"RS is example of how Serbia should defend Kosovo"

The Serb Republic (RS) is the Serb entity in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

"As the heroes who created the RS always in their struggle carried with them the idea that the RS is the realization of the dream of our people across the Drina River to have their own state, so today we must not give up on Kosovo being (a part of) Serbia, and this remaining so forever regardless of how difficult the circumstances," the Serbian minister of innovation said, in his message of congratulations ahead of RS Day that will be celebrated on Wednesday.

Popovic wished the citizens of the RS "every progress and development, and today especially inner stability and national unity."

"The RS is the fruit of persistent and unwavering struggle of the Serbs for their freedom, their Orthodox faith, their traditions and their future," the Serbian minister said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

According to him, the Serb people across the Drina, after going through terrible suffering in the middle of the last century, awakened from the blunder of Yugoslavism and false brotherhood and unity, realized they can safeguard their homes and their lives only in their own country, relying on their own strength and inspired by the heroism and the ideals of their ancestors.

"Serbia will always be helping and protecting the RS and will never allow the intentions of certain countries to destroy it to be realized," Popovic said.