SUPPORT FROM ALLIANCE OF SERBS IN ITALY FOR THE PRESIDENT AND INSTITUTIONS OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

ROME, AUGUST 9 /SRNA/ - The Alliance of Serbs in Italy sent a letter of support to the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, and the institutions of Republika Srpska, emphasizing that their support is not merely symbolic; it sends a strong message of unity, national responsibility, and care for the preservation of the constitutional order and the dignity of the Serb people.

The letter of support from the Alliance of Serbs in Italy, signed on behalf of the Executive Board by its President Lidija Radovanović, is published by SRNA in its entirety:

"The Alliance of Serbs in Italy expresses its concern regarding the verdict against Milorad Dodik, as the institution of the President of Republika Srpska.

In light of the latest developments in BiH, including the confirmation of the verdict against the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, the Alliance of Serbs in Italy feels compelled to speak out and extend full support to the people and institutions of Republika Srpska.

We especially emphasize the importance of unity among the Serbian people at this delicate moment, where there is no room for political divisions, both in the homeland and the Diaspora.

Everyone who believes in the principles of European democracy has a moral obligation to raise their voice against attempts to abolish Republika Srpska, which is guaranteed by international law and the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement, and against the imposition of centralization that goes against the will of its people.

The Dayton Agreement, on which the constitutional structure of BiH is based, is the result of difficult compromises and is the foundation of peace in BiH after the tragic fratricidal war that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Any attempt to undermine it opens up a possibility for a new conflict of interests of great powers in this region.

The verdict against the President of Republika Srpska, delivered on the basis of imposed norms, represents a dangerous precedent. This is not just about one man - it is about endangering the right of the Serb people to freely choose their representatives and live in peace and in accordance with the Constitution.

Remaining silent in the face of this injustice means legitimizing the destruction of the very foundations of peace and coexistence in BiH

Preserving the constitutional jurisdictions of the institutions of Republika Srpska, as prescribed by the Dayton Agreement for BiH, is the only guarantor of stability in the Balkans.

At this sensitive historical moment, we call on the Serbian Diaspora in Italy and beyond to actively support the institutions of Republika Srpska.

Our support is not merely symbolic; it sends a strong message of unity, national responsibility, and care for the preservation of the constitutional order of a state, as well as the dignity of the Serb people.

We will make every effort - through the Italian press, by sending letters to Italian politicians who know and respect us, as well as to the highest institutions of the Italian state - to ensure that our voice is clearly heard, along with our strong condemnation of the injustice currently being endured by the Serb people and the institutions of Republika Srpska.

We remind all sides in BiH, including German diplomat Christian Schmidt who was the main initiator of this political and anti-constitutional verdict, and the international community, that stability is not achieved through political imposition, but through respect for agreements, first and foremost the Dayton Peace Agreement, respect for election results as an expression of the will of citizens, respect for diversity, and institutional dialogue. With respect and faith in the rule of law and justice."

The Alliance of Serbs in Italy was established in 2015 and comprises 12 associations that aim to preserve the cultural and national identity of Serbs in Italy through cultural, educational, sports, and humanitarian activities.