DODIK: SRPSKA MUST HELP SERBIAN RETURNEES

BOSANSKI PETROVAC, SEPTEMBER 9 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik emphasized the importance of Serbs in Bosanski Petrovac being part of the local government through institutions as well as the need for Republika Srpska to increase its presence by supporting Serbian returnees.

Dodik attended the distribution of 56 donation contracts for small livestock to returnees in the Una-Sana Canton, funded by the Office of the President of the Republic. "Republika Srpska must help Serbian returnees in Bosanski Petrovac because they are often overlooked by various federal and cantonal funds," Dodik told reporters. Dodik added that Republika Srpska plans to increase its presence in this area, as the current support consists mostly of small projects. He emphasized the importance of the Serbian community functioning in Bosanski Petrovac in cooperation with Bosniaks to ensure peace. According to him, this demonstrates that, in areas where foreign interference is absent, the relations between the two peoples are much more harmonious and without problems. "Republika Srpska must be far more present here in terms of support for returnees," Dodik stressed, reminding that Republika Srpska had supported the construction of a water supply system in the village of Krnjača in this municipality. Nemanja Davidović, a member of the Management Board of the Center for Support to Returnees in the Una-Sana Canton, has said that after 16 years, the visit of the President of Republika Srpska is significant for the people in this area, marking an important day for them. "We are proud of the fact that returnees can finally say that they feel the President of Republika Srpska as their own and that they can always count on him when facing problems and difficulties," Davidović emphasized. He noted that today's donation would be given to the residents of Bosanski Petrovac and Bosanska Krupa, adding that this is one of many forms of assistance from the President of the Republic. He reminded that Dodik had previously shown understanding by helping farmers with milk subsidies when they were denied support from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, as well as fulfilling the wish of a boy, Miloš Jeličić, by donating a hay baler to him. Zoran Manojlović from Bosanski Petrovac, an unemployed father of three, told reporters that this is the second time he has received assistance from the Center for Support to Returnees in the form of donations of large and small livestock. He expressed gratitude to the President of Republika Srpska for the support.