OSTOJIĆ: ALL ROADS FOR SERBS SHOULD LEAD TO BRATUNAC ON SATURDAY

BANJA LUKA, JUNE 29 /SRNA/ – The Minister of Labor and Veterans' and Disability Protection Radan Ostojić has stated today in Banja Luka that on Saturday, July 4, all paths of every Serb from Republika Srpska and Serbia should lead to Bratunac.

Following a meeting of representatives of institutions and organizations with Republika Srpska President Siniša Karan on the commemoration of the 34th anniversary of the suffering of Serbs in the Middle Podrinje and Birač region, Ostojić said Bratunac should be a place of pilgrimage, remembrance and reflection on the Homeland-Defense War, particularly the crimes committed against the Serb population, including civilians and children.

"The entire 20th century in this area was marked by the suffering of Serbs. We will pray to God for all our innocent victims, both those in Podrinje in the recent war and those from the First and Second World Wars," Ostojić said.

He noted that in the former state it was forbidden to mark dates of crimes or speak about Serb victims of the Second World War, adding that Serbs had suffered around three million victims in the previous century.

He said the main goal of the Homeland-Defense War was to prevent the repetition of history, crimes and genocide against the Serb people, adding that crimes were committed across BiH, and that the Podrinje and Birač region was particularly marked by the killing of civilians, women, children and the elderly, as well as members of the Army of Republika Srpska and the Ministry of the Interior.

Ostojić said the commemoration in Bratunac on July 4 would send a message to the international community and to those living in the Federation of BiH that the Serb people suffered while defending themselves in what he described as a civil war in BiH.

He also criticized what he called selective justice, arguing that Serb victims have not received justice and that only Serbs are being prosecuted. He said the international community was, in his view, significantly involved in the outbreak of conflicts in the former SFRY and that forgiveness is a Christian virtue, but questioned how long Serbs should continue to forgive under such circumstances.

Ostojić said he expected no representatives of the international community to attend the commemoration, adding that Republika Srpska is the guarantor of freedom and survival for Serbs in the region.

He concluded that, given unequal treatment of perpetrators and Serb victims, the future path should lead toward full independence of Republika Srpska.

The meeting was attended by Republika Srpska National Assembly Speaker Nenad Stevandić, Prime Minister Savo Minić, SNSD leader Milorad Dodik, Minister Radan Ostojić, representatives of local governments and organizations originating from the Homeland- Defense War.

A memorial service for the 3,267 Serb soldiers and civilians killed in the Middle Podrinje and Birač region during the Homeland-Defense War will be held in Bratunac on Saturday, July 4.