The Serbs have always been on the right side of history, as evidenced by their decision on January 9, 1992, before the outbreak of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, to establish their state—Republika Srpska—based on the principle of self-determination under the UN Charter, emphasized legal expert Slavko Mitrović.
“That decision was in line with Annex Four, the Dayton Constitution of BiH, which stipulates that ‘all laws and regulations in force on the territory of BiH when the Constitution comes into effect shall remain valid to the extent they are not inconsistent with the Constitution,'” Mitrović wrote in his column for Glas Srpske.
He noted that the Law on Holidays and Celebrations, adopted by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska on December 17, 1992, remains in effect. This law established January 9 as Republic Day, a date that has been celebrated since 1993 depending on wartime conditions.
“After the war, the celebrations included formal academies, the awarding of honors, and commemorations of battles and sacrifices during the Defensive Homeland War. Guests came from across BiH and the region, including foreign diplomats, friends, and statesmen. At the time, this posed no issue for Bosniaks, Croats, the Federation of BiH, or foreign ambassadors,” Mitrović recalled.
He argued that holidays in Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH clearly reflect their identities and values.
“Republika Srpska, as the state of the Serb people and all who live within it, has designated January 9, 1992, as its foundation day, reflecting the plebiscite of the Serb people held on November 9 and 10, 1991. This decision was grounded in the right to self-determination under the UN Charter and the then-valid Constitution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which recognized the right of Yugoslav peoples—not its republics—to self-determination, including secession,” Mitrović wrote.
He pointed out that other significant holidays for the Serb people and Republika Srpska include November 21, marking the signing of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in BiH, and May 9, celebrated as Victory Day over Fascism and also referred to by some as Europe Day.
Mitrović highlighted that in the Federation of BiH, specifically among Bosniaks, November 21 (the Dayton signing date) and December 14, 1995 (the final signing in Paris), are not celebrated as holidays.
He also noted that May 9, Victory Day over Fascism, is similarly disregarded.
“Instead, they celebrate March 1 as the so-called ‘Independence Day of BiH,’ commemorating the unconstitutional referendum held on February 29 and March 1, 1992. Only Muslims and Croats participated in this referendum, while Serbs abstained. The referendum coincided with the murder of Serb wedding guest Nikola Gardović and the wounding of an Orthodox priest on Baščaršija by criminal Ismet Delalić Ćelo,” Mitrović concluded.
Source: RTRS
