TOMIĆ: SUPPORT FOR SRPSKA'S LEADERSHIP IN ONGOING FIGHT FOR CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES

ISTOČNO SARAJEVO, FEBRUARY 25 /SRNA/ - The Serb people have always sought to protect their rights on a legal basis, which is why full support should be given to the leadership of Republika Srpska in its constant struggle for constitutional principles, Srpska senator Boško Tomić told SRNA, ahead of the commemoration marking 34 years since the adoption of the first Constitution of Republika Srpska.

Tomić noted that certain Serb politicians, such as Milorad Dodik during his tenure as President of Republika Srpska, faced sanctions for upholding the Constitution and constitutional principles.

"Full support should be given to the leadership of Republika Srpska, headed by Milorad Dodik, who sacrificed himself to halt the derogation of the Constitution. It seems to me that this has succeeded, but we will certainly need a bit more cohesion and unity to protect Serb interests," Tomić said.

He added that a constitution is the foundation of a society’s existence and survival, and that the Constitution of Republika Srpska is a guarantee of the survival of all peoples living in BiH, not only Serbs.

"Serbs attempted this as early as the 19th century, in 1835, when they adopted a Constitution, but unfortunately it did not last long because it did not suit certain individuals, as too many rights were granted to the ordinary man, to democracy, and to social justice. After about ten days, they were forced to withdraw it," Tomić recalled.

He said that, guided by this historical lesson, Serbs adopted the first Constitution of Republika Srpska at the beginning of 1992.

"Serbs saw that the attempt and the chance to remain in Yugoslavia together with the other two constituent peoples of BiH had failed, and they came to the conclusion that they needed to draft a Constitution," Tomić said.

Tomić emphasized that the first Constitution of Republika Srpska is a guarantee of the survival of all peoples in BiH, but that certain individuals within the international community did not like this and, over all these years, have sought through their actions to derogate from this highest legal act of Srpska.

"They believe that the rules of conduct of certain individuals are stronger than our Constitution," Tomić said.

The Assembly of the Serb People of BiH adopted the Constitution on February 28, 1992. It was unanimously approved on the foundations of the Declaration of Establishment and guaranteed full equality and equal rights of the peoples and citizens of the Republic.

The highest legal act of Republika Srpska, which, with certain amendments, remains in force to this day, was adopted before the outbreak of the tragic conflicts and before the unilateral Bosniak and Croat proclamation of the independence of BiH following the March 1 referendum, in which Serbs did not participate.