ILIĆ: REPUBLIKA SRPSKA DAY UNITES SERBS WORLDWIDE

BANJA LUKA, JANUARY 5 /SRNA/ – The President of the Legislative Committee of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska Mladen Ilić said that Republika Srpska Day is a great day for every Serb, wherever they may be in the world, and that the holiday should be celebrated with dignity, as has been done so far.

"We have always put effort in marking it in a way that makes each of us individually proud, without provoking anyone, but solely by showing how much we love and respect our own," Ilić told SRNA.

He added that Republika Srpska Day and its observance should serve as a means of fostering Serbian unity.

Ilić assessed that the past year was turbulent for Republika Srpska and that many events shaped the political landscape of Srpska.

"Certain institutions at the BiH level are certainly trying to make the situation unstable, to push Republika Srpska into attempts at isolation, but the citizens of Srpska, including at the early presidential elections, have given their judgment and support to the current politics of Srpska," Ilić emphasized.

He extended congratulations to the citizens of Srpska on Republika Srpska Day and wished them happy New Year and Christmas holidays.

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

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

"Republika Srpska, Mother of Heroes" is the slogan under which Republika Srpska Day, January 9, is being marked this year.