The Speaker of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, Nenad Stevandić, stated today that there can be no forgetting or forgiveness until those responsible for crimes show repentance.
“Forgiveness belongs to God, while it is our duty to prove every day that we are worthy of our ancestors and that we neither forget nor forgive crimes,” Stevandić said in Banja Luka, where he attended a memorial service for the victims of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, which began on this day 27 years ago.
Dignity
Stevandić emphasized that remembrance of NATO victims is also remembrance of dignity, adding that this is one of the reasons why joining NATO is unacceptable, as it would mean being part of a system that, as he stated, “killed Serbian children.”
The memorial service at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour was attended by numerous officials, including Milorad Dodik, Radovan Kovačević, ministers of the Government of Republika Srpska, members of parliament, city officials, and representatives of the organization Baštinik.
The service was conducted by priests of the Banja Luka Diocese.
Sirens tonight
Sirens will sound symbolically in Banja Luka tonight at 19:55, while the lights on the City Administration building will be turned off in remembrance of the victims.
The NATO began its military campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on March 24, 1999.
The bombing lasted 78 days, resulting in thousands of civilian and military casualties, as well as material damage estimated in the tens of billions of dollars.
During the campaign, weapons prohibited by international conventions were used, including cluster munitions and depleted uranium projectiles.
Source: Glas Srpske
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