OSTOJIĆ: THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE YEARS FOR VETERANS’ RIGHTS

ŠAMAC, OCTOBER 29 /SRNA/ – Republika Srpska Minister of Labour, War Veterans and Disabled Persons Protection Radan Ostojić described this year as one of the most productive in terms of veterans’ rights, noting that legislative solutions had been adopted and that all the progress achieved over the past four years had been secured.

"Over the past four years, the budget has increased from BAM 240 million to around BAM 620 million. It is certain to grow by more than 10 per cent next year, meaning that more than BAM 700 million will be allocated to veterans’ rights next year," Ostojić told SRNA in Pisari, near Šamac. He stressed that the Ministry and other institutions of Republika Srpska would keep working to improve the status of veteran categories, who had made the greatest sacrifices in defending Republika Srpska, without which people would not be living in freedom today. Ostojić said that this year’s budget had increased by BAM 150 million compared with the previous year. He added that a doubled veteran allowance had been introduced for people who were unable to qualify for a pension, a measure that particularly benefits farmers, including himself, stressing that he was especially proud of this solution. "In every war, Serb farmers have made the greatest sacrifices for freedom, and this is one way we have tried to repay them. Those of us working on veteran-disability issues, as well as anyone who can help in any way, must look after the veteran population," Ostojić emphasised. He noted that new challenges lay ahead due to the ageing veteran population and stressed that much more would need to be done in healthcare and spa-based rehabilitation, which was one of the reasons for introducing new legislative solutions. Ostojić stressed that every increase in net wages in Republika Srpska, along with improvements in the status of other social groups, must also lead to an improvement in the position of veterans. "For us veterans, the most important thing is to preserve Republika Srpska. We fought for it, it is essential to our survival. We can achieve this only through the solidarity and unity we demonstrated during the Defensive-Patriotic War, we must preserve that unity," Ostojić said.