Dear Presidents of the RS National Assembly and the Government of the Republic of Srpska,

Your Exellencies,

Generals, officers and members of of the BiH Armed Forces,

Esteemed families of perished and missing soldiers of the Republic of Srpska,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This year we mark the 15th anniversary of the Army of the Republic of Srpska and the 2nd anniversary of the 3rd Infantry Regiment ( the Republic of Srpska ) which belongs to the reformed BiH Armed Forces.

In this jubilant mood, it truly is a great pleasure for me to attend this ceremony and address the guests.

First I would like to extend my congratulations.

I express my congratulations on the Day of the Regiment to all members of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, and to all members of the Army of the Republic of Srpska I would like to congratulate their 15th anniversary. This Regiment embodies and fosters tradition, identity and military legacy of the Army of the Republic of Srpska.

Each anniversary, including this one, brings us back to the past, recent or remote history, and gives us necessary reminders.

The Army of the Republic of Srpska was created because Serbian population across the territory of BiH was seriously jeopardized in terms of their survival and national subjectivity. Facing threats and danger, Serbian people created the Army of the Republic of Srpska in 1992, in order to protect themselves and the territory they had inhabited for centuries.

The tragic conflict in BiH claimed many victims among Serbian people, which compels us never to forget that the Republic of Srpska, as a permanent creation, was created with great effort, renunciation and striving of the whole Serbian population, especially members of the Army of the Republic of Srpska.

This obliges us to show constant concern for families of perished and missing soldiers, as well as those who are injured and disabled.

Following the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement, the Army of the Republic of Srpska and other institutions in RS gave a considerable contribution to the implementation of this Agreement, building trust and cooperation between belligerent parties, as well as permanent, sustainable peace in the BiH territory.

As part of general activities aimed at bringing BiH closer to the European Union and Euroatlantic integration, many important and wide-ranging defence reforms  were undertaken in the post-war period, and institutions in the Republic of Srpska framed the concept of these reform processes. The process of reforms was complex, gradual and balanced, and it took vision, commitment and patience of all the people involved in order for the process to be successfully completed.

Taking into account similar experiences of other  post-conflict societies, and the progress that has been achieved so far, we can say that the reform processes have been conducted successfully.

The evidence of this progrees is the accolade that BiH received last year, when it was admitted to NATO PfP programme, which entails new obligations and requires reaching new standards that full membership in NATO implies.

Furthermore, at this moment, units of the BiH Armed Forces among whom are soldiers and officers from the Republic of Srpska, are deployed in joint peacekeeping units in several missions around the world, thus giving necessary contribution to communal safety in the world.

In the process of reform of the BiH Armed Forces we had to reduce military staff drastically, and many individuals lost their jobs and had to change their vocation. This process stil causes social problems, and we are trying to mitigate its consequences by wide-ranging measures of economic and social policies.

The BiH Presidency reached a decision last year declaring 2006 and 2007 the years of reduction of the BiH Armed Forces staff which is considered to be redundant.

As part of the ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of the Army of the Republic of Srpska, and the 2nd anniversary of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, delegations of civil institutions of the Republic of Srpska and BiH, as well as military and soldier organizations, will lay wreaths on monuments dedicated to victims of fascism of World War II, as well as perished soldiers and civilians of the last war in many towns and cities in the Republic of Srpska. Two days ago, on May 9, BiH joined other European countries in celebration of two grand events celebrated simultaneously, not by coincidence: Europe Day and Victory Day. This is a place and time to reiterate that peoples in BiH, especially Serbs, gave a considerable contribution to anti fascist battle during World War II, which built the modern Europe. This is something we must not forget, something that we must constantly repeat as a proof of our European political modernity.

In conclusion, we must not in this solemn moment fail to mention hard and unpleasant truth and facts from the last war that was fought in the BiH territory. The war claimed many victims among different peoples, wrecked the country's economy and impoverished many individuals and families. In this conflict many individuals from different belligerent parties committed war crimes for which they must be prosecuted before competent courts.

It is the only way to ensure sustained peace which will take root and prevent the history from repeating. In such peaceful and prosperous future professional soldiers will be loyal guardians of the country and deserving members of democratic society.

Thank you.

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