Luncheon with the Mayor of Dubrovnik and the Prefect of Dubrovnik-Neretva County

Dubrovnik, Croatia, Sunday, October 25, 2009

If you only knew how happy I and my delegation are to be here, in Dubrovnik, once known as Ragusa, which holds such an important place in the history and culture of Croatians and in the heritage of humanity.

Four centuries ago, the poet Ivan Gundulic celebrated the “perfect beauty” of your city, writing that it could not be bought for “all the gold in the world, all the silver and all the blood.” 

Neither the passage of time, nor earthquakes, nor even the firebombs that damaged many of the buildings of the old city during the recent conflict could spoil the dazzling beauty that illuminates Dubrovnik.

And it is thanks in large part to all of you that it remains a magnificent medieval city on the Adriatic coast, drawing thousands of tourists each year.

Thanks to you, the lifeblood of the Dubrovnik-Neretva community and all of Croatian society, who restored the city in record time, with a keen awareness of history and a great respect for its heritage integrity.

Many speak of this restoration as a “collective work of art.”

I have been told that teams of architects, sculptors, restorers and other experts from Croatia and the international community managed to complete most of the work within seven years.

In fact, they succeeded so masterfully that your city was taken off the List of World Heritage in Danger, where it had been since 1991.

What’s more, you were able to balance the imperatives of restoring a world heritage site with the need to relearn how to live together and rebuild the bonds of trust.

Some describe it as something of a feat.

I believe that we have much to learn from you in this regard.

Moreover, we are looking forward to tomorrow’s roundtable discussion on the preservation of heritage and culture in an open society at the University of Dubrovnik.  

This afternoon, we will have the opportunity to take in the richness and splendour of your city and to discover more of its heritage, indeed, a heritage that we all share.

We are extremely grateful to you for having opened the doors of your city and your region to us.

Thank you for extending such a kind welcome to us. May this visit to Dubrovnik-Neretva County and to Croatia allow us to reaffirm the unbreakable friendship between us.