KARAN: SARAJEVO SERBS' EXODUS ONE OF THE HARDEST AND MOST HEARTBREAKING CHAPTERS OF MODERN SERB HISTORY

BANJA LUKA, MARCH 16 /SRNA/ – On the occasion of marking the 30th anniversary of the exodus of Sarajevo Serbs, Republika Srpska President Siniša Karan stated that it was an event of epic proportions and one of the most difficult and most heartbreaking chapters of modern Serb history.

Karan emphasized that the exodus from the Serb-controlled municipalities of Sarajevo in 1996 was an unprecedented tragedy for an entire people who had built and shaped Sarajevo for centuries, but were ultimately forced to leave their homes and memories. "Between 120,000 and 150,000 Serbs left Sarajevo those days. This was not a random departure of individuals, but an exodus of an entire people who were leaving their houses, streets, schools, churches and the graves of their ancestors. It was not only that generation of Serbs that suffered in that tragedy – the entire history of a people in that area suffered," Karan pointed out. The president of Republika Srpska recalled that one of the most heartbreaking images of that time was the transfer of the remains of the beloved ones, as Serbs were not sure that even the graves of their ancestors would be preserved and allowed to rest in peace. "During those days, the Serb people carried with them the bones of their loved ones, because they could not leave behind the graves of their ancestors. These images remain a lasting testimony to the suffering and pain, but also to the dignity of a people who, even in the most difficult moments, preserved the memory of their forefathers," Karan emphasized. Karan says it is the duty of the Republika Srpska institutions to preserve the memory of the exodus of Sarajevo Serbs and to pass on the truth about those events to future generations. "Republika Srpska was created as an expression of the Serb people's will to live freely and safely on their land. Remembering the exodus of Sarajevo Serbs reminds us how dearly our freedom was paid for and how important it is to preserve Republika Srpska, its institutions, and the right of our people to decide their own future," Karan stressed. He added that the suffering and sacrifice of the Sarajevo Serbs remain permanently recorded in the history of Republika Srpska and the Serb people, and that the Republika Srpska institutions will continue to nurture a culture of remembrance and respect for all victims. "The exodus of Sarajevo Serbs has become a pledge to remember, to safeguard our freedom and to never allow a similar tragedy to happen again," said President of Republika Srpska Siniša Karan.