August 05
President Kuzmanović opened the 3rd International Festival of Folklore "Rhythm of Europe" in Bijeljina

The President of the Republic of Srpska Dr. Rajko Kuzmanović solemnly opened the 3rd International Festival of Folklore "Rhythm of Europe" that was held at the city square in Bijeljina. Talking to the present people, the President Kuzmanović said that with this parade we enrich spiritual space and contribute to the cultural welfare, firstly in the Republic of Srpska and then in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Europe.

The President Kuzmanović emphasized that this manifestation confirms that songs and dance came back to the streets of the Republic of Srpska, there are smiles on people`s faces again and there is peace, creation and full liberty as well. The President therefore sent a message to the participants of this manifestation to take the truth about this region on their way back to their homelands.

This is how the place of the Republic of Srpska in the frame of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be confirmed once again in the community of the European peoples. It also confirms that it is a stable and secure place because there is now more unity between us, more respect and trust in material, cultural, spiritual and civilization prosperity.

Therefore, we decided to make it more secure and make it a comfortable ambience for life of all those people who accept it as a real and constant category as well as with the shield of their traditional and cultural interests and values, said the President Kuzmanović.

Folklore Assemblies from Bulgaria, France, Romania, Hungary, Serbia, Belgium and Bosnia and Herzegovina took part in the Third International Festival of Folklore in Bijeljina.

August 04
President Kuzmanović met the Ambassador of Germany to Bosnia and Herzegovina

The President of the Republic of Srpska Dr. Rajko Kuzmanović met the newly elected Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Bosnia and Herzegovina Joachim Schmidt and new Head of the German Embassy Office in Banja Luka Bruno Brommer.

The President Kuzmanović briefed his collocutors with political and economic situation in the Republic of Srpska that is a more stable and more functional part of Bosnia and Herzegovina where rights of all constitutive peoples and citizens are utterly respected.

The President of the Republic emphasized the Anti-Dayton constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a complex state`s community of two equal entities. Such constitutional solutions based on the Dayton Peace Agreement appeared as very positive and they do not represent any kind of obstacle to the further development of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but are a guarantee of its existence, said the President Kuzmanović.

The Republic of Srpska is devoted to the economic development, solving of citizens` life issues and fulfilling of commitments that are provided by signing the Agreement on Stabilization and Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the European Union.

In that sense, the Republic of Srpska will put all its capacities and make all efforts for the European perspective of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but at the same time its constitutional position and its authorities as a constitutional part of Bosnia and Herzegovina must be fully respected.

The Ambassador Schmidt stated that previous economic and cultural cooperation between Germany and Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Srpska was successful and he therefore expressed his conviction that this cooperation will be stepped up in the future.

July 30
President Kuzmanović congratulated 65th Anniversary of "Glas Srpske"

The President of the Republic of Srpska Dr.Rajko Kuzmanović congratulated 65th anniversary to Boris Dmitrašinović and to all people employed in the "Glas Srpske"and therefore wished them a lot of success in their future work.

"Glas Srpske" is a newspaper with long and respectable tradition that gained readers` trust thanks to its professional, objective and timely informing.

"I am convinced that with present staff and technical capacities "Glas Srpske" can respond to the demands of contemporary journalism and graphical design and for that reason there is a secure future awaiting your newspaper", it was stated in the congratulation of the President Kuzmanović.

The President of the Republic of Srpska Dr. Rajko Kuzmanović sends a message that all people who are accused of war crimes, as well as detained Radovan Karadžić, must be bring to the organs of justice who are competent to determine someone`s individual either guilt or innocence.

Principal attitude of the Republic of Srpska is that all people who are accused must be bring to the trial, regardless of their nationality or their position and that is the reason why we expect from the Hague Tribunal and domestic organs of justice to insist on arrest and processing of all people who are responsible for crimes committed over Serbs and then trust of Serbian people would be brought back to those institutions, and justice would be completely fulfilled.

The President Kuzmanović is of an opinion that the arrest of Radovan Karadžić clearly confirms the statements of the Republic of Srpska representatives that he was not situated on the territory of the Republic of Srpska. For that reason we expect reduction of pressure on the organs and institutions of the Republic of Srspka and at the same time of the Republic of Serbia.

At the same time, the President Kuzmanović sees statements of some politicians from Sarajevo as malicious and tendentious because they try to use this arrest of Radovan Karažić to question the position and the status of the Republic of Srpska as a permanent constitutional category in the frame of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Republic of Srpska, as a constitutional unit in the frame of Bosnia and Herzegovina, arose by the will of Serbian people and legal and legitimate acts of its institutions and that was confirmed by the Dayton Peace Accord which is an agreement of international legal power.

For that reason the President of the Republic sends a message to the citizens to stay calm because position and authorities of the Republic, after this arrest, will not and cannot be questioned by anyone.

