The Republic of Srpska

The Interior Ministers of Republic of Srpska and Serbia, Aleksandar Vulin and Dragan Lukač, met today in Drvar with representatives of Serbs in the Federation of BiH. Representatives of the municipalities of Drvar, Bosansko Grahovo, Glamoč, Odžak and Bosanski Petrovac attended the meeting and discussed the position of Serbs in the Federation of BiH and Serbia's assistance to Serbs in the entity. The Republic of Srpska Minister of the Interior Dragan Lukač called it devastating that some villages in the Federation of BiH's returning municipalities lack electricity or water. "Cantonal authorities must work more to help Serb returnees in these municipalities and provide them with basic living conditions. It certainly includes electricity and water, and these are things that have not yet been overcome, and which must be done after so many years," Minister Lukač noted. With the help of the Republic of Srpska and Serbia Governments, which have invested a lot of funds, especially in the Municipality of Drvar, Minister Lukač added that Serbia has also opened production facilities so that people can make a living in this area with their work, adding that assistance would continue. Serbian Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin noted that as long as President Vučić is in power, Serbia's policy will be to preserve peace in the region and help all Serbs no matter where they live. "If the Federation of BiH has no capabilities or no will to care for its citizens of Serbian nationality, there is Serbia to take care of them. Any assistance to Serbs living in FBiH should be understood as aid to the Federation, because it is less money that they have to allocate from their budget and from their taxpayers," Minister Vulin said. Drvar Municipality Head Dušica Runić expressed gratitude to Serbia and Republic of Srpska for the assistance provided. She also noted how representatives of the municipalities present at this meeting pointed to the needs and problems each of these municipalities have and which residents face every day.