Wreaths and flowers were laid today in the "Kozara" Barracks in Banja Luka to commemorate May 12 - the Day of the Republika Srpska Army (VRS) and the Third Infantry (Republika Srpska) Regiment of the BiH Armed Forces.

On behalf of the Republika Srpska (RS) entity institution, the wreath was placed by the RS President, Milorad Dodik, accompanied by the National Assembly Speaker Nenad Stevandic, RS Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic and the representative of the Serb member of the BiH Presidency, Zeljka Cvijanovic.

A delegation from Serbia’s Ministry of Defence and Serbian Army also laid a wreath.

Milorad Dodik repeated that the formation of the VRS was a way of defending the freedom of the Serb people. He criticized the courts that tried people “who honourably stood up for the defence of their people.”

“I am not happy that the VRS was abolished and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina were created, it was not something that was wanted, but something that had to be done. Members of the 3rd RS Regiment are always the RS Army for us,” said Dodik.

He added that the RS believed in the Dayton Agreement, but that it was ruined, and that the spirit of Dayton was not respected.

“BiH is not our country. Our country is Serbia and the RS. We are fighting to support Serbian sports teams freely, which is presented as heresy here,” Dodik said, adding that “the BiH level will never decide on the immovable property. There is no freedom for Serbs without the RS.”