VEKIĆ: REPUBLIKA SRPSKA STRONG SUPPORT FOR SERB COMMUNITIES IN FBiH

BOSANSKO GRAHOVO, MAY 27 /SRNA/ - Acting Director of the Republika Srpska Gender Equality Center Maja Vekić stated during a visit to Bosansko Grahovo that Serbs in the Federation of BiH /FBiH/ must not be forgotten and that Republika Srpska must continue to serve as a strong pillar of support for people who remained living in their ancestral homes.

She stressed that Republika Srpska institutions must maintain a presence among Serbs in FBiH and that such visits should provide an opportunity to hear people's concerns and determine how concrete assistance can be provided. Vekić today met with municipal head Smiljko Radlović and visited the birthplace of Gavrilo Princip and the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Vekić told SRNA that the visit was especially meaningful for her because her roots are from the area, where she spent much of her childhood and where her ancestors are buried. “When I come to our Serb municipalities in FBiH, I always feel both sadness and pride. Sadness because I see how many people have left, but also pride in those who stayed, preserved their homes, and maintained their love for Republika Srpska", Vekić stressed. She emphasized that preserving the culture of remembrance, historical heritage, and sites that testify to the identity and suffering of the Serbian people in these areas is of national importance. During her visit to the local church, Vekić spoke with a priest about the daily life of the people in Grahovo, stressing that the Serbian Orthodox Church has historically always been a pillar for the people and a guardian of faith and identity. Following a meeting with Grahovo municipal head Smiljko Radlović, Vekić pointed to key problems facing the population, such as youth emigration and the status of women, but stressed that there are opportunities to address these challenges through institutional cooperation. "Through projects and cooperation with partners, we must ensure stronger support for the development of these areas", Vekić said.