DODIK: GRATITUDE TO LIEUTENANT SIVAC FOR EVERY BRAVE STEP HE TOOK FOR HIS PEOPLE AND REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

BANJA LUKA, NOVEMBER 4 /SRNA/ – President Milorad Dodik extended his condolences to the family and friends of Goran Sivac, a former lieutenant in the Republika Srpska Army, who passed away at the age of 66, emphasizing that the loss of such a man and soldier leaves a void that cannot be filled.

"When Republika Srpska was being defended, Lieutenant Sivac did not choose the easier path, but rather the path of military honour, courage and fearlessness. He stood alongside his fellow soldiers, sharing their trenches and the most difficult days of the war, from the battlefields of Western Slavonia, through the Corridor breakthrough, to the final days of the Defensive-Patriotic War," Dodik stated. Whenever we remember Operation Corridor, Dodik added, it is impossible not to remember Goran Sivac and his role. He was always at the forefront when things were most difficult, sharing with his soldiers the determination to break through the corridor and save his people. "Not only his fellow soldiers, but all of us will remember him not as a lieutenant who issued orders, but as a man who stood shoulder to shoulder with them, going through fierce battles and demonstrating what it means to be a leader in wartime. "We will remember him as a man who, in difficult times, stood in defense of his homeland and his people, carrying the responsibilities of his rank with tremendous humanity, determination and military honor," Dodik emphasized. He stressed that Lieutenant Sivac would be remembered as a soldier of the old school – brave, fair, honourable and unwavering in the face of the enemy, yet immensely gentle and caring toward his fellow soldiers. "Through his example, he showed everyone what loyalty to one's homeland means, what it means to have honour, and how one's homeland is protected and defended. He went through numerous offensives, defended homes and hearths, protected his country and won every battle, but unfortunately, he did not win the battle against a serious illness. It took its toll and proved stronger than Goran," Dodik stated. He added that Sivac's name would remain forever inscribed in the foundations of our Republika Srpska, during a time of great wartime trials and a historic turning point. Offering his deepest condolences, Dodik said that he knew words meant little at such moments, but that the family, his friends and everyone who knew him should be proud, because Goran is one of those people whose deeds will never be forgotten. "Goran