CVIJANOVIĆ: ETERNAL GRATITUDE TO VETERANS FOR DEFENDING THEIR HOMES

BANJA LUKA, JANUARY 8 /SRNA/ - The Serb member of the Presidency of BiH Željka Cvijanović said that on the second day of Christmas, Serbs remember those who defended and preserved their homes with their lives, because without them there would be neither Republika Srpska nor Serbs in these areas.

"On the occasion of the Day of the Republic, we remember our heroes from the Defensive-Patriotic War, as well as those who fought against fascism for the freedom and survival of our people during the Second World War. We owe them eternal gratitude," Cvijanović wrote on Instagram.

Cvijanović emphasized that today, as part of the marking of the Day of the Republic, wreaths were laid at the Monument to Fallen Soldiers of the Army of the Republic of Srpska at the Saint Pantaleon Cemetery and at the Square of the Fallen Fighters of the National Liberation War.

January 9 is celebrated as the Day of the Republika Srpska, which was established on that date in 1992 under its original name, the Republic of the Serb People in BiH.

Srpska was founded by Serb deputies in the then Assembly of BiH after they were outvoted on key issues concerning the survival of Yugoslavia, while members of the other two peoples embarked on secession against the will of the Serbs, who held the status of a constituent people.

The name Republic of the Serb People in BiH was used until February 28, 1992, when the first Constitution was proclaimed and the name was changed to the Serb Republic of BiH. This name remained in use until August 12, 1992, when it was changed to the Serb Republic. In September 1992, it was replaced with the current name - Republika Srpska.