BANJALUKA – The Republika Srpska Parliament adopted today a decision to call a referendum on Republika Srpska Day on September 25 in the whole territory of Srpska.The referendum question reads as follows: “Do you support that January 9 be marked and celebrated as Republika Srpska Day?”
The decision will enter into force a day after it is published in the Republika Srpska Official Gazette.
A nine-member commission tasked with conducting the referendum was appointed at the extraordinary session.
Commission president is Sinisa Karan, and members are Dragoljub Reljic, Davor Sesic, Nedeljko Glamocak, Perica Bundalo, Goran Zmijanac, Zdenka Gojkovic, Vojislav Gligic and Milan Petkovic.
Sixty-four MPs voted for the decision to call a referendum, no one of those present was against and no one refrained from voting.
The decision to call a referendum was proposed by the Caucuses of the SNSD, SDS-SRS Republika Srpska, DNS, PDP, SP, NDP, SDS-K, the Progressive Party and independent MP Ilija Stevancevic.
The Republika Srpska Cabinet is tasked with providing funds and technical support for the referendum.
The decision to call a referendum says that the decision of the BiH Constitutional Court of November 26, which was brought at the request of the Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency, Bakir Izetbegovic, and which declared Article 3b) of the Republika Srpska Law on Holidays unconstitutional, is disputable from many aspects.
It explains that the decision of the BiH Constitutional Court is disputable primarily from the legal aspect, and then from the aspect of the legitimacy of the body which brought the decision, from the aspect of the influence of foreign factors and hidden agenda behind such a decision.
The Head of the SNSD Caucus in the Republika Srpska Parliament, Radovan Viskovic, who on behalf of the sponsors explained the decision, expressed satisfaction with the Serbian unity on holding a referendum on Republika Srpska Day.
“The referendum is not directed against anyone, particularly not against Bosniaks and Croats. The Serbian people is protecting its rights and is not jeopardising anyone in BiH,” Viskovic said in Parliament.
He reiterated that marking January 9 – Republika Srpska Day, is of vital interest for the Serbian people.