BJELICA: TRNOVO FOCUSED ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND PRO-NATAL POLICIES

TRNOVO, JULY 9 /SRNA/ – Trnovo Mayor Miroslav Bjelica said the period between the last two celebrations of Petrovdan has been a dynamic one for the municipality, marked by significant infrastructure investment, while highlighting pro-natality measures as one of the local administration's greatest achievements.

"We provide BAM 4,000 for the first child, BAM 6,000 for the second and BAM 10,000 for the third, and that is something we are proud of. We have invested heavily in infrastructure projects, one of the largest being the purchase of the access road to Snježna Dolina on Jahorina, which has opened up that area for new investment," Bjelica told reporters. He also said the municipality had purchased office space for the municipal administration on Jahorina, which will serve as a contact point with the Olympic Center and other institutions operating on the mountain. "The Republika Srpska Government provided BAM 400,000 for the purchase of these premises, while the City of Istočno Sarajevo contributed BAM 300,000," Bjelica said, announcing further investments in the coming period. He added that the municipality had received BAM 813,000 from the Republika Srpska Government for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Rajski Do-Prosina water supply system, which will improve water services. "We expect to take possession of our industrial zone by the end of the year, where we see a major opportunity for the development of the local community," Bjelica stressed. He noted that Petrovdan holds multiple significance for Trnovo. "It is our patron saint's day and Municipal Day, and also the day we returned to our homes in Trnovo and started over. We first rebuilt our church and then our homes under almost impossible conditions, after 70 percent of the municipality's housing and economic infrastructure had been destroyed," Bjelica said. He added that Trnovo had made a great sacrifice for the foundations of Republika Srpska, losing 13 percent of its pre-war Serb population. "We lost 101 civilians and 130 soldiers. Of the 101 civilians, 60 were women and five were children, and no one has ever been held accountable for those crimes," Bjelica said. Trnovo Municipal Assembly Speaker Siniša Golijanin said that 14 assembly sessions had been held over the past year, during which numerous decisions were adopted on projects aimed at improving residents' quality of life. Golijanin stressed that the local authorities are committed to providing the best possible living conditions for the municipality's residents. He noted that numerous infrastructure projects had been completed since the previous Petrovdan and expressed hope that, with the support of the Republika Srpska Government, the issue of the Istočno Sarajevo–Foča road connection would soon be resolved. "That is our priority because when this road is fully operational, between 4,000 and 5,000 vehicles pass through Trnovo every day," Golijanin said, adding that the route is vital for the municipality's economic development. He also said Trnovo was one of the municipalities that suffered the most during the last war and lamented that no one has yet been held accountable for what he described as those atrocities. "We hope that the BiH Prosecutor's Office and all competent institutions will make every effort to ensure justice is served so that the Serb victims may finally find peace," Golijanin pointed out. A ceremonial academy marking Petrovdan, the patron saint's day of the Municipality of Trnovo, was held this evening, during which awards were presented to deserving individuals, institutions and organizations. His Eminence Metropolitan Hrizostom of Dabar-Bosnia will celebrate the Divine Hierarchical Liturgy on Sunday, July 12, at the Church of St. George the Great Martyr to mark Petrovdan, the patron saint's day of the Municipality of Trnovo.