July 14
President of the Republic presented orders for five persons

On the occasion of Vidovdan, Patron Saint`s Day of the Army of the Republic of Srpska and the celebration of anniversary of homeland wars, the President of the Republic of Srpska Dr. Rajko Kuzmanović presented orders to the following people:

Branislav Dukić president of the Alliance of detainees of the Republic of Srpska and to Gojko Knežević president of the association of former detainees from the Second World War by the Orders of Honour with golden rays for their efforts in affirmation of human rights and tolerance between peoples, rule of law and freedom as well as for their contribution in strengthening of the Republic of Srpska`s reputation;

Risto Masleša, retired worker of the Railroads of the Republic of Srpska by the Order of Miloš Obilić, for his personal bravery and self-sacrifice by saving peoples` lives and material goods in dangerous situations;

Smilja and Milan Vidović, humanists who donated organs of their son who lost his life in the car accident, by the Order of the Cross of Charity for special merits in humanity and sacrifice in special situations of saving human lives.

Austrian writer Peter Handke, who was decorated by the Order of Njegoš of the first class, for his work and merits for cultural and spiritual development as well as for special merits on the field of public activities that contribute to the general development of the Republic of Srpska, was not able to attend the solemn presenting of the Orders and will be presented afterwards.

By presenting orders, the President Kuzmanović emphasized that the decision that those persons should be given awards represents the act of gratitude, regards and respect of the institutions and citizens of the Republic of Srpska and therefore added that their acts should be examples and encouragement of how to act in accordance with moral and ethical principles and rules of humanity in difficult moments and temptations that life places before us.

The President of the Republic of Srpska Dr. Rajko Kuzmanović decisively rejects all statements from the letter of the Chair to the BiH Presidency Haris Silajdžić that was sent to the High Representative with demand to take measures against the Republic of Srpska for supposed separatist activities.

This letter that is based on false, malicious and blanket statements represents only a continuation of Silajdžić’s instigated and political rhetoric directed against the Dayton Peace Accord, the Republic of Srpska`s position and competence within the constitutional organization of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

War leader, Haris Silajdžić, still lives in the atmosphere of war conflicts, unrealized fundamental aims proclaimed by "Islamic declaration" and unconstitutional and illegitimate decisions of prewar Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina that discriminated Serbian people. Such politics surely leads to causing new national and religious conflicts. His retrograde activities obviously exceed aims of pre-election campaign, showing his indifference and disability to deal with problems of the citizens of this country. Such Silajdžić’s and like-minded persons politics cannot disturb an accomplished stability of the Republic of Srpska whose citizens and politicians realized long time ago that their final aim is actually unitary Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as over voting of Serbian people.

In the previous period, the Republic of Srpska, as more stable and better arranged part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has shown its devotion to the rule of law and to economic and social development. The crown of such politics is mirrored by constructive approach on the path towards the European Integration that has led to the signing of the Agreement on Stabilization and Association with the European Union.

Although claiming that in Bosnia and Herzegovina a positive atmosphere has been created after the signing of the Agreement on Stabilization and Association with the European Union, Silajdžić’s letter has been inspired with the unrealized war aims and it represents an attempt of violation of such atmosphere.

We decisively send a message that Bosnia and Herzegovina is only possible as a complex state community based on the Dayton Peace Accord, by preserving equality of the Republic of Srpska that in the existing frames independently deals with its constituent, legislative, execution and court functions.

President of the Republic met Klaus Wendelberger on his farewell visit

Today, the President of the Republic of Srpska Dr. Rajko Kuzmanović met Klaus Wendelberger, head of the Embassy of the Republic of Germany, on his farewell visit.

The President of the Republic thanked Klaus Wendelberger on his efforts and engagement and therefore wished him personal and professional success in his future work.

The President Kuzmanović emphasized that the Republic of Srpska is a stable factor in Bosnia and Herzegovina and that it is clearly determined towards economic and social development.

In the future, Bosnia and Herzegovina can function and become a member of the European Union only as a complex country with functional state institutions where competences of the entity cannot be devaluated and where all three constitutive peoples will be equal and at the same time they will be respected together with their differences, and would keep their own identity, it was emphasized by the President Kuzmanović.

At the same time, the President Kuzmanović stressed the importance of respect and protection of the Dayton Peace Accord as a permanent basis for constitutional reforms that must be preceded by settlement of a complex arrangement of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Head of the German Embassy Office Klaus Wendelberger emphasized that after two years of work he will have good memories related to the people in the Republic of Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina, but he also stressed that the basis of success and development of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a young country, is development of its own economy.

July 08
President of the Republic of Srpska sent congratulations to the newly elected Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia

President of the Republic of Srpska Dr. Rajko Kuzmanović sent congratulations to the newly elected Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Mirko Cvetković.

"I am convinced that you will lead a consistent and responsible politics that will preserve national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, political stability and economic improvement of Serbia. I expect that, according to the Agreement on Special and Parallel Relations of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska, we shall continue our successful cooperation and strengthening of aggregative relations that are of a benefit of all citizens and peoples of the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia", it was stated in the congratulation of the President Kuzmanović.