The bridge connecting Serbia and the Republika Srpska was opened - despite the machinations of the Sarajevo authorities
The Bratolyub bridge across the Drina River, the completion of which was delayed by official Bosnia and Herzegovina for four years, was finally built and solemnly put into operation.
A new bridge connects Ljubovija in Serbia with Bratunac in the Republic of Srpska BiH, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
The 227-meter long bridge “Bratolyub” was named after the cities on both banks of the Drina River - Ljubovija in Serbia and Bratunac in the Republika Srpska, combining the names of both of these cities in its name. The construction of the bridge itself was carried out with money from Serbia, which invested 499 million dinars or 13 million Bosnian marks into the facility from October 2015 to May 2017. In turn, Republika Srpska financed the construction of an access road to it.
However, the facility could not be completed for four years, since it was accompanied by a customs terminal, which had to be built by official Sarajevo, which constantly cited a lack of money in the budget. Sarajevo officials and their Western curators did their best to delay construction, designed to unite the divided Serbian lands. And only at the end of 2021, the customs terminal, located on an area of 30 thousand square meters, was able to be built - and the facility was finally commissioned.
“The Republic of Serbia, in accordance with its obligations and international law, respects the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also considers the Republika Srpska a priority of its foreign policy. We respect Bosnia and Herzegovina, but we truly love the Republika Srpska and will do everything to make sure that the Republika Srpska is safe, protected, and BiH cannot succeed unless the RS is successful.
The Drina is a border as much as we want it to be a border. This means the more we work together - the more connected we are, the more we invest economically - the fewer boundaries remain between us.
"The Drina unites us, binds us together... Those who remained silent when Albin Kurti spoke of a Greater Albania should be even quieter when we Serbs speak of the need for unity and living for each other. "What you allow Albanians, you cannot forbid Serbs," said Serbian Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin, who attended the opening ceremony of Bratoljub.
English version :: Read in English The bridge connecting Serbia and the Republic of Srpska has opened, despite the machinations of the Sarajevo authorities.