PROTECT SERB PEOPLE’S VITAL NATIONAL INTERESTS WITH DECLARATION

BANJA LUKA, JULY 7 /SRNA/ – The Declaration protecting vital national interests of the Serb people in BiH must be binding on everyone when making important and difficult decisions, because what was created during the war must not be jeopardized, Milovan Gagić, the chair of the Presidency of the Republika Srpska War Veterans Organisation /BORS/, said at a special session of the National Assembly.

"We must not allow anything to weaken us when appointing people to key positions, especially when representatives are being selected for the FBiH. We must choose people who are educated and, above all, moral," Gagić said in his introductory remarks on the proposed Decision to Adopt the Declaration protecting vital national interests of the Serb people in BiH under an urgent procedure.

He called for the declaration to be adopted unanimously, stressing that it should not become merely a political decision or a dead letter on paper, because when it comes to preserving Republika Srpska, nothing but unity should exist.

"I urge you to take this declaration seriously," Gagić said.

He emphasized that Republika Srpska is the only guarantor of the Serb people's survival.

Stevan Medić, the head of the Republika Srpska Creators Association, said they are asking the parliament to ensure that the Dayton Peace Agreement is implemented exactly as it was written.

"Everything that was taken away by force must be put back on the table so it can be determined that it should all be returned," Medić said.

He assessed that turbulent times lie ahead and that the declaration should be adopted and implemented.

"The Dayton Peace Agreement must be implemented. If it is applied, our national interests will not be endangered. Instead, we are witnessing our legally elected representatives being removed through decisions made by someone who was never even appointed as high representative. That is what happened to President /Milorad/ Dodik," Medić said.