The Republic of Srpska Representative Office in the Republic of Germany celebrated the Day and Slava of the Republic of Srpska in Stuttgart this year. This event is celebrated on 9 January in the Republic of Srpska, and since the establishment of the Republic of Srpska, the Representation has organized the celebration regularly at the end of January.

This time, Sloga Serbian cultural and sports club Stuttgart also took part in the organization, in addition to the Representation, which is the main organizer of this event. The Festhalle in Stuttgart – Feuerbach was overflowing with our people from the diaspora who thus expressed their respect for the Republic of Srpska.

Addresses by hosts and guests were followed by reading of a letter sent to the Representation by Milorad Dodik, President of the Republic of Srpska, which stated that Srpska was an expression of freedom and indestructible. The entertainment part of the program included performances by Sloga SCSC folklore ensembles Stuttgart and Sindelfingen SCC.

The many guests included a delegation of the Republic of Srpska Government consisting of Srebrenka Golić, chairperson of the Council of Peoples of the Republic of Srpska, Anja Ljubojević, vice-president of the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska, ministers Zlatan Klokić and Petar Đokić and other distinguished guests from the Republic of Srpska.

There were also Dragan Dimitrijević, Consul General of the Republic of Serbia in Stuttgart, Vera Sajić, Consul General of BiH in Stuttgart, Dr Stefan Kaufmann, member of the Bundestag, and representatives of numerous associations and societies.

The celebration started with the anthems of the Republic of Srpska and Serbia, and after the breaking of Slava cake, Mićo Ćetković, the head of the Republic of Srpska Representation in the Republic of Germany, was the first to address the audience.

– It is my pleasure to greet you all and welcome you to the celebration of the Republic of Srpska’s Day and Slava. Besides Banja Luka, Stuttgart is the only place that organizes this celebration every year. With a clear vision, the Republic of Srpska encourages economic activities, attracts foreign investors, while its citizens share the achievements of a modern and democratic society, nurturing and promoting tradition, language and alphabet, because by respecting ourselves, we also respect others – said Ćetković.

Zlatan Klokić, Minister of European Integration and International Cooperation of the Republic of Srpska, stated that it was extremely important to mark the most significant day in the history of Srpska wherever there is Serbian people.

– Stuttgart is the place where the first celebration of the Republic Day was organized outside Srpska’s borders – noted Klokić.

Anja Ljubojević, Srebrenka Golić, Stefan Kaufmann and Dragan Dimitrijević, Serbian Consul General in Stuttgart, also addressed the numerous guests.

– Welcome, our friends from the Republic of Srpska, all the ministers and delegation that arrived from Banja Luka to grace this Slava. The Republic of Srpska has enormous support in the Republic of Serbia. Long live Serbia, long live the Republic of Srpska – said Dimitrijević.

We Connect Motherland and Diaspora

Vanja Borić, president of Sloga SCSC Stuttgart, thanked the Representation of the Republic of Srpska for the vote of confidence in organizing the celebration and underlined the enormous importance of our associations in the diaspora engaged in preserving the tradition and being a link between the motherland and the diaspora.

Let Children Be Born

Vera Sajić, Consul General of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Stuttgart, greeted the guests with verses from Toast to the Serbian People.

Born out of Love

– When it was necessary, 32 years ago, the first big step was taken at the moment when two other peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina had broken the principle of constitutionality and organized an illegal referendum, requesting and unfortunately winning international recognition of BiH. At that time, Serbian people and its political representatives had no other choice but to make an important historical decision to create the Republic of Srpska, which ensured peace, freedom, security and equality for our people. That is why we gather every year to celebrate the Day of the Republic of Srpska, to celebrate the Slava of St Stefan. By this gathering and gathering all over the Republic of Srpska, we never have and never will hurt anyone who does not share this joy with us, on the contrary we will invite them to share with us the feelings of joy and respect for the dates we chose. The Republic of Srpska was born out of love, and what is born out of love will last forever, that is why the Republic of Srpska will live forever – Minister Petar Đokić said.

Nice Impressions

Marko Matić, director of Belgrade Public Media Centre, also attended the celebration, wanting to see for himself how the Republic of Srpska Day is celebrated in the diaspora, in Stuttgart. During his stay in the capital of Baden-Württemberg, he also had brief discussions with ministers of the Republic of Srpska Government, with Srebrenka Golić and Stefan Kaufmann. He is satisfied with what he saw and has nice impressions from Stuttgart.

Source: Vesti online

Photo: D. Jovičić