CALL FOR DIGNIFIED FAREWELL TO GENERAL MLADIĆ

BANJA LUKA, SEPTEMBER 3 /SRNA/ – Slobodan Župljanin, president of the Organization of Senior Officers of the Army of Republika Srpska, expects the authorities of Republika Srpska to contribute to a dignified and civilized farewell to General Ratko Mladić, while doing nothing that could harm Republika Srpska or the Serb people, as that would also have been the general's wish.

"I personally heard him say this several times," Župljanin, who is also president of the Association of Patriots, told SRNA. He said the Serb people understand this well and want to honor that wish, and called on them, as well as members of the united veterans' community, to respect it. "Let us say farewell to our hero in a manner befitting him. We call on everyone to ensure that, on the day of the funeral, church bells ring at all Serbian Orthodox religious sites, candles are lit and memorial services are held," Župljanin said. He also referred to what he described as an enormous outpouring of hatred toward the Serb people following the death of one Serb, saying that such a reaction was unprecedented in the history of human civilization in this region and that such hysteria would bring nothing good to anyone in BiH, while BiH itself would suffer the greatest harm. Župljanin said the farewell should be magnificent and dignified, in a manner he believes General Ratko Mladić and the Serb people deserve. "As always, we will act with the utmost responsibility and patriotism, guided by full respect for the deceased and the protection of the interests of Republika Srpska and the Serb people," Župljanin stressed. He called on members of the veterans' community to gather around the Serbian Orthodox Church on the day of the funeral, whenever it takes place, and bid a dignified farewell to their general, who was convicted by the Hague Tribunal. According to Župljanin, it is evident that the Hague Tribunal is taking its revenge even on General Mladić's dead body, preventing his final farewell and funeral from taking place in a humane and civilized manner, in accordance with Orthodox customs and the deceased's final wishes and those of his family.