PRIVATE AND CHURCH PROPERTY MUST RECEIVE EQUAL PROTECTION

BANJA LUKA, JULY 28 /SRNA/ - The Ministers of Justice of Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH /FBiH/, Goran Selak and Vedran Škobić, respectively, stressed today that the protection of private and church property, as well as respect for fundamental human rights, must be equal for all citizens, regardless of which entity they live in.

At a meeting in Banja Luka, they discussed the protection of the property rights of Serbs in the FBiH, with particular focus on the current case involving the property of the Serbian Orthodox Church /SOC/ in Bugojno. Selak and Škobić agreed that regular coordination, mutual respect, and good cooperation between institutions are crucial for finding lasting solutions, the Ministry of Justice of Republika Srpska said in a statement. Selak said that Republika Srpska has an obligation to protect the property of the Islamic Community and the Catholic Church, but also a duty to institutionally protect the rights of the Serbian people and the SOC in accordance with the Constitution and applicable laws. They stressed that all future steps must be based on dialogue rather than conflict, and expressed their commitment to continuing talks with the aim of resolving all outstanding issues and protecting the rights of all peoples throughout the territory of BiH.