DODIK: TODAY WE CELEBRATE OUR SOVEREIGNTY, IDENTITY, TRADITION, AND HEARTH

BANJA LUKA, JANUARY 9 /SRNA/ – SNSD President Milorad Dodik congratulated Republika Srpska Day, underlining that today marks the day Republika Srpska was born, as well as its sovereignty, identity, tradition, and hearth.

"Today we celebrate the day Republika Srpska was born. We celebrate our sovereignty, identity, tradition, and our hearth. Our choice has always been peace, unity, and gathering around our sacred Republika Srpska, which was born for eternity. Happy Republika Srpska Day!" Dodik posted on the social network X. January 9 is marked as Republika Srpska Day, as Republika Srpska was established on that date in 1992 under its original name, the Republic of the Serb People in BiH. Republika Srpska was founded by Serb deputies in the then Assembly of BiH after they were outvoted on key issues concerning the survival of Yugoslavia, while representatives of the other two peoples moved toward secession against the will of the Serbs, who held the status of a constituent people. The name Republic of the Serb People in BiH was used until February 28, 1992, and the proclamation of the first Constitution, when it was replaced by the Serb Republic of BiH, which remained in use until August 12, 1992, when the name Serb Republic was introduced. That name was replaced in September 1992 with the current one – Republika Srpska.