Public panel session held on the occasion of the Victory Day

On the occasion of 9 May, the Victory Day, a public panel session, organised by the Union of Students of the Republic of Srpska, was held at the Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Banja Luka. The main speakers at the session, where students and professors from the University of Banja Luka and the University of Istocno Sarajevo were present, as well as representatives from several ministries of the Government of the Republic of Srpska, were: Senator Arie Livne, Chief of the Office of the Republic of Srpska in Israel; historian Prof. Nikola Popovic, corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of the Republic of Srpska; historian and diplomat, Prof. Dusan Batakovic, Director of the Institute for Balkan Studies SASA; and historian Dr Goran Latinovic, Head of History Department at the University in Banja Luka.



In their addresses, they reminded all the present of important history dates, people and events that contributed a lot to Germany signing unconditional surrender on 9 May 1945, in WWII, in which more than 50 million people had lost their lives. The speakers also pointed out that fascism was not eradicated by ending the War, and for this reason it was necessary to fight constantly against this civilisation plague, that ischerish the antifascist achievements.



Senator Arie Livne who, according to his words, had not learned about the Holocaust from books and films, but had experienced and survived it himself, pointed out that WWII was the most tragic thing that had ever happened to him, but that those were also probably the most tragic events in the history of the mankind.

He pointed out that it was on the attitude toward facism that the future of the mankind depended to a large extent: ''If you and your peers all over the world are solidary about the idea that we need to stay away from fascism, Nazism and all other kinds of hatred between people, the world will be a better place''.,
On behalf of the University, all the present were addressed by the Vice-Rector for human resources at the University of Banja Luka, Prof. Drasko Marinkovic. He congratulated the Students’ Union for recognising the significance of organising this sort of session at the University.

Mr Petar Djokic, Minister of Labour, War Veterans and Disabled Persons' Protection RS, pointed out in his address that memories of the heroism and huge sacrifice of the peoples from this area in fighting against fascism were still vivid. ''It is of extreme importance that the Republic of Srpska has proclaimed the Victory Day as one of its bank holiday. This Students' Union's activity is immeasurably significant as well, since fight against fascism and all the horrors that fascism produced has to be kept in the collective memory of the whole world. Collective memory has to be cherished and passed over from one generation to another, and this type of activities that you organise with the support of your professors is the best way to do it'', the Minister told the students.