The Serb diaspora is a shared national and state interest of the Republic of Srpska and Serbia, which makes a joint institutional approach towards our compatriots abroad very important, announced today the Minister of European Integration and International Cooperation of Srpska, Zlatan Klokić, and the Minister without portfolio in charge of coordinating activities and measures in the area of Serbia’s relations with the diaspora, Đorđe Milićević.

Klokić said it was impossible to separate the diaspora of Srpska and Serbia, because it was the same diaspora.

– What Serbia is realizing, with Srpska’s participation, is Serbian lessons in the diaspora. We thus nurture culture, tradition and learn about history – stated Klokić in Banja Luka before the meeting with Milićević.

He reminded that the Diaspora Register had been functioning in Srpska for two years, that individuals and legal entities registered daily, and the goal was to have them gathered in one place and connected with the institutions of Srpska.

Milićević said that the motherland-diaspora connection was very important, especially in challenging times, same as the unity and stability of Serbia and Srpska.

– It is important to network the associations that bring together Serbs abroad and to talk about the importance of the diaspora, not only from the aspect of the past, present, but also the future, because the diaspora has great human and financial capital and we are all equally patriotic and each of us is ready to jointly analyze what we can do for our people and state – said Milićević and added that the Serb diaspora was the most numerous in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

After yesterday’s meeting with the mayor of Istočno Sarajevo and representatives of the association of Serbs from the Federation of BiH and Istočno Sarajevo, the Serbian minister without portfolio in charge of the diaspora, Đorđe Milićević, stated that solidarity and unity of the Serbian people were key to preserving our identity and interests throughout the region.

The fraternal relations and Serbia’s continuous support were noted and a meeting of organizations gathering Serbs outside of Serbia was announced. Representatives of Serbs from the Federation of BiH noted violations of their rights.

Đorđe Radanović, the President of the Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Serbs in FBiH, pointed out that the biggest problem at the moment were property rights. He said that security situation was not favorable either, and that unresolved issues included use of the Cyrillic alphabet and labor relations.

Milićević emphasized that it was very important to meet with the representatives of Serbs from Sarajevo, Mostar, Odžak, Bosanski Petrovac, and that they understood their needs and concerns.

– We need to work together on resolving them. I came to hear about the problems and present what this Ministry will do to resolve them – said Milićević.

Ljubiša Ćosić, the Mayor of Istočno Sarajevo, stated that in the last ten years, Serbia had provided great support to the city of Istočno Sarajevo, as well as to other municipalities in Srpska, in the amount of 53 million euros.

Source: RTRS

Photo: SRNA