CVIJANOVIĆ: CHRISTMAS REMINDS US OF FUNDAMENTAL VALUES INDISPENSABLE ON CHRIST’S PATH

EAST SARAJEVO, JANUARY 11 /SRNA/ - Serb BiH Presidency member Željka Cvijanović points out that the birth of the Bethlehem baby Jesus Christ is a main event in the history of mankind, which illuminated human race on that day by the light of salvation that is as bright as at the beginning after more than two millennium, directing us to the only correct path that Christ traced for us.

Addressing the guests at the traditional Christmas reception in the Administrative Centre of the Republika Srpska Government in East Sarajevo, Cvijanović said that values such as love, tolerance, mercy, solidarity, philanthropy transcend the boundaries of one religion or culture. "They are common to different cultures and peoples living in all parts of the world, regardless of skin colour or religious and national affiliation. The affirmation of these values is key to the progress and prosperity of multinational and multi-confessional communities such as BiH," emphasized Cvijanović. She says it is no secret that the peoples living in this area have different views on the past, the present, and the future. According to her, in many circles inside and outside BiH, two wrong beliefs pravail, one of which is particularly harmful. "The first is that identity differences can be erased by turning multiple identities into one and that the will of one people is possible to annul; the second mistaken belief is that all this can be done by a decree, imposition, force, breaking things," Cvijanović emphasized. Despite the fact of such a disastrous approach only creating new problems, and instead of solving existing ones, Cvijanović points out, unfortunately, it is still not giving up. "I deeply believe that the fate of BiH lies in the hands of its people and citizens and that problems can be overcome with the dedicated work, partnership and cooperation of its institutions at all levels of government without the intention of usurping or stealing something from someone. I also believe that we who live here and the institutions we have should make decisions, create, implement and manage processes that will benefit the citizens of Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH," stated Cvijanović. If the sin is that we don't want internationals to decide on BiH, but the peoples who live in it, she said, then we accept the blame, but not the fact that we live in a colony in the 21st century. As for Republika Srpska, she pointed out, the hand was always extended for dialogue with partners from the Federation of BiH, and it is the same today.