Debate in the RS National Assembly on the Declaration of the All-Serbian Assembly, Dodik Says They Reject the 'Shameful Name Bosnian Serbs'

(Patria) - At today's session of the National Assembly of the Republika Srpska, the Declaration on the Protection of National and Political Rights and the Common Future of the Serbian People, adopted by the governments of the RS and Serbia at the All-Serbian Assembly in Belgrade on June 8, is also being discussed.

In his introductory address, the President of the RS National Assembly, Nenad Stevandić, said that this declaration will be adopted in the Assembly of Serbia this month, and he called on the deputies to support this declaration.

"I invite you all to adopt this declaration together, and to resolve any doubts through conclusions," said Stevandić.

The declaration defines the directions of joint action for the future of the Serbian people.

This document contains 49 conclusions, positions, and goals, and unequivocally points to the necessity of Serbian national gathering.

It specifies February 15 as the 'Statehood Day of the Republic of Serbia and the Statehood Day of the Republika Srpska,' which should be celebrated jointly and together, while the Republika Srpska will continue to mark January 9 as the day of its founding.

The President of the RS, Milorad Dodik, also addressed the RS National Assembly, stating that there is nothing controversial in this document.

"We will have to include February 15 as a statehood day in our law on holidays, regarding language and script. The declaration is one of the most powerful documents of the Serbian people in recent history. We reject any prefix and ask that you stop calling us this or that, and we reject that shameful name 'Bosnian Serbs.' We are Serbs. We already know who is against it. But it is important that there is a significant majority that will support it. Those who are against such a declaration will have to explain who they represent and who they are defending. This is not directed against any people.

You have no basis that any rights of other religious communities in the RS are threatened. We have not noticed any abuses in any structures," said Dodik.

He emphasized that this document also highlights a commitment to peace and stability.

"The Serbian people are today aware of the fact that the world is in serious disorder. We will preserve peace and stability at all costs. If the Serbs remain at peace, others will also be at peace. We have no intention of engaging in conflicts, but in politics," said Dodik.

He said that the Serbs are satisfied with the autonomy granted to them by the Dayton Peace Agreement and that they will operate within that framework.