Green pavements heightening tensions

The Sarajevo authorities’ decision to place green anti slip sheets on city pavements has sparked political tensions. The decision has been regarded by some organizations and individuals as provocative. Green pavements heightening tensions The most outspoken critic of the decision was Croatia Libertas NGO representative Sleo Plockinic, who said that Bosniaks were sending a clear message to other nationalities that Sarajevo was a uni-ethnic Bosniak city. The move reeks of intolerance and is a perfidious scenario, whose objective is, as he put it, to drive citizens of other ethnicities and religious beliefs out of Sarajevo. However, Miro Lazovic, a Sarajevo politician and one of the leaders of Social-Democratic Union, says that this should not be regarded as provocation, and that the move has been misinterpreted. “The green pavements were meant to mark the Sarajevo Film Festival, and in that context I believe that those who draw some other connotations from the green pavements have a political agenda of their own,” he said. “Also, those who are against Bosnia-Herzegovina—especially those who think of Sarajevo as Teheran—use that color to disqualify everything that the multi-ethnic Sarajevo has achieved so far, by saying ‘there you go, Sarajevo has finally become a totally Muslim city,” Lazovic said. Sarajevo Mayor Semiha Borovac rejected the accusations, saying that the coating of streets and pavements would be a good thing, because Sarajevo lacked greenery.

Green pavements heightening tensions

The most outspoken critic of the decision was Croatia Libertas NGO representative Sleo Pločkinić, who said that Bosniaks were sending a clear message to other nationalities that Sarajevo was a uni-ethnic Bosniak city.

The move reeks of intolerance and is a perfidious scenario, whose objective is, as he put it, to drive citizens of other ethnicities and religious beliefs out of Sarajevo.

However, Miro Lazović, a Sarajevo politician and one of the leaders of Social-Democratic Union, says that this should not be regarded as provocation, and that the move has been misinterpreted.

“The green pavements were meant to mark the Sarajevo Film Festival, and in that context I believe that those who draw some other connotations from the green pavements have a political agenda of their own,” he said.

“Also, those who are against Bosnia-Herzegovina—especially those who think of Sarajevo as Teheran—use that color to disqualify everything that the multi-ethnic Sarajevo has achieved so far, by saying ‘there you go, Sarajevo has finally become a totally Muslim city,” Lazović said.

Sarajevo Mayor Semiha Borovac rejected the accusations, saying that the coating of streets and pavements would be a good thing, because Sarajevo lacked greenery.