ŠKIPINA: CVIJANOVIĆ'S ATTENDANCE AT THE BAYRAM RECEPTION IS A SIGN OF RESPECT; SARAJEVO'S BEWILDERMENT REVEALS HOW THEY VIEW OUR DIFFERENCES

PALE, JUNE 9 /SRNA/ - Member of the Republika Srpska National Assembly, Damjan Škipina, emphasized that more dialogue and mutual respect between elected representatives of the two entities and the three constituent peoples are essential for BiH, something that should be demonstrated daily through various types of events.

Škipina told SRNA that the attendance of the Serb member and Chairwoman of the BiH Presidency, Željka Cvijanović, at the Bayram reception is perfectly normal and a sign of respect, just as it should be considered normal and welcome for Christmas receptions as well.

“It’s obvious that, unfortunately, there are still those in BiH who are surprised by what is normal and represents a gesture of respect in any community. By attending the Bayram reception, the Serb member and Chairwoman of the BiH Presidency demonstrated exactly that, and that is called respect for diversity and all peoples of BiH. Unlike us, such astonishment only reveals how the Bosniak political establishment and media perceive and experience our differences,” Škipina emphasized.

He emphasized that this only further demonstrates the necessity of reviving dialogue in BiH, as it is the only guarantee of stability.

“Only in this way can we build a shared future, because that future belongs to Serbs, Bosniaks, and Croats, not to some ‘Schmidts,’ Britons, or Germans. We are the ones who live here, and it is our responsibility to talk to one another, to show mutual respect, and to find the best solutions for a better future for both Republika Srpska and the FBiH, and therefore for BiH as a whole,” Škipina said.