Mostar, supported by the Swiss
workers and their trade unions. Those who
know Mostar and of course the local
people themselves really appreciate her
work. FIET is surely among them.
These toys from FIET's Norwegian
frieds will go to a village day care centre.

Zelja Grubecic works with Hanni on these
projects. But above all, she is FIET's
senior project representative in Mostar,
a highly respected community and
trade union leader.

In this house, Zelja lived with her family.
Then, the war forced them away.
The house was right at the
frontline, in the centre of town.

Much of the union work in Mostar
takes place in this building, the
old Trade Union House. Here, the
Mostar unions were established in
the early years of the Century.

The FIET project has opened a small cafe for
the workers in Mostar, on the ground floor of
the Trade Union House. Here, visitors can read
newspapers and magazines from
both parts of the divided city and there
is always a cup of coffee ready for them.

In this cafe, our international project committee
met in January 1998. Among them were Kari Nöst
and Sture Arntzen of Norway's commerce
union and Bente Halvorsen, secretary treasurer
of the trade union confederation.

The roof was badly destroyed by artillery.
Who will repair it for the Mostar unions,
before the whole building rots away?
We will surely help with the project
administration if someone wants to
take on this challenge.

FIET's international project committee is
deeply committed to continue the work in Mostar.
Here, Claudio Treves of FILCAMs, Italy
at the meeting, together with fellow unionists
Kari Nöst and Hege * of Norway and
employer director Hans Kristiansen, who brought
the support of our Norwegian social
partners.

This is the 'FIET Team' from Sarajevo,
young friends who keep our project going
in Bosnia and Herzegovina:
Fikret, Zmailch, Nerma, Mersiha
and Alex, our project director.