KARAN: THESE ARE NOT ELECTIONS FOR POWER, BUT FOR A FREE REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

BANJA LUKA, November 8 /SRNA/ - SNSD's candidate for President of Republika Srpska, Siniša Karan, has stated that the early elections for the President of the Republic are not elections for political power, but for a free Republika Srpska and for free citizens who decide for themselves who will represent them.

"Today, citizens are reaffirming something that no one can ever take from them, no /Christian/ Schmidt or others like him, and that is their right to decide about their own Republika Srpska. And that is why Srpska will win," Karan told reporters in Banja Luka after he and SNSD leader Milorad Dodik put up the first campaign poster.

He emphasized that the Serbian people are once again forced to fight for their freedom.

"These elections were not requested by the Serbian people or the citizens of Srpska. Someone thought they could destroy the electoral will and the freedom of the Serbian people. These elections already took place-the people chose their president, their policies, and Republika Srpska," Karan stressed.

He added that the citizens of Srpska need only reaffirm the values embedded in Republika Srpska-values given by the best among us: 26,048 members of the Army of Republika Srpska and the Ministry of Internal Affairs who laid down their lives in its foundations.

"We continue to firmly build and strengthen what they gave us - Republika Srpska," Karan declared.

He stated that SNSD and its coalition partners are recognized as those who have defended these values, defended Srpska, and defended the right of the Serbian people to choose their own representatives in the institutions of Srpska for the past 30 years.

"At the same time, we are recognized as the ones who have been building Republika Srpska for 30 years as a good place to live for all future generations. This is a fight to preserve the legacy of those who gave their lives, but also a fight for those born today, for all our children and youth, for pensioners-to live happily in our Republika Srpska," Karan concluded.