KARAN: PALACE OF THE REPUBLIC SYMBOLIZES INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTH OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

BANJA LUKA, OCTOBER 3 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska President Siniša Karan said today in Banja Luka that the Palace of the Republic is not merely a building that preserves the memory of the past, but a symbol of the institutional strength of Republika Srpska and a clear sign that this country, like its Palace, was built to endure.

Karan said that the exhibition “Through the Gates of Time – From the Mortgage Bank to the Palace of the Republic” marks an important anniversary: 90 years since the construction of the Palace of the Republic, a building that throughout its long history has become one of the recognizable symbols of Banja Luka and Republika Srpska. "This is a story about a time and its people, about the city and its development, as well as about the institutions that, through different eras, have left their mark on its life," Karan said at the opening of the exhibition in front of the Palace of the Republic. According to him, for nine decades the Palace has stood in the heart of Banjaluka, bearing witness to historical changes and different state and social systems. He also stressed that the Palace bears witness to the development of the city, which during the 20th century grew into the largest city in Republika Srpska and its administrative, political, cultural, university and economic centre. "Together with other representative buildings, the Palace is part of an architectural ensemble that marked one of the most significant stages in the city’s development and shaped its distinctive character. It was a time when Banja Luka was gaining monumental public buildings and the foundations of a modern urban centre," Karan said. Karan said that the Palace of the Republic can therefore be seen as a meeting place between Banja Luka’s past and present. "Its value lies not only in its architecture, columns and sculptures, which give it a distinctive beauty. It also lies in the story this building carries — a story of the city’s development, architectural heritage, institutions and generations who worked and created here," Karan said. Karan added that the Palace of the Republic now has a special place in the institutional life of Republika Srpska, but that its significance goes beyond its present-day function. "It has survived changes of eras and systems, historical upheavals, and today it is a symbol of the sovereignty, strength and power of Republika Srpska as the seat of the institution of the President of Republika Srpska. Its threshold is crossed by friends of Republika Srpska, statesmen and delegations from around the world, as it is a place where Republika Srpska presents itself as a serious, dignified and steadfast actor. Messages about our freedom, our statehood and our determination to survive and endure are sent from the Palace," Karan said. That is why, Karan added, today it is not merely a building that preserves the memory of the past, but a symbol of the institutional strength of Republika Srpska and a clear sign that this country, like its Palace, was built to endure. Karan said that 90 years of a building’s existence speaks to its durability, but also to the way a society relates to its own heritage. "With respect, we remember today the generations who designed, built and preserved the Palace. Their work obliges us to preserve and enhance this building and pass it on with dignity to those who come after us. Our attitude towards our cultural and architectural heritage is not merely an attitude towards the past; it is an attitude towards our own identity and the future," Karan said. He noted that the exhibition is an opportunity to remind ourselves where we come from, preserve the memory of the time in which the Palace was built, and reflect on how a building, together with its people, has passed through decades of history. "May the Palace of the Republic remain, in the years to come, a symbol of our statehood and a place that connects history and the present, heritage and development, tradition and the future," Karan said. Citizens will be able to view the exhibition in front of the Republic Palace over the weekend, after which it will be on display at the Gallery of the Academy of Sciences and Arts from Monday to Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. to noon.