Analyzing all our mistakes, ten years ago we made an agreement that despite all differences or mutual relations, our people should not suffer and that in Serbia, nothing bad should ever be said about Republika Srpska and vice versa. We often felt ashamed of our people from Krajina, to the point where we always had something to say about those on the other side of the Drina. I am proud to have been born in Belgrade, but you have never heard me say that I am better or greater because of it; I have always felt like a Serb from across the Drina," said Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic after the joint session of the two governments, Serbia and the Bosnian entity Republika Srpska, which marked the beginning of the First All Serb Assembly.

Vucic addressed the situation in Kosovo at the outset, stating that he would never allow Serbia to lose its identity and “Serbian statehood, no matter how difficult it may be.”

He added that it was not hard to predict global events when “force meets force” and that the events in Ukraine are leading Serbia into catastrophe.

Serbs: Champions in 20th-century wars

“We are probably the champions in the number of wars fought in the 20th century. The greatest Serbian interest is the preservation of peace,” Vucic said, concluding that dialogue is the only method to reach a solution between Serbia and Albania, emphasizing “there is no other solution except to respect agreements, establish the Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM), and everything else.”

“In the Declaration, words were carefully chosen. We considered certain demands of Republika Srpska because we believe in unity; we accepted it because we cannot be the ones telling the people of Republika Srpska that we know better than they do what their problems are,” Vucic stressed.

“To those who asked for the Declaration not to be adopted, do not worry, I stood firm. The Serbian national interest, which we discussed, includes the economy. We called it EXPO 27, the economic progress of every one of our people in Serbia and Republika Srpska is vital for all of us and that gives us strength,” he said.

On the Srebrenica Genocide Resolution

Vucic also spoke about the Resolution on the Srebrenica Genocide.

“We were under heavy pressure regarding Kosovo in the Council of Europe, where they have fulfilled nothing from the agreements, and regarding the adoption of the Resolution on Srebrenica, which was a place of horrific and dreadful events, which we condemn. But we never received an answer to one question – if a general resolution on genocides worldwide was adopted in 2015, why was a specific one needed nine years later? Another question is whether this Resolution brought reconciliation in Bosnia and Herzegovina or the region? It did not, so why was it adopted?” the Serbian President asked.

He concluded that this was to provoke conflicts and to allow “peacemakers from the world to come and impose rules that suit them.”

Vucic emphasized that the Declaration contains no words about separation, noting that “I do not want to get into internal problems,” and expressed hope that Republika Srpska would resolve its issues peacefully.

“This Declaration refers to Dayton, and as far as I am concerned, we do not even need to hold this conference because we will say most of it now. We refer to Dayton, we know clearly that we signed it, not as a passerby but as a guarantor, and they will tell us, you are not a guarantor,” Vucic said.

Dodik: Reaffirming Serbian national interest

President of Bosnia's Republika Srpska entity Milorad Dodik stated that the Declaration to be adopted “rehabilitates the Serbian national interest and that everyone will be proud of its adoption.”

Dodik reiterated that he would not give up on having February 15 recognized as both the Day of Republika Srpska and January 9 as the Day of Republika Srpska’s creation.

“The Declaration is essentially a national document, providing answers to many challenges and outlining what needs to be done in the future,” Dodik said at the joint session of the governments of Serbia and Republika Srpska.

Dodik believes that only the Serbian state and national interest have no alternative.

“The Declaration encompasses all important aspects of our relations,” Dodik said.

Dodik highlighted that the Declaration would be adopted by both the assemblies of Republika Srpska and Serbia and addresses positions and responses to the most current issues.

“Some will think it is not good, but today we are in a time when there is no hesitation,” Dodik said, emphasizing the need for the Serbian people to restore their strength.

“This Assembly connects us to what Emperor Dusan did when he proclaimed what is important to us; that we must unite around the challenges facing us. The Declaration encompasses all important aspects of our relations.”

“Together we will mark February 15 as the Day of Republika Srpska, but we will remain committed to the fact that Republika Srpska was established on January 9,” Dodik said.