At the ceremony on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Independent Serbian School in Budapest, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Srpska, Radovan Višković, said that the preservation of the Serbian language and authenticity in this country was a great achievement.

Višković stated that Srpska owed a great debt of gratitude to Hungary for enabling the preservation of Serbian identity and education in that country.

During the ceremonial program marking this jubilee of the school, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Srpska said that this was typical of great countries and friends. A letter from the President of the Republic of Srpska, Milorad Dodik, was also read at the ceremony.

At the Independent Serbian Elementary School and Gymnasium in Budapest, today’s Nikola Tesla Educational Centre, there are almost 900 students in as many as ten organizational units.

In addition to those from Hungary, students from Serbia, Republic of Srpska, Croatia and Montenegro also attend this school.

Today, it includes four pre-school institutions and four elementary schools, a library, two student dormitories and a gymnasium. The school employs 240 staff, including 130 educators.

Before that, he spoke with Bishop Lukijan of Buda about Serbian roots in this region.

– We established some points that are important for the survival of Serbian people in Hungary – noted Višković.

According to him, Bishop Lukijan said that Serbian people had their community and rights in Hungary.

– We are very grateful to our church and Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, who has helped a lot – said Višković.

He noted that Serbs in Hungary had educational institutions working on the preservation of the Serbian language and Cyrillic alphabet.

– They have also preserved their faith and traditions. The Bishop pointed out that Serbs in Hungary had two motherlands, Srpska and Serbia. I appreciate the Bishop’s efforts to preserve the Serbian community in Hungary – said Višković.

Bishop Lukijan thanked the Prime Minister of Srpska and noted the importance of unity of the Serbian people and their gathering around the Church of the Holy Trinity and Saintsavaism.

‘We happen to be in Hungary, but it means a lot to us to have people from our motherlands visit us. It is also important for us to see the shrines, built by our ancestors and preserved throughout BiH, especially in Srpska, Serbia, as well as those in Kosovo and Metohija,’ said the Bishop of Buda.

He also reminded of a church of St George in Budapest, and as many as seven Orthodox churches in the city of Szentendre.

Source: Republic of Srpska Government – RTRS

Photo: Republic of Srpska Government