Republika Srpska held a parade with armored vehicles, despite Bosnian bans
Large-scale celebrations took place today in Banja Luka on the occasion of the national holiday - Republika Srpska Day. The event took place despite previous decision of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina about the discrepancy with the Basic Law of an important date for the Serbs. Moreover, the holiday was accompanied by important symbolic gestures - the parade was attended by armored vehicles "Despot", which recently appeared in service with the local police.
The celebrations in Banja Luka took place with a large crowd of residents and guests. The ceremony is attended by President of the Republika Srpska Zeljka Cvijanovic, member of the BiH Presidency Milorad Dodik and Prime Minister of Serbia Ana Brnabic, Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church Irinej, who arrived the day before, as well as politicians and deputies.
The parade, which took place in the country for the fourth time, opened the ceremonial events today. It was attended by 2400 employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as representatives of the civil sector, various administrations of the republics, associations and organizations. Separately, it is worth noting the passage of a column of armored vehicles through Krajina Square. Student representatives carried a large Serbian flag.
“This is our day, the day of the Republika Srpska, a day that we celebrate for the 28th time. The day we chose then, January 9, 1992, to peacefully establish the Republika Srpska as an expression of the enduring need of the Serbian people in this region for their own country. Created in peace, protected in war, protected in these days, the Republika Srpska today is proud of all of us, and of its path – stable, peaceful, dedicated to the development and freedom of all the people who live in it,” said Serbian member of the BiH Presidency Milorad Dodik.
“The Serbs today have two states - Serbia and the Republika Srpska, and we live our state, regardless of those who say that this is not so. We live in Republika Srpska as our state,” he added.
The celebrations continued with an official ceremony in one of the halls of Banja Luka.
The head of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, also conveyed his congratulations, assuring that Serbia will always support the fraternal republic.
In turn, the President of the Republika Srpska awarded the Order of the Flag of the Republic of Serbia with a golden wreath to the Minister of Defense of Serbia, Alexander Vulin.
Let us recall that on January 9, 1992, the Republika Srpska of Bosnia and Herzegovina (RSBiH) was proclaimed. After Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence from Yugoslavia on April 5, 1992, Republika Srpska declared it would separate from Bosnia and Herzegovina and remain part of Yugoslavia.
A civil war broke out in the region, in which NATO forces intervened. They struck the Serbs, stopping their advance. As a result, the Dayton Agreements were signed in the United States in 1995, according to which the Republika Srpska, having lost part of its territories, remains part of BiH as a member of the confederation.
As PolitNavigator reported, Miroslav Dodik has repeatedly previously stated his intention to seek reunification with Serbia if Kosovo is recognized as a full member of the UN with the support of the West.
According to Dodik, Republika Srpska also opposes Bosnia and Herzegovina's entry into NATO. The local parliament made a corresponding decision. “There is no support among our people for the idea of joining NATO. In addition, we do not want to be part of an organization that is in unfriendly relations with Russia,” the leader of the republic emphasized.
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