KARAN: PRESERVE TRADITIONAL FAMILY

BANJA LUKA, SEPTEMBER 4 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska President Siniša Karan says it is important to preserve the traditional family, through which the entire identity of the Serb people is woven.

"I believe that if anyone wanted to change that, our Constitution would be a barrier to it," Karan told RTRS.

He stressed that the Republika Srpska institutions want to preserve the family in all its aspects, which is why work is being done on adopting systemic measures that provide a certain guarantee.

"The moment we pass a law establishing a certain right, it becomes an obligation, which is the guarantee and stability - both social and legal, for that family," Karan stressed.

He added that it is not easy to maintain and expand these rights, but that this is what policies are for, in which regard the Government of Republika Srpska is doing an excellent job.

"The main task of the institutions is to make these rights efficient and improve them," Karan said.

He noted that the Republika Srpska Constitution is broadly framed and provides a strong and comprehensive basis for an institutional approach to issues concerning the family, mothers, children, youth, minors, marriage and other matters, in all segments - labour rights, employment, social welfare, demographics, healthcare, education and others.

Karan added that human rights and freedoms are key elements of the Constitution, while the family is also part of human rights and freedoms.

"When we speak about the rights and duties of the Republic, what its institutions must regulate is precisely the issue of the family, mother, child, youth... The Constitution of Republika Srpska has provided the key basis and foundation for institutions to adopt laws regulating all these broad issues and assigning responsibilities to those required to deal with them," Karan said.

He recalled that for 17 years, due to the Council of Peoples, which is not a constitutional but an imposed category, the implementation of certain amendments has been prevented, including amendments that would have further incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child into the Constitution.

"Otherwise, our Constitution has been amended 122 times," Karan said.

Speaking about the humanitarian campaigns "To Brave Hearts, With Love", which have been held for more than 10 years under the patronage of the president of the Republic, Karan emphasized that they also reflect a sense of responsibility and empathy.

"The Republic has responded with love and a sense of responsibility and empathy to certain developments in our society. One of the key initiatives was for the diagnosis and treatment of children with serious illnesses abroad," Karan said.