Thousands of citizens and tourists mark New Year in Sarajevo

SARAJEVO

Thousands of Bosnians and tourists in capital Sarajevo welcomed the New Year 2014 at the city center with fireworks and a culture and music program.

Many of the tourists who came to the Bosnian capital for the New Year's celebrations had fun enjoying live music at the main city square. 

City mayor Ivo Komsic, who was present at the celebrations, addressed the crowd expressing his hope that the "New Year's fireworks will pulverize all the problems and hopelessness from the last year." 

After declaring the start of the new year, Komsic went to the maternity departments of the state hospitals in Sarajevo to share the joy with new parents and the first babies born in the year of 2014.

Police forces and security agency units have been deployed around Sarajevo for security reasons and will remain until early Wednesday. 

The Ministry of Interior earlier appealed to all who celebrate the New Year not to drive after consuming alcohol.

The central program of the New Year's celebrations in Sarajevo began at 9 pm Tuesday and finished at 1 am Wednesday.

englishnews@aa.com.tr