STEVANDIĆ: OBLIGATION TO POINT TO IMPORTANCE OF FIGHTING FOR OUR COUNTRY AND DIGNITY

BANJALUKA, APRIL 23 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska National Assembly Speaker Nenad Stevandić has said today that the history of the Serbs is the most difficult on this side of the Drina in both world wars, therefore, it is a permanent obligation to point out the importance of the fight for dignity, stability, one's country, tradition and sustainability.

"Ever since the Serb householder on this side of the Drina ploughed the first furrow and harvested the first fruit, someone appeared to take that fruit and land away from him," Stevandić said at the Sveti Pantelija cemetery in Banja Luka, where he laid wreaths at the memorial to the victims of the High Treason Trial as part of the Banja Luka City Day.

Stevandić pointed out that in the Second Serb Uprising, which took place 210 years ago, Serbia succeeded in overthrowing the Turkish occupation, while in our country one occupation was replaced by another, so after the Turkish rule came the Austro-Hungarian.

"We saw the first liberation and the first sun in 1918, thanks to 25,000 volunteers, of which less than 1,000 returned," Stevandić told the press.

He emphasized that it is important that the culture of remembrance be part of the educational and spiritual pedestal.

The Head of the City Association of Descendants and Admirers of War Volunteers of the Wars of Liberation 1912-1918, Nebojša Kuštrinović, said that this Association is always looking for the truth, because forgetting means killing it.

He says that by cherishing memories, lessons are left for the younger generations, and he thanked the republic's institutions whose doors are always open for this Association.

"Our demands are small. We proudly remember our ancestors, 25,000 of the volunteers who left on the other side of the Drina and few of them returned. We will never forget them!," said Kuštrinović.

Banja Luka is marking the City Day in memory of April 22, 1945, when it was liberated from the occupiers in World War II.

At the Sveti Pantelija cemetery in Banja Luka, tributes were paid and wreaths were laid at the memorial to the victims of the Traitor Process and at the memorial to the fallen soldiers of the Republika Srpska Army.

Wreaths were also laid by delegations from the city of Banjaluka and descendants and admirers of 1914–1918 war volunteers, representatives of the city's War Veterans Organisation, the Third Infantry /Republika Srpska/ Regiment, the Consul General of Serbia in Banja Luka Miloš Vujić, and councilors in the City Assembly.

Wreaths were also laid by representatives of the families of fallen soldiers, SUBNOR and disabled war veterans.