ASSOCIATION OF PATRIOTS ESTABLISHED, ŽUPLJANIN ELECTED PRESIDENT

BANJA LUKA, MARCH 23 /SRNA/ - The Association of Patriots of Republika Srpska was established today in Banja Luka, with Slobodan Župljanin as its president, and its aim is to preserve values important to Republika Srpska through the joint action of multiple associations and representatives of the academic community.

Župljanin said that representatives of organizations stemming from the Defensive-Patriotic War and the academic community have been working for more than a year on establishing the association of patriots as a subject/entity whose main goal is to build, expand, and strengthen a broad front of patriotic forces to defend Republika Srpska. He stated that the founding assembly was held today and that anyone who considers themselves a patriot can join the Association. "A certain number of associations and individuals have already joined the Association, but it is open to everyone, both organizations and individuals, while all retain their individual identity. We want to strengthen the overall patriotic potential," Slobodan Župljanin explained. Their goal, as he elaborated, is to preserve what was defended during the war, as well as to safeguard what the people and the authorities have been developing over time. According to him, the concept of the Association is that anyone who considers themselves a patriot can join. SNSD President Milorad Dodik supported the establishment of the Association, assessing that it is needed in Republika Srpska as it will bring together patriots from all social and political structures. He emphasized that Republika Srpska should strengthen itself, which means more patriotism, more Christianity, and more Orthodoxy in every concrete endeavor. "Whether you are a politician, a journalist, a healthcare worker, whatever you do, patriotism is the keyword in the time ahead. Serious nations have armed themselves with patriotism and preserve their stability that way. Republika Srpska and the Serb people must strengthen patriotism to defend themselves," Dodik concluded. The Prime Minister of Republika Srpska Savo Minić said that the Association will function in such a way that all organizations stemming from the war will provide ideas, proposals, and solutions of importance for national identity.