Macut: It is important to maintain Serbia-Republika Srpska relations

BANJALUKA - Congratulating the people of Republika Srpska on January 9 - Republika Srpska Day, Serbian PM Djuro Macut noted on Thursday it was important to maintain Serbia-Republika Srpska relations in line with constitutional provisions based on the Dayton peace agreement.

Macut said Serbia supported an integral Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the constitutional powers Republika Srpska had within that framework.

"I am very pleased we are in Banjaluka today to pay a tribute to the fighters who fought for Republika Srpska to be able to celebrate its anniversary today, and to ensure that situations we had several decades ago never happen again and that we live in peace, concord and understanding with all citizens living in Republika Srpska, and that our citizens and citizens of Republika Srpska keep maintaining traditional friendly and brotherly relations with all peoples living in Republika Srpska, be they of Serbian Orthodox or some other religious affiliation," Macut said in Banjaluka before a ceremony that marked the Republika Srpska Day.

As part of its special relations with Republika Srpska, Serbia will always treat the people of Srpska as brothers and sisters and build the traditionally established relations, primarily in infrastructure and the economy, as well as in health care, education and science, he said.

"I hope we will continue to do this well in the future, too," Macut said.