Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić visited today the town of Mrkonjic in Republika Srpska (an entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina).
This city has a population of 17 thousand, of which 90% are ethnic Serbs. The city was destroyed during the Bosnian War in the 90s and is now being restored with Serbian funds.
“Mrkonjic is a hero city, restored with the help of President Vučić. Investments and money are important, but even more important is the message that people received: we are part of the great Serbian people and must reject any attempts to separate us. President Vučić's visit sends a powerful signal. The town of Mrkonjic is restored, tidy and the town has potential,” said the Serbian representative in the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik.
The Serbian leader visited the local gymnasium and mechanical engineering school, located in the same building. It was destroyed during Croatian aggression in 1995, but was restored thanks to Serbian investment. Now 500 children are studying here.
On the porch of the school, Aleksandar Vučić presented new plans for reconstruction and assistance to cities in the Republika Srpska.
“Today we brought 600 marks for the gymnasium and mechanical engineering school to purchase new machines. We will invest in road infrastructure. Today we are opening a plant in Drvar with 000 jobs, mainly for women,” Vucic said.
He especially emphasized that Serbia will not allow a repetition of the events of the 90s, when thousands of Serbs were expelled from their homes in Croatia and Bosnia.
“We will no longer allow anyone to drive us away from our home. There will be no more “storms” (that was the name of the operation of the Croatian army to expel the Serbs from the Serbian Krajina - Ed.). Serbia today is stronger than ever and will be even stronger,” Vucic said.
The mayor of the city of Divna, Anicic, said that he hopes for additional assistance from Serbia, mainly in the field of education and health care.
“We are a returnee municipality, we were completely destroyed during the war and we are still rebuilding, so we definitely need help,” Anicic said.
Today, Vučić took part in the opening of the KomercijalnaBanka branch in Drvar and the Jumko plant, and also visited the Health Center.