Lendo: The flag with lilies was the first official flag of BiH, neither the RS MoI nor Dodik will change that

(Patria) - Today's action by the RS MoI, whose officers harassed a group of BiH citizens who marked BiH Statehood Day in Banja Luka, represents a gross abuse of authority and regulations aimed at intimidation and denial of BiH's statehood and its valid regulations, stated the Vice President of the Federation of BiH, Refik Lendo.

"The flag that the citizens from Bugojno and Donji Vakuf displayed is not some 'war flag', as claimed by officials of the RS entity, but the first official flag of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, under which our country became a member of the United Nations and which was in force until 1998. That flag with lilies was also the official flag of the part of our homeland where the RS MoI operates.

Therefore, issuing a violation notice to one of the citizens and harassing the others is a completely unfounded and legally nonsensical move that will not intimidate anyone, nor will it prevent anyone from celebrating the state holiday in a constitutional and legal manner in any part of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Nor will the hysterical outbursts of certain officials from the RS entity, led by the president of that Bosnian-Herzegovinian entity, Milorad Dodik, who call the celebration of the state holiday with the first official state flag 'hate speech', and say that there is 'no place for someone in Banja Luka'.

There was and will be a place in Banja Luka and in every other city in Bosnia and Herzegovina for all those who respect its Constitution and its valid laws. The question is whether there will be a place, at least at liberty, for those who violate them and who undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina," Lendo stated.