SABRES CEREMONIALLY PRESENTED TO POLICE DIRECTORS

BANJA LUKA, NOVEMBER 20 /SRNA/ - The Minister of the Interior of Republika Srpska Željko Budimir today ceremonially presented sabres to all Police Directors from the ministry’s establishment to the present day, on the occasion of Aranđelovdan /Feast of the Holy Archangel Michael/ – the patron saint’s day of the Ministry of the Interior /MoI/.

The sabres were presented on behalf of the MoI to former Police Directors Dragan Gaćeša, Radomir Njeguš, Dragomir Andan, Gojko Vasić, Darko Ćulum, posthumously to Uroš Pena, and to the current director, Siniša Kostrešević.

Budimir told reporters after the ceremony that the sabre is a symbol of honor and of the honorable service of these men who have held the post of Police Director, as well as the highest recognition for the demanding work performed by police officers and the most responsible leaders.

He stated that the Police Director assumes all operational responsibilities and implements all policies and strategies adopted by the Government and the Ministry of the Interior, emphasizing that they have woven themselves into the very fabric of Republika Srpska, devoted their best years to service, and carried out the most responsible duties.

The Director of the Republika Srpska Police, Siniša Kostrešević, said that although the sabre he received is a personal award, it is in fact an award for the entire team and a way of expressing gratitude to the entire Republika Srpska Police.

Former Police Director Dragomir Andan said that he had been decorated many times, but that this sabre represents something special to him — something that will hold meaning for his children and grandchildren in the future as well.

Former Police Director Gojko Vasić expressed special gratitude to Budimir and Kostrešević for presenting the sabre on the day when, in 1918, during the First World War, "the Serbian sabre liberated Banja Luka from Austro-Hungarian oppression."

The ceremonial presentation of the sabres was also attended by a delegation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moscow, the capital of the Russian Federation.