SERBIAN GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE ADEQUATE TO NATIONAL GOALS OF PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DRINA

ROGATICA, SEPTEMBER 29 /SRNA/ - The Serbian Minister for Family Care and Demography, Milica Đurđević Stamenkovski, said during her visit to Rogatica that the Government of Serbia's attitude towards Republika Srpska has changed in the best possible way and is adequate to the needs of the Serbian people in Srpska and the national goals of the Serbian people on both sides of the Drina River.

"These are unity, solidarity, harmony, mutual understanding, and the need to get to know each other better," Đurđević Stamenkovski told reporters after meeting with the mayor of Rogatica, Milorad Jagodić, and the president of the municipal assembly, Ninoslav Prelić. She noted that she was informed during the meeting that she is the first minister from the Government of Serbia to make an official visit to Rogatica. "I am in Rogatica for the first time, and it is especially a pleasure for me that it is a small municipality because every inch of Republika Srpska is precious and very significant. As a minister in the Government of Serbia, but also as a citizen of Serbia and a Serbian woman, I feel a moral obligation to stand by my people on both sides of the Drina, especially during the hardship," said the Minister for Family Care and Demography. According to her, Republika Srpska has been facing difficulties for decades, and yearning for support and help, looking towards Serbia as a motherland, a beacon of freedom, and the side from which an outstretched hand should come. "It is a pleasure for me that with the All-Serbian Assembly and the Declaration that has been adopted, we have established that Serbia has extended its hand and that we have embraced each other as brothers," she said. She noted that throughout history, there has never been a lack of attempts to divide and sow discord among the Serbian people, but there has never been such unity as today. "There have always been divisions, attempts to sow discord among us, to create boundaries between us, it is a characteristic of all eras and centuries. However, such unity as we have today makes me believe that we are the generation that has had the strength to recognize how important it is to promote national unity between Serbia and Republika Srpska in the 21st century," she emphasized. Đurđević Stamenkovski reminded that the slogan of the Ministry she leads, announced during the All-Serbian Assembly, was that "Serbia and Srpska are one family." She emphasized that Serbia and Srpska face the task of ensuring that children are born on both sides of the Drina River and that families get to know each other. "Children from Serbia should get to know Republika Srpska and learn where Rogatica is located, how these regions look, and which roads connect them. Likewise, children from Rogatica should get to know Serbia and learn what the homeland they have heard about from their parents looks like," she said. In support of this, Đurđević Stamenkovski has said that an invitation has been extended to representatives of associations working to promote the economic empowerment of women, as well as to preserve traditional values, to visit Belgrade and municipalities throughout Serbia. She noted that the municipality of Rogatica should participate in organizing the "Days of Family" in Višegrad in 2025, not only due to its geographical proximity but also because of the good incentive measures Rogatica has in the field of population policy. "The municipality of Rogatica should take a significant role in the organization because it truly has much to present," said Đurđević Stamenkovski. She sent a message to the local community representatives that she is ready to work on joint projects, to reduce waiting lists for kindergartens, to help Rogatica become family-friendly, build houses and apartments, and create an environment where families will grow and envision their future here. "I wish for your municipality to have more residents next year, that children be born. The campaign is ongoing, and as a minister in the Government of Serbia, I cannot help but notice that the municipality has made progress in the past period. My desire is for this to continue and for you to maintain the team that has been good, has gathered people who truly care about Rogatica and that has something to offer to this local community," said Đurđević Stamenkovski.