GUSKOVA: GENERAL MLADIĆ WILL REMAIN FOREVER IN MEMORY OF SERBS AND RUSSIANS

BELGRADE, SEPTEMBER 5 /SRNA/ — Republika Srpska Senator Jelena Guskova stated in Belgrade that General Ratko Mladić did not betray Serbian ideals and that he will forever remain in the memory of both the Serbian and Russian peoples.

"He was a man of an unusual character, a strong man," Guskova said at a memorial ceremony held at the Army House to mark the death of General Mladić.

Guskova said songs were already being written and legends told about the general, adding that Republika Srpska is alive and well today thanks to Mladić and the Republika Srpska Army.

"Fortunately, I have my memories of General Mladić from The Hague, most of which have been published. The task for his family and for Serbian and Russian historians is to record as much as possible about what he said, how he worked and how he fought in the war. That is our task over the next 10 or 20 years, while his comrades-in-arms are still alive," said Guskova, who is an academic and historian in both Russia and Serbia.

She pointed out that the West had tried for centuries to destroy both Serbs and Russians and had even drawn up plans for how to eliminate the Serbs in the Balkans.

Guskova said the West had first wanted to turn Serbs and Russians against each other and then divide them into smaller territories, but that this had not been possible because Serbs and Russians would always prevail.

She stated there had been plans for there to be no more Serbs in BiH, but only a Muslim BiH, while the Serb Army and General Mladić wanted only to hold territory where Serbs constituted the majority, which was achieved.

"It seems to me that Srpska is stronger than all the other territories, Croatian and Muslim, and is showing the world how a people should fight and live under such difficult conditions," Guskova said.

She added that Republika Srpska is of the utmost importance and that she had seen how it cares for the Serbian people and Serb identity throughout the Balkans, including by inviting Serbs from Macedonia, Hungary, Albania and elsewhere to its major celebrations.

Guskova said Republika Srpska's existence as a strong and powerful entity should be credited to General Mladić.

She also remembered how, during visits to General Mladić at the ICTY, she wrote down and tried to remember everything he told her.

"I would question him, remember what he said, and then immediately run back to the hotel and type it into the computer so I could preserve those memories," Guskova said.

She stated that she managed to enter the courtroom with a notebook and pen only once, after which they were confiscated from her in The Hague.

Guskova said that Republika Srpska honors Mladić, as do Russians, adding that the general received many messages from Russia while in The Hague and responded to each one.

"Eternal glory to him! Thank you to everyone who stood by him in the army; they learned a great deal from him. I respect the Mladić family, who stood firm. They tried to kill him to the very end, he fought for Srpska and the Serb people. We will remember him for a long time. Historians have a duty to continue writing and speaking about him throughout the world," Guskova stressed.

She added that she was certain that Serbs throughout the Balkans and around the world would remember Mladić and remain faithful to his legacy.

"Russia is with you, as are Russian scholars. Everyone who knew Mladić and his family will always remain close to you and help in any way we can," Guskova said.

The memorial ceremony was also attended by Republika Srpska President Siniša Karan, Minister of the Interior Željko Budimir, and ministers from the Serbian Government.

Acting director of the Republika Srpska Motorways company Radovan Višković was also present.