SUPPORT FOR SERBS OUTSIDE SRPSKA SHOULD BE DEFINED WITH SPECIAL LAW

DRVAR, SEPTEMBER 17 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska Minister of Energy and Mining Petar Đokić believes the time has come to adopt a special law that would define the Republic’s strategic approach to Serbs living outside its borders, both in the Federation of BiH /FBiH/ and throughout the region.

"Such a legal framework should include concrete mechanisms of support in the areas of the economy, infrastructure, demographic renewal, education, culture and sport, while also creating better conditions for the return and continued residence of the population," Đokić said.

He said that, alongside the adoption of a special law, consideration should also be given to establishing a special institutional mechanism within the Republika Srpska Government, which would have a broader role and powers in connecting Srpska with the Serb population living outside the Republic.

"Drvar is one of the places where it can best be seen how necessary such a policy is. Our goal must be to create conditions for people to remain here, for those who wish to return to have a reason and the conditions to do so, and to know that Republika Srpska stands by them," Đokić said.

Today in Drvar, Đokić met with Municipal Assembly Speaker Jasna Pećanac, Livno Canton Assembly lawmaker Goran Broćeta and representatives of the Municipal Administration to discuss the position of the Serb population in Drvar and other returnee municipalities, possibilities for stronger institutional support from Republika Srpska, as well as creating better conditions for people to remain, return and achieve economic development.

"Drvar deserves strong and continuous support from Republika Srpska. Such support existed in the previous period as well, and numerous results have been achieved through the joint efforts of the institutions of Republika Srpska and the Drvar Municipal Administration," Đokić said.

He assessed that, in the coming period, it will be necessary to further improve and systematically regulate policy towards Drvar and other municipalities in the FBiH where Serbs live and where there is an interest among people to return, remain and build their lives permanently, the Republika Srpska Ministry of Energy and Mining said in a statement.

"There is particular potential in the economic sector, because Drvar and other returnee communities have significant natural and other resources that can be put to much greater use for investment, the creation of new jobs and overall economic development," Đokić said.

Pećanac said it was particularly important that Đokić had once again revived the initiative to adopt a special law that would systematically regulate support for Serb returnees and more precisely define mechanisms for assistance from Republika Srpska to these communities.

"Such support is needed not only by Drvar, but also by Bosansko Grahovo, Glamoč, Bosanski Petrovac and other communities where the Serb returnee population lives," Pećanac said, adding that visits such as today’s are particularly important for people living in returnee communities because they send a clear message that they have not been forgotten.