CITY STATUS SET TO BRING INVESTMENT, BOOST ECONOMY AND KEEP YOUTH

FOČA, APRIL 17 /SRNA/ – Granting city status to Foča will not be just a formal change, but a strategic turning point that will bring new investments, strengthen the economy and improve the standard of living for every citizen, Mayor Milan Vukadinović said.

Vukadinović emphasized that today's decision by the Republika Srpska Government, which is awaiting confirmation by the National Assembly, represents far more than a new sign at the city entrance, noting that it corrects a historical injustice toward this municipality, as there is no larger or more significant center in that part of Republika Srpska. City status, he said, will provide a stronger negotiating position with the Government for the urgent rehabilitation of what he described as the "chronic problem" of the region - main roads leading to Sarajevo, Montenegro, and Herzegovina. “We will insist that these access roads be improved, which I sincerely expect through cooperation with this Government and the current Prime Minister, who have shown respect for Foča by including this law on city status in an urgent procedure,” Vukadinović said. As a city, he added, Foča will seek higher revenues to be directly invested in infrastructure and services, while projects it proposes will receive more points and stand a better chance with international donors. “We will insist on securing higher budget revenues. When applying for international and other projects, we will have a greater advantage. We will also insist that Foča obtains all republic-level institutions that other cities in Republika Srpska have and by acquiring city status, we gain the formal legal grounds to request this,” Vukadinović said. Mayor Vukadinović stressed that city status also brings responsibility for all citizens, noting that a shift in public awareness is necessary. “If we are a city, we must behave like one. We must address our shortcomings, protect the environment, and make Foča cleaner and more orderly for all of us,” the mayor of Foča emphasized. He explained that this "historic step" is the result of a comprehensive study prepared with the participation of local experts, university deans, public companies, institutions and non-governmental organizations. He emphasized that this recognition is not merely a formality, but the result of joint efforts positioning Foča as a modern, developed, strong, and indispensable center of Republika Srpska. The Republika Srpska Government today adopted, under urgent procedure, the Draft Law on the City of Foča, regulating its territory, competencies, governing bodies and financing.