The President of the National Assembly of the Republic Srpska, Dr. Nenad Stevandic, attended today the ceremonial academy in Nevesinje on the occasion of commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Nevesinje rifle.
The commemoration of this significant event in Istria was also attended by the President of Srpska Milorad Dodik, His Holiness the Patriarch of Serbia Porfirije, President of the National Assembly of Montenegro Andrija Mandic, Prime Ministers of the Governments of Srpska Radovan Viskovic and Serbia Duro Macut with ministers, the envoy of the President of Serbia Milos Vucevic, the heads of Eastern Herzegovina municipalities, as well as numerous dignitaries and guests from the region.
The solemn academy was preceded by the Holy Bishop's Liturgy, which was served by His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Porfirije in the Temple of the Ascension in Nevesinje.
Addressing those present at the ceremonial academy, the President of the Republic of Srpska, Milorad Dodik, said that it was the people of Nevesinje who set Nevesinje to be the foundation of the history of the Serbian people and its identity.
"Serbia and Srpska commemorate important events together. That's why I have to say here today that the famous people from Nevesinje who started the uprising did one great thing, they set Nevesinje to be the foundation of the history of the Serbian people and its identity," pointed out Dodik.
He added that freedom is the key word of the Serbian people throughout history.
"Many books have been written about the famous insurgents here. Our history is deeply suffering. We must today extract messages from that history. To express all historical events strongly through our education. To write down what is our truth," added Dodik.
His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Porfirije said that the Nevesinje rifle was not a rifle of revenge and hatred, but a cry and a shot of the Serbian people in the areas of freedom and dignity.
"The Nevesinje rifle is not just an echo, but an extension of Lazar's Kosovo vow, which is at the same time a new vow," said the patriarch in his address at the ceremonial academy.
The Serbian patriarch pointed out that this does not imply contempt, but a true affirmation and confirmation of what is tangible and material around us, but only if we live in the perspective of the Gospel.
"We confirm by faith that we are created for eternity and that we recognize God as the meaning of our existence and each other as our neighbors. Without unity with God, what is behind us, the present and the future, is meaningless," said Patriarch Porfirij.
The Prime Minister of Serbia, Djuro Macut, stated that the Nevesinjska rifle represents Serbia's commitment to life in freedom, and emphasized that Serbia will remain united and continue to care for Serbs, regardless of their location.
"I say to everyone who rejoices at our divisions - Serbia will remain unique and undivided and will continue to take care of all our compatriots," said Macut in his address at the ceremonial academy on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Nevesinska rifle.
Macut pointed out that the strength of the Serbian people must be their unity.
"It is the vow of Saint Sava, as well as the sacrifices of heroes from the Herzegovinian karst. Glory to all the heroes of the Herzegovinian uprising of 1875!" said Macut.
The President of the Parliament of Montenegro, Andrija Mandic, assessed that the Nevesinje uprising became a symbol of resistance and the foundation of freedom for all Balkan peoples and countries that were under Ottoman Empire occupation.
"The heroism of the insurgents will not be remembered as some local or regional epic, it is a historical turning point that opened up the Eastern Question, as it was called in European politics and the press at the time. That spark of resistance ignited in Nevesinje in 1875 was not extinguished as the then occupier thought, but became stronger and more holy," said Mandic.
Republic Srpska and Serbia jointly organize the commemoration of this significant historical event.
The first Nevesinje rifle was an uprising that took place in the village of Krekovi near Nevesinje on July 9, 1875, against the Ottoman government and soon spread to the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the support of Serbia and Montenegro.
Over time, this turned into a Serbian-Turkish war. At the Berlin Congress in 1878, Serbia and Montenegro gained independence and territorial expansion, while Austria-Hungary occupied Bosnia and Herzegovina for 30 years.
