CVIJANOVIĆ: OPEN A DIALOGUE ON THE SUFFERING OF SERBS BEFORE THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC

BANJA LUKA, JULY 22 /SRNA/ - The Serb member of the BiH Presidency, Željka Cvijanović, supported the international campaign of the Memorial Center of Republika Srpska "Learn About Serbian Suffering," carried out in New York. She pointed out that this represents an appropriate and dignified way to open a dialogue about the suffering of the Serbian people before the international public.

"This is not propaganda, but a way to open the door to the truth, to make it accessible to others, which was not the case before. Many years after the war, we commemorate various sufferings and Serbian victims. However, a black-and-white picture and certain stereotypes have prevailed in the outside world," said Cvijanović. She added that this is an excellent way to present things as they are, allowing the broader international public to realize the severity of the sacrifice made by the Serbian people, as well as all the hardships that followed. "This is a campaign of truth, there is no intimidation, and everything that has been documented is presented both on home turf and in America, specifically in New York. Why would anyone object if you need to show your own victims? For many years, from the war up to the present day, things were unjustly positioned in a way that favored certain victims while neglecting the fact that there are other victims too," Cvijanović emphasized. As she pointed out, pain is equal, sorrow is sorrow, the losses families endure are always losses, and human suffering is always a terrible thing. "I condemn those who do not understand the need for all of us to arrive at the truth and for the outside world to learn it. This is a good way to initiate a story and a dialogue about the suffering in a truthful way that will portray things realistically, where you will present documents and collected materials related to the suffering of the Serbian people," Cvijanović stated. She believes this is a good start and that it should be continued, emphasizing her encouragement for the Memorial Center of Srpska to proceed with its activities. "I also encourage the institutions of Srpska to cooperate with the Center in this regard. The cooperation so far has been good, and I believe it will continue to be so in the coming period. This is an excellent way to introduce a specific topic appropriately, so we can reach a discussion about the actual events that took place in the territory of BiH," said the Serb member of the Presidency. Cvijanović pointed out that Serbian victims deserve the truth, and that it is time for those who have turned a blind eye for years to finally look the suffering of the Serbian people in the face and treat it with respect.