REPUBLIC DAY PARADE UNDER WAY

BANJA LUKA, JANUARY 9 /SRNA/ – The ceremonial parade marking January 9 - Republika Srpska Day has begun in Banja Luka, with over 2,700 participants from the Ministry of Interior /MOI/ of Republika Srpska, as well as representatives from the public and civil sectors.

Held under the slogan "Hearth Will Live on", the parade opened with the presentation of the report to Republika Srpska Prime Minister Savo Minić by the Flag Platoon of the MOI Honor Unit, led by Commander Vitomir Petričević. Petričević delivered the report to Minić with an officer's sabre salute, accompanied by the composition "March of the National Heroes," performed by the MOI Police Orchestra of Republika Srpska. Attending the parade at Krajina Square were Republika Srpska National Assembly Speaker Nenad Stevandić, Prime Minister Savo Minić, Serb member of the BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović, SNSD leader Milorad Dodik, Acting President of Republika Srpska Ana Trišić-Babić, and ministers from the governments of Republika Srpska and Serbia. Also present were representatives of the diplomatic corps, former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, Serb representatives in the BiH joint institutions, other public, social, and political figures from Republika Srpska, Serbia, and the region, as well as numerous citizens. The parade will feature 14 echelons of the Republika Srpska MOI and 11 motorized units. The event serves as a symbol of the unity, organization, and strength of Republika Srpska, and is the central highlight of the celebrations for its most important holiday. The Republika Srpska Day parade is being covered by numerous domestic and international media teams. January 9 is celebrated as Republika Srpska Day because 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.