The municipality of Sokolac issued a statement yesterday stating that for the second day, EUFOR soldiers are carrying out certain activities in the Sokolac area, which has caused concern and unrest among citizens.
Mayor Milovan Bjelica says that the presence of EUFOR in the parking lot of the primary school, High School Center “Vasilije Ostroski”, and the children’s playground near the fountain, full of war and combat vehicles worried parents and all other people in this local community.
”Although it is said that they are here so that we could ‘feel security’, I would rather say they managed to remind us of the war, of all the horrors we are trying to forget. As the mayor of Sokolac, I would like to tell the members of the Romanian forces within EUFOR Althea, specifically all members and leaders of the European Union (EU) military forces Althea who are in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) with the task of monitoring the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, to perform these tasks smoothly and professionally. For these tasks, there is no need to be near schools, halls, playgrounds. From these places, there is no threat to peace, security, or BiH,”Bjelica explained.
He further stated that there is no need for anyone to remind them of war and horrors.
”It is hard to forget anyway. The bombing of Serbia started in 1999, the wounds are fresh, and dissatisfaction with the injustice is still present today. NATO also bombed the Republika Srpska (RS) in 1995. They besieged our stadiums, descended by helicopters during matches, flew over and scared with sound, threw leaflets, etc. Because of all this, the increased presence, which aims to allegedly lead to a ‘sense of security and safety ’, actually creates the opposite among the residents of Sokolac and Romanija, it brings unrest, increases anger, and bad memories,”he added.
Bjelica appealed that there was no reason to scare children or to parade in the streets in order to implement the EUFOR mission.
”The RS Police is responsible for the safety and security of our streets,” Bjelica said.
It should be reminded that BiH Presidency member Milorad Dodik reiterated two days ago that he has nothing against the presence of EUFOR forces in BiH, even if there are 5.000 troops instead of 500.
E.Dz.
Source: Klix.ba
