UNITY OF SERBS DAY MARKED IN MOSTAR

MOSTAR, SEPTEMBER 15 /SRNA/ – The Day of the Unity of Serbs, Freedom and the National Flag has been marked today at the Consulate General of Serbia in Mostar.

Serbia’s Consul General in Mostar, Vaso Grujić, says this important date has been marked in Mostar for the fifth consecutive year.

"It is important that we preserve unity of Serbs and work to strengthen it wherever we live, without threatening anyone who lives alongside us," Grujić said.

He expressed his conviction that, in these difficult times, the Serb people will find the strength and courage to preserve the unity in order for it to serve as the guiding principle, while also fighting for the freedom that no one gave them as a gift, but was achieved through own struggle.

He recalled that all Serbs participated together in the breakthrough of the Salonica Front in 1918, including volunteers from the United States, Canada and Australia, as well as Serbs from the territory of BiH who had left the Austro-Hungarian army.

"It was not simply the success of those who had fled Serbia, retreating through Kosovo and Metohija to the Adriatic. They all took part together in the breakthrough of the Salonica Front. Perhaps this is a lesson for us even today," Grujić said.

He expressed hope that, following the elections in Serbia and Republika Srpska, a peaceful period will come in which Serbs will be able to focus on themselves, find peace in their souls, and believe that only through unity can the goals important to the Serb people be achieved.

Grujić thanked those present and expressed hope that these gatherings would become increasingly well attended each year.

His Eminence Metropolitan Dimitrije of Zahumlje-Herzegovina and the Littoral said that the Bishop’s Palace in Mostar, where the seat of the Metropolitanate is located, as well as the Consulate General of Serbia, are places where family-oriented spirit can be sensed and where people live harmoniously.

"The greatest problem the world, the Serb people and every household are facing, is that the family-oriented spirit and care for the home has disappeared, while a spirit of self-interest has taken its place, with everyone thinking about how to secure some benefit for themselves, while few take care of the common home," Metropolitan Dimitrije said.

The Metropolitan noted that today’s holiday is a beautiful one, particularly because it was established on the day when the Serbian army began its breakthrough of the Salonica Front.

"May God grant that our flag be faith, that our hope be tied to the freedom Christ has given us, that until then we may live in unity and love toward God and our beloved ones, and then we will have His blessing," Metropolitan Dimitrije said.

The Metropolitan emphasized that freedom is given by God and that it should be breathed in, lived and defended, just as our ancestors did.

Church dignitaries, representatives of associations from Herzegovina, representatives of the Republika Srpska Government Office in Mostar, Nevesinje Mayor Milenko Avdalović, and many others attended the marking of the Day of the Unity of Serbis, Freedom and the National Flag in Mostar.