Public Discussion on the Draft Law Amending the Law on the Use of the Flag, Coat of Arms, and Anthem

In the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska, a public discussion was held today on the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on the Use of the Flag, Coat of Arms, and Anthem, during which the Speaker of the Parliament Dr. Nenad Stevandić said that this legal solution has absolute support, as unity was reached on the need to return the coat of arms of Nemanjić and hymn "God's Justice", in legal form, for use in the Republic of Srpska.

"The purpose of everything is to come to a law that will not be challenged either before the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina or the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Srpska." The law has a constitutional basis. The provisions of this law do not offend any constituent people, nor any historical and cultural heritage in the country. The aim is to return to use, in addition to the emblem of the Republic of Srpska and the anthem "My Republic", the coat of arms of Nemanjić and the anthem "God's Justice", said President Stevandić, pointing out that the aim is the institutional defense of Serbian historical, national and cultural heritage.

He emphasized that, after Prijedor, Bijeljina, Trebinje, and Istocno Sarajevo, the last, fifth public discussion was held in Banjaluka, and that all procedures defined by the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska were fully complied with.

"We do not have any objections to the substance of this law, mostly we have the absolute support of the participants of public hearings, the profession, representatives of organizations stemming from the Defense-Patriotic War, universities, and citizens." "The draft law will be ready in the coming days, and it should be in front of MPs, if there are no extraordinary circumstances, at one of the next sessions of the National Assembly, after the October local elections," Stevandić pointed out.

The President of the Union of Prisoners of the Republic of Srpska, Anđelko Nosović, emphasized that the Serbian people must protect their symbols institutionally, and preserve their historical and spiritual heritage with pride, which is why, as he stated, this legal solution has great support from former prisoners, fighters and the public in the Republic of Srpska.

"We must uniquely protect our flag, coat of arms, and anthem." "We are not insulting anyone, but we should not run away from our identity features," said Nosović.

The constitutional basis for the adoption of the Law on the Use of the Flag, Coat of Arms, and Anthem is contained in Article 8, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Srpska, which establishes that the Republic has a flag, coat of arms, and anthem, and Article 70, Paragraph 1, Point 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of Srpska, which established that the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska passes laws, other regulations and general acts. In addition, Article 4 of the Constitutional Law on the Flag, Coat of Arms, and Anthem of the Republic of Srpska ("Official Gazette of the Republic of Srpska", no. 19/92 and 125/08) stipulates that the use of the flag, coat of arms and anthem of the Republic of Srpska will be regulated by special law.

Following Article 76 of the Constitution of the Republic of Srpska, which stipulates that the right to propose laws, other regulations, and general acts belongs to the President of the Republic, the Government, each member of parliament or at least 3,000 voters, Dr. Nenad Stevandić, President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska, as a member of parliament submitted Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on the Use of the Flag, Coat of Arms and Anthem.