The Speaker of the Republika Srpska Parliament, Nedeljko Cubrilovic, has said that Srpska intends to make use of its geographical position, natural beauties, historical and cultural heritage, as good suppositions for Banjaluka and other local communities to get actively engaged in the “Green City” project, in imitation of other European cities.
At the opening of a conference of the Institute of Regions of Europe /IRE/ about mobility titled “Banjaluka – how to get a status of ecologically sustainable city: sustainable and interconnected European cities,” Cubrilovic has said that Banjaluka, Republika Srpska and BiH belong to Europe by their geographical position, that they nurture certain European traditions, but also have cultural and historical heritage of the East.
“These facts contribute to the richness and diversity which reflect in culture, arts, transport, infrastructure, architecture and the way of living,” Cubrilovic has said.
He noted that Republika Srpska and BiH want to keep and implement the best practices and positive experiences of various traditions, and that the Republika Srpska Parliament will continue with the policy of European integration.
“We want to maintain and implement practices and best experiences that we received by way of Austro-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire; tradition and the culture of living in these parts are also founded on the Byzantine heritage, traces of which we have in the centre of Banjaluka, which is known by its natural beauties, rivers, hills and parks,” Cubrilovic has said.
He has said that numerous towns and municipalities in Republika Srpska could get the epithet “green city.”
“This conference is a good opportunity for representatives of Republika Srpska and local governments to connect with government representatives and experts from the European cities and states. This is one of the ways to make use of opportunities and set joint projects which will more firmly connect cities,” Cubrilovic has said.
He thanked for the decision to hold the conference in Banjaluka and for a possibility for this city to be in the community of interconnected European cities.
IRE president Franz Schausberger has said that the aim of the conference is to stimulate and promote ecological and safe ways of movement in traffic.
“Our politics is based on preserving the ecology and reducing traffic jams. Banjaluka, as a city rich in natural resources, parks, alleys, deserves the title of being a ‘green city,’” Schausberger has said.
He has said that there are efforts at establishing a concept of connecting cities which can be ‘green cities’ and that the establishment of such a concept is being financed by EU funds.
Schausberger thanked Republika Srpska institutions and the city of Banjaluka for the support in organising the conference.
The 6th IRE conference on mobility titled “Banjaluka – how to get a status of ecologically sustainable city: sustainable and interconnected European cities” is being held in Banjaluka. It was organised by the Republika Srpska Parliament and the IRE.
The conference is being attended by representatives of Republika Srpska institutions, local communities, European institutions and EU countries.
