OSTOJIĆ: SERBS DEFEATED SANCTIONS AND NATO; SRPSKO SARAJEVO - SYMBOL OF RESISTANCE

ISTOČNA ILIDŽA, SEPTEMBER 9 /SRNA/ - There is no other people in the world that has been subjected to sanctions and armed force as Serbs experienced, but ultimately managed to prevail, fight for freedom and defend Republika Srpska, Minister of Labour, War Veterans and Disabled Persons Protection Radan Ostojić said today in Istočna Ilidža at a commemoration marking the Day of Remembrance for NATO bombing victims of Republika Srpska.

Ostojić stressed that Istočno Sarajevo, or Srpsko Sarajevo, is a city of resistance and suffering, and a city a sacrifice of the Serb people in their struggle for freedom and Republika Srpska.

"This is the city where the vision of creating Republika Srpska was born, the city where the Serb people fought throughout the Defensive-Patriotic War to give substance to that vision," Ostojić told the press after the memorial service at the Church of St. Peter of Dabar-Bosnia in Vojkovići.

According to him, the first victims of the NATO bombing of Republika Srpska, brother and sister Radmila and Radenko Galinac from Vojkovići, are symbols of the suffering and sacrifice of the Serb people, as well as symbols of the hatred expressed by a large part of the "democratic world" that initiated the war in the territory of the former SFRY.

"The Serb people also walked the path of Golgotha during this war, fighting to remain on their centuries-old homes and for freedom, while those who orchestrated the war and contributed most to its continuation provided comprehensive assistance to those against whom we were fighting here and who wanted us to disappear from these areas," Ostojić stressed.

He recalled that Republika Srpska was bombed by around 400 NATO aircraft, which carried out more than 1,500 flights, dropping an unknown number of tons of depleted-uranium bombs on the Serb people and positions of the Republika Srpska Army.

"They did not attack only military positions; civilian infrastructure was also destroyed. However, what happened to us did not shake the Serb people, did not extinguish their will to continue fighting for freedom, and did not break them! In the end, despite all of this, we persevered and prevailed; we defended Republika Srpska and freedom," Ostojić stressed.

According to him, pressure, injustice and attempts to break the Serb people continued even after the end of the Defensive-Patriotic War.

"What is happening today, including the death of General Ratko Mladić and his funeral, once again demonstrates the absurdity of the country in which we live and the hatred of one people toward the Serb people," Ostojić said, adding that the Serbs buried General Mladić in a dignified manner and offended no one.

The Day of Remembrance for the victims of the NATO bombing of Republika Srpska was commemorated today in Istočna Ilidža. More than 50 members of the Republika Srpska Army and civilians were killed and more than 120 were wounded during the 1995 bombing campaign.

The commemoration of this historic event, which is of republican significance, is organised by the Republika Srpska Government's Committee nurturing tradition of liberation wars.

The initiative to establish a Day of Remembrance for the victims of the NATO bombing was launched in Andrićgrad on August 26, 2018, at SRNA's proposal.