President Stevandić visiting the Parliament of Serbia: United as never before, we will continue to support each other

The President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska, Dr Nenad Stevandić, talked today in Belgrade with the Speaker of the Serbian Parliament, Dr. Vladimir Orlić, about the parliamentary relations between the Republic of Srpska and Serbia, as well as cooperation on large infrastructure projects, including the construction of highways, airports, utilizing the potential of the Drina River, and about the importance of projects such as the construction of the Donja Gradin memorial center.

After the meeting in the Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, President Stevandić said that the citizens of the Republic of Srpska are proud of the brotherly relations with Serbia, which is a guiding star for Srpska, and added that there is nothing to complain about the cooperation between Belgrade and Banja Luka from any ethical, democratic or moral point of view.

Stevandić said that Serbia's strength enables the Republic of Srpska to rise slowly and protect the Dayton Agreement.

"We avoided many challenges when numerous international factors tried to disturb the relations between the leadership of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska, or to use the situation to cause damage. That didn't happen because there was enough wisdom and reason to keep those relations good," said Stevandic after the meeting in the House of the National Assembly of Serbia.

Saying that the citizens of the Republic of Srpska are proud of their brotherly relations with Serbia, Stevandic pointed out that Srpska is an unprotected Serbian space that is struggling to remain sovereign, and that Serbia's help in this regard has never been absent, although it is not always clearly visible.

"The stars have not disappeared if the clouds come, they are just not visible at the moment. Serbia remains our guiding star and the star in which we trust and move, and we hope that we will move together in the future," said Stevandić.

Stevandić emphasized that at the meetings of officials of Srpska and Serbia in Belgrade, nothing was ever discussed that would challenge or discriminate any people in BiH or BiH itself.

"Everything that comes to us as criticism is the result of a completely Serb phobic and hypocritical attitude that always seeks support for some war stereotypes, but that must not stop us and we must continue together," said Stevandić after the meeting with President Orlić.

Thanking Orlić for coming to the celebration on January 9 in Banja Luka, President Stevandić pointed out that the relations between the Republic of Srpska and Serbia are at the highest level in the last 10 years and continue to progress.

He assessed that the highway that will connect Belgrade and Bijeljina, and later Banjaluka, will actually include all Serbian settlements from Prijedor, Gradiška, Banjaluka, Doboj and Bijeljina, to Kumanovo, and in the north to Horgoš.

Stevandić pointed out that this would be a major development factor because Serbia is working on a network of highways, so this would become a large common economic region that would prevent population outflow and work to increase GDP.

Reminding that the Republic of Srpska has been under silent sanctions for less than 20 years, Stevandić pointed out that it would have been more difficult to endure all of this if there had been no cooperation, support, and crucial assistance from Serbia.

"I think it was crucial for us to have someone to ask, because too often we had the opportunity to defend ourselves, and we are constantly in a defensive position, which limits our economic possibilities," said Stevandic.

He pointed out that the fact that Serbia managed to become an economic leader in the region, that it has the most stable budget, the most operational organs, the fastest equipping of the army, civil sector, and infrastructure, gives security to the Republic of Srpska in its efforts to preserve its sovereignty.

Stevandić assessed that the publicly spoken word from the Republic of Srpska that Bosnia and Herzegovina can never recognize self-proclaimed Kosovo and that no one can do anything without Serbia in Kosovo and Metohija means something and speaks of the spiritual unity of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska.

The President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska said that there is no border for the culture, belonging, religion, and history of the Serbian people.

After the meeting, President Orlić said that the Republic of Srpska can always count on Serbia and thanked the Srpska for supporting Serbia's state policy.

The help and support we provide to each other is something that cannot be questioned. That's how we functioned in previous years - harmoniously like never before. We will continue to support each other," said Orlić.

He thanked the Republic of Srpska, the people of Srpska, and its legitimately elected representatives for supporting the state policy of Serbia when it comes to protecting the interests of Serbia and the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as all elements of the policy of peace, stability, and joint development.

"Thank you for your support and you know that you can always count on us. The country of Serbia has shown that it knows how to be with you even when times are difficult. There is no doubt, we will continue to stand by each other as firmly as possible in the future," said Orlić.

He pointed out that he is honored to be able to host President Stevandić in the House of the National Assembly of Serbia and expressed his satisfaction that today's arrival in Belgrade in     the Assembly of Serbia is his first visit since taking office as the President of the National Assembly.

President Orlić said that, out of a total of 2.8 billion goods exchanged between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the previous year, more than 70 percent was related to the exchange between Serbia and Srpska, and noted that Serbia is one of the biggest investors in Srpska when it comes to infrastructure.

Orlić pointed out that the healthy state of Serbia's public finances enables joint work with Srpska in the future on economic and infrastructure issues.

"Thank you once again for being here today. Long live our brotherhood, the harmony we achieved, our people, and long live the Republic of Srpska and the Republic of Serbia!" said Orlić.

After the joint statements, the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska, Nenad Stevandić, signed the guest book, and then met with the representatives of the parliamentary group of the Serbian People's Party in the Serbian Parliament.