Authorities of the Republika Srpska (RS), Bosnia's Serb-dominated entity, have approved the amount of some EUR 115,000 for reconstruction of nine Catholic churches and parish offices that were destroyed in the 1990's conflict, a ministry said on Friday.

RS Minister for Refugees and Displaced Persons Davor Cordas signed agreements for the reconstruction of religious buildings with representatives of parish offices in the municipalities of Brod, Modrica, Pelagicevo, Doboj, Kotor Varos and Banja Luka, as well as the Franciscan monastery in Petricevac.

The reconstruction projects are carried out within a programme of solving the issues of displaced persons, returnees and refugees in 2018.

“Recovery of religious buildings in the places of return is an important part of the sustainable return. It is of utmost importance to ensure conditions for returnees, not only for their return to the homes but for them to stay there, and we will continue providing support to the religious communities,” said Cordas.

In the first seven months of 2018, the RS Government earmarked some EUR 300,000 for the renewal of Catholic, Muslim and Orthodox religious buildings in this and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), the entity dominated by Bosniaks and Croats.