Re-opened bridge may help unite Muslims and Croats

FOR centuries, Mostar’s stone bridge was an icon of ethnic diversity. Then, when shelling destroyed it in 1993, the ancient span came to symbolize the senseless brutality of Bosnia’s war.

Yesterday, Britain’s Prince Charles and other foreign dignitaries gathered to reopen the bridge over the Neretva River, and many Bosnians hoped it would help reunite Muslims and Croats in this picturesque southern town.

“It’s a symbol of hope for the future, which I passionately believe will see Bosnia-Herzegovina as a full member of the family of the European Union,” said EU External Affairs Commissioner Chris Patten.