CVIJANOVIĆ: FREEDOM IS NOT SERVED ON A SILVER PLATTER; WE WALK INTO THE FUTURE WITH OUR HEADS HELD HIGH!

NEVESINJE, JULY 9 /SRNA/ - The Serb people have learned the hard way, and at a great cost, that freedom is not handed to them on a silver platter, but is won both in war and in peace, Serb member of the Presidency of BiH Željka Cvijanović said.

Cvijanović emphasized that respect and gratitude towards those who gave their lives or parts of their bodies for that freedom are the very least that the institutions and citizens of Republika Srpska owe them.

Addressing the commemoration of the historical event of the republic's significance "Serb Uprisings in Herzegovina – Nevesinje Rifles" in Nevesinje, organized by the committees for preserving the tradition of liberation wars of the governments of Republika Srpska and Serbia, Cvijanović emphasized that in Herzegovina, history is not learned only from books, but is lived and passed down from generation to generation. She added that Herzegovinians also remember their past through oral traditions and folk wisdom, which they proudly carry wherever they go.

"It is a great honour for me to be here today as we mark 151 years since the brave Serb people decided to take their destiny into their own hands and fight for the freedom that had been denied to them for centuries. Unfortunately, although that uprising led to our liberation from the yoke of the Ottoman Empire, our struggle for freedom never ended," Cvijanović said.

She emphasized that the brave and honourable people of Herzegovina once again demonstrated their love for freedom and their homeland during the last Defensive-Patriotic War.

"The Mitrovdan offensives, both the first and the second, represent some of the most significant battles that enabled the survival of Republika Srpska, where we live today freely and proudly, and which we want to leave to future generations.

Today, we face different challenges. Thank God, instead of rifles, our weapons today are diplomacy, commitment to economic development, a clear political stance, and dedicated work to strengthen our institutions to ensure that Republika Srpska is a safe place to live for all the generations that come after us," Cvijanović emphasized.

She said that this struggle is not easy and that today's challenges are different from those of the past.

"And therefore, those of us who have been entrusted by the people to protect the interests of Republika Srpska and work on its development are expected to be wise, patient and rational in carrying out that task. We are expected to always listen carefully to what the people are telling us.

Therefore, it is our duty not to betray the ideals embodied in the Nevesinje Rifle and the Mitrovdan Offensive, but to transform the freedom given to us by our ancestors, the freedom-loving and justice-seeking people of Herzegovina and all other parts of Republika Srpska, into our prosperous, stable and secure future," Cvijanović said.

She said that we pledge to prove that their struggle was not in vain, to preserve our identity, our tradition and the institutions of Republika Srpska, and not to abandon our value principles, our customs, our identity and our tradition.

"For this, we need peace, stability, perseverance and lasting love, both for one another and for what we represent as a community, that is, all together," Cvijanović emphasized.

She added that it should also be emphasized that Herzegovina is not only a guardian of our tradition or a reminder of the ideals we must not betray, but also one of the most important pillars of our future and overall economic development.

According to her, the potential found throughout this region - from agriculture and energy to tourism - represents a solid foundation for further investment and the improvement of the economic position of both Nevesinje and all other municipalities of Herzegovina.

"Our goal is to see Nevesinje and the municipalities of Herzegovina become places where young people stay, where they start families and where they see a secure future for their children," Cvijanović said.

She emphasized that the institutions of Republika Srpska will continue investing in infrastructure, the local economy and projects that create new jobs.

"Our goal is a strong, economically independent and stable Republika Srpska that builds bridges of cooperation, but which firmly upholds its rights and its identity. Dear people of Nevesinje and all other Herzegovinians, we live in a world that is changing rapidly and in which uncertainty prevails. New global and regional challenges lie ahead of us.

As a people and as a republic, we will overcome these challenges more easily if we understand the path we are taking and if, on that path, we are united around the interests of Republika Srpska. The strength of our community lies in the unity of the people and institutions," Cvijanović emphasized.

She said that it is certain that, on that path, certain compromises must also be made, but that we must also be sure that such compromises will never be to the detriment of Republika Srpska, our identity and our institutions.

"But, if history has taught us anything, it is that there is no obstacle we cannot overcome when we are united. The unity you showed in the most difficult times of defense must also be our guiding principle in peace. Let us be united in building a better life, in respecting one another and in our love for our homeland. May the courage of the 1875 freedom fighters and the strength of the Mitrovdan heroes of 1992 be our eternal inspiration to create, build and preserve every inch of our land.

From here, from proud Nevesinje, we send a message of peace, stability and firm determination to move forward into the future with our heads held high. Long live proud Nevesinje! Long live Herzegovina! Long live Republika Srpska!" Cvijanović said.