15.10.2020.

Minister Vulin in East New Sarajevo: Serbia will always think about, protect and defend its Republika Srpska

- The Republic of Serbia headed by Aleksandar Vučić does not forget Serbs, wherever they live. Republika Srpska is one of the priorities of our foreign policy. All our documents – from the National Defence Strategy to appropriate decisions of the Assembly, state that the preservation of Republika Srpska and its development is one of the priorities of the Republic of Serbia, and the obligation of all bodies of the Republic of Serbia. This is a way for us to have more than a close, brotherly cooperation – emphasized the Envoy of the President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces Aleksandar Vučić, Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin who, together with the Serbian member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik attended the inauguration ceremony of a newly built Square of the Republic of Serbia in East New Sarajevo.

- This is the way to show all citizens of Republika Srpska how much Serbia cares and how much it wants to make the lives of all citizens of Republika Srpska better and easier. Whenever President Aleksandar Vučić makes key decisions, decisions important for the fate of the Serbian people, he takes special care of how those decisions will affect all Serbs, no matter where they live, and of course, especially Republika Srpska – the Minister of Defence pointed out and stressed that tonight he is especially proud that, as an envoy of the President of the Republic he can share his happiness with the residents of East New Sarajevo and that he can see wonderful people gathered together on the Square of the Republic of Serbia and to tell them once again that “the Republic of Serbia will always think of, protect and defend its Republika Srpska”.

President Vučić was awarded the Plaque of the Municipality of East New Sarajevo that was handed over to Minister Vulin, as an envoy of President Vučić, by the Mayor of East New Sarajevo. The construction of the Square of the Republic of Serbia in East New Sarajevo was financed by the Government of Republika Srpska with the funds contributed by the Government of the Republic of Serbia, and the value of the donation is one million euros.

Speaking about the importance of this Square, the Serbian member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik, pointed out that all this was done because President Vučić wanted to help these people.

- This is Serbia’s message that it perceives us as its integral part. We are staying here, but we want to be citizens of Serbia. We are not Bosnian Serbs, we are Serbs, the Serbs who paid for their freedom with many victims, who are looking to Serbia. Serbia is our safe haven - said Milorad Dodik.

The Mayor of East New Sarajevo, Ljubiša Ćosić, thanked for the opportunity for us to inaugurate the Square of the Republic of Serbia together, adding that the square is one of the most beautiful places in Republika Srpska and a place where people can gather again.

At the end of the inauguration ceremony, Minister Vulin, Milorad Dodik and Mayor Ćosić laid a time capsule into the foundation of a future monument to the Family that will embellish the central part of the square.

The area of the Square around the sports and business centre is about 18,000 square metres. Fountains, drinking fountains and benches have been set up, and landscaping of the grounds has been completed. It is a square intended for holding events which is also equipped with urban street furniture.

It is planned to erect a monument to the Family in the central part of the Square. The monument will be unveiled in 2021 and it will symbolize ties between the Republic of Serbia and Republika Srpska, as well as the family, which is a symbol of the reunion of Serbs from Sarajevo during the establishment of the Serbian, i.e. East Sarajevo.

The inauguration of the Square of the Republic of Serbia in East New Sarajevo was also attended by the Assistant Minister for Defence Policy Milan Ranković, MSc, the Commander of the 250th Air Defence Missile Brigade, Brigadier General Tiosav Janković and the Envoy of the Republic of Serbia Colonel Danko Štrbac.