MACUT: FLIGHT BAN IS REGRETTABLE, WILL NOT PREVENT ME FROM COMING TO BANJA LUKA

BELGRADE, SEPTEMBER 14 /SRNA/ - Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Macut told SRNA that the ban on his aircraft flying over BiH will not prevent him from attending tonight’s observance of Serbian Unity, Freedom and National Flag Day in Banja Luka, describing the ban as regrettable.

Macut stressed that, in 21st-century Europe, it is inappropriate to try to use administrative measures to prevent someone from attending a celebration of a holiday that threatens no one and is directed against no one. "Precisely such moves are what set the entire region back, not holidays on which we celebrate our unity, freedom, history and flag, while at the same time respecting everyone else and their right to preserve their name, identity and tradition," Macut said. He said that such decisions can only cause regret and say much more about those who make them than about us. "If I could not come by plane, I will go to Banja Luka by car. It is important to me to be with our people and to mark Serbian Unity, Freedom and National Flag Day together, with dignity and in peace," Macut said. He stressed that Serbia will not respond by raising tensions, but will continue to extend a hand of cooperation and respect civilisational standards of freedom of movement and good-neighbourly relations. "Serbia will respect others, but it will also preserve and respect what is its own," Macut concluded.