STEVANDIĆ: CREATION OF SRPSKA IS SACRED TO US

BANJA LUKA, JULY 8 /SRNA/ – Republika Srpska National Assembly Speaker Nenad Stevandić said that Republika Srpska was created in peace, but that the Serb people had to fight to defend it, adding that its creation is sacred to the Serb people.

During the parliamentary debate on the proposed amendments to the Law on the Rights of Veterans, Military Invalids and Families of Fallen Soldiers of the Republika Srpska Homeland-Defense War, Stevandić stressed that the Republika Srpska Veterans' Organization /BORS/ had, in a way, returned to the people through resolutions that are prepared and adopted jointly.

Stevandić also noted that, for the first time, legislation in Republika Srpska includes provisions concerning veterans from the Republic of Srpska Krajina.

"At the initiative of the Veterans' Organization, we are also amending the Law on Cemeteries so that certain symbols do not offend our feelings, because we do not do that to other people," Stevandić mentioned.

He added that the views of BORS have never been given greater consideration in Republika Srpska, saying this reflects unity within Republika Srpska and is something he particularly welcomes.

In his closing remarks, Republika Srpska Minister of Labor and Veterans' and Disabled Persons' Protection Radan Ostojić said that about 80 per cent of the 200,000 members of the Army of Republika Srpska experienced some form of war-related psychological trauma.

Commenting on calls for Republika Srpska veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder /PTSD/ to be granted military disability benefits, Ostojić said the issue is complex and should be addressed by qualified experts.

The Republika Srpska National Assembly debated the proposed amendments to the Law on the Rights of Veterans, Military Invalids and Families of Fallen Soldiers of the Republika Srpska Homeland-Defense War, which introduce additional decorations awarded for military merit during the war and contributions to the defense of Republika Srpska.

The proposed amendments add the Order of Njegoš, First, Second and Third Class, the Order of the Cross of Mercy, the Petar Mrkonjić Medal, the Medal for Military Merit and the Medal for Military Virtues, all awarded to veterans for military service during the war and their contribution to the defense of Republika Srpska.