Books for Bosnia
Sir: Last February I suggested in The Spec- tator that a suitable way for British people to mark the end of the siege of Sarajevo would be to help restore the collection of the National and University Library of Bosnia and Hercegovina (`Literature from the ashes', 26 February). The Library, in the old centre of Sarajevo, was deliberately destroyed by the Bosnian-Serb artillery early in the siege. There has been a remark- able response to this suggestion, and sever- al publishing and retail groups, including W. H. Smith, have promised generous help. So have various academic institutions. The Foreign Secretary, Douglas Hurd, has offered his support for the Sarajevo Library project, and the Foreign Office will help with, among other things, the cost of the eventual transportation to Sarajevo of the books which are collected.
The Foreign Office also put money towards the organisation of a conference which was held at the end of last month to identify precise ways of aiding the restora- tion of the Library and its collection. The University of London Library and the
LETTERS
School of Slavonic and Eastern European Studies hosted the conference, which was also attended by representatives of Unesco and the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly. As a result of this and of the help which has so generously been offered, a British project can go ahead as part of a Europe-wide effort.
We will be taking action in clearly defined stages. It is not yet possible to accept donations of books, but a bank account has been opened to fund the pro- ject. Anyone who would care to make a donation can send it to: Sarajevo Library Project UK (Account no. 70691496, Sorting Code 20-65-18), Barclays Business Centre, Oxford City Branch, PO Box no. 333, Oxford OX1 3HS. It is hard to think of a better way for people in this country to help Sarajevo reclaim its position as a centre of civilisation and learning after so much suffering.
John Simpson
Foreign Affairs Unit, BBC Television Centre, London W12
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