Public discussion on the Draft Constitution in the National Library Filip Visnjic in the city of Bijeljina

The fifth public discussion on the Draft Constitution of the Republic of Srpska was held today at the Filip Visnjic National Library in Bijeljina.

Tamara Damjanovic, a member of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs of the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska, stated during a public discussion that the Republic of Srpska can and must adopt a new constitution to protect its constitutional position and competences following the Dayton Peace Agreement.

She emphasized that the Constitution of the Republic of Srpska was amended through international interventionism, thereby depriving it of numerous Dayton competences.

She emphasized that the Republic of Srpska has reached a limit that it cannot and must not be passed.

"Protection of the sovereignty, property, and competences of the Republic of Srpska is the essence of the new constitution within the framework of the Dayton principles," said Damjanovic.

The President of the Working Group that assists the Committee on Constitutional Affairs of the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska, Prof. Dr. Vitomir Popovic, stressed that the Republic of Srpska is determined to obtain a new constitution that will be the most modern, and the highest legal and political act in BiH.

He emphasized that the new constitution will guarantee the equality of all three constituent peoples and other peoples, protecting their religious and cultural identity, language, and script, following the highest international standards in the field of human rights protection and fundamental freedoms.

“By imposing more than 100 constitutional amendments and transferring competences to the level of BiH, the Republic of Srpska has been left without a whole range of competences and authorities, thereby changing the very internal structure of our Republic,” said Popovic.

He emphasized that the new constitution will guarantee political, economic, legal, and security stability, as well as a solid foundation for the further development and prosperity of the Republic of Srpska.

Working Group member Dragan Dakic emphasized that the two most important goals of the new constitution are reorganization and the value-based reconstruction of the Republic of Srpska.

He emphasized that the new constitution should preserve and nurture traditional identity values, while preserving the essential characteristics of the Republic of Srpska.

“The Republic of Srpska cannot agree to the degradation of identity characteristics,” said Dakic.

Representatives of veterans stated during the public debate that veteran categories, families of fallen soldiers, war invalids, and former concentration camp inmates should be included in constitutional provisions to improve the material and overall position of members of these categories in society.

The public debate was attended by MPs Milica Lovric, Milan Trninic, and Milutin Tasovac, representatives of veterans' organizations and veterans, students, as well as numerous citizens of Bijeljina. The next public discussion on the Draft Constitution of the Republic of Srpska will be held tomorrow in the Zvonik City Assembly, starting at noon.