A ceremonial reception was held in the Home of the Serbian Army in Belgrade, on the occasion of 9 January – Republic of Srpska Day and 28 February – the day of promulgation of the first Constitution of the Republic of Srpska. The message was that Srpska and Serbia were moving forward together.

The reception was organized by Srpska’s Representative Office in Serbia, which has been celebrating these important dates in Belgrade since 2015.

The Republic of Srpska has the strength, including the political, and it was formed to be a state, said the President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik at the ceremonial reception on the occasion of the Day of the Republic of Srpska and the anniversary of the first Constitution in Belgrade.

– The ninth of January is one of the most important dates for our people across the Drina. There are enough of us to form a state and that is why we made this decision. Everyone will have to acknowledge our presence and our voice – Dodik said.

Dodik noted that 9 January was the day when the Republic of Srpska had decided to exist.

– Our desire is to preserve the identity of our people, both in the Republic of Srpska and in Serbia – said the Head of the Republic of Srpska Representation in Serbia, Mlađen Cicović.

Cicović reminded that this day when the Republic of Srpska is celebrated in Serbia started with a forum entitled Srpska is defended in Serbia, which presented a collection of papers from the previous 10 forums about the Republic of Srpska held in Belgrade.

The Republic of Srpska was created on the fidelity to the Kosovo pledge, and its unity with Serbia is indestructible, said Serbian Patriarch Porfirije.

The Republic of Srpska and its Constitution are the guarantors of the survival of the Serbian people, said the President of the Serbian Parliament, Vladimir Orlić.

– The freedom struggle of the Serbian people led to the recognition of the Republic of Srpska and its rights in Dayton – noted Orlić. He said that the Republic of Srpska lived on.

– Srpska is even more successful because it is in unity with Serbia. Owing to the Republic of Srpska, the identity, language and culture of the Serbian people have been preserved – said Orlić.

The complete video from the reception is available HERE.

Source and photo: Republic of Srpska Representative Office in Serbia