STEVANDIĆ: WITH OUR HEADS HELD HIGH, WE COMMUNICATE WITH BOTH EAST AND WEST

BANJA LUKA, OCTOBER 15 /SRNA/ – The Speaker of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, Nenad Stevandić, has said in St. Petersburg that ideas for which humanity paid a heavy price in the 20th century are now being presented as acceptable politics, but that the Serbian and Russian peoples, who made enormous sacrifices in the fight against Nazism, know best that such an ideology has no right to return.

"That is why our joint message is clear and strong – our moral and historical duty is to firmly oppose any attempt to rehabilitate or revive Nazism, because silence or indifference would mean betraying both our ancestors and our descendants," Stevandić said. Addressing the deputies of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, Stevandić emphasized that the Serbian and Russian peoples, by preserving their friendship, have shown the world that they stand upright and with dignity. He stressed that Republika Srpska recognizes in St. Petersburg a kindred friend and companion through historical trials, noting that today the world faces challenges reminiscent of the darkest pages of history. Just as St. Petersburg withstood the hardest blows and remained unbroken, Stevandić said, so too does the Serbian people know what it means to endure injustice and pressure, yet persevere in preserving identity and the right to make their own choices. According to a statement from the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, Stevandić pointed out that the relations between the two parliaments did not arise by chance or as the product of temporary politics, but are rooted in concrete actions and agreements that are already producing results. He added that one of the most significant steps in building institutional cooperation was the signing of the Protocol on the Results of Negotiations between the two assemblies, which affirmed their joint commitment to fostering development and progress in both Republika Srpska and St. Petersburg. Stevandić said that this protocol was not merely a diplomatic gesture but a vision of a shared future, highlighting a mutual willingness to strengthen economic, cultural, and scientific ties, as well as cooperation in education and tourism. He noted that, as holders of legislative authority, both sides bear a special responsibility to ensure that this cooperation does not remain confined to the framework of the protocol. "Our parliaments have the power to open doors to new initiatives, to create legal and institutional frameworks for cultural exchange, for joint scientific projects, for student and faculty exchange programs, for enhancing economic partnerships, and for developing small and medium-sized enterprises. Only in this way can our cooperation gain permanence and become an inseparable part of life in both Republika Srpska and St. Petersburg," Stevandić emphasized. He stressed that by visiting the Russian Duma, the Federation Council, and the St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly since March 2023, precisely when many had stopped doing so for political reasons, the representatives of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska demonstrated consistency and principle. "We in Republika Srpska do not and will not engage in political calculations, because we know that soon there will be a crowd at the entrance to Russian institutions—and that crowd will be formed by today’s opportunists. I hope that you will continue to recognize us in Republika Srpska as sincere friends, just as you do today," Stevandić said. He informed the deputies of the St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly, led by its president Aleksandr Nikolayevich Belysky, that during meetings with numerous Western diplomats he has often pointed out that Russia has never used Republika Srpska nor asked it to sever ties with the West, unlike some Western representatives who have demanded that Srpska cut ties with Russia. "Our backbone and dignity remain upright, even though they have at times been bruised by sanctions, threats, and blackmail—but all that is slowly becoming the past. Today, with our heads held high, we communicate with both East and West, representing the sovereignty of our people regardless of its size," Stevandić underscored. He added that belonging to the heritage of victors and anti-fascists is not measured by population size or territory, but by the moral stance and spiritual integrity that have always kept the Serbian people on the right side of history—and the right side of the future. "Therefore, today, from this great hero city, let us wish for peace and for an agreement on a more just world without wars and discrimination," Stevandić said. Stevandić is leading the delegation of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, which also includes Deputy Speaker Dragomir Vasić and MPs Aleksandar Trninić, Milica Lovrić, and Nikolina Šljivić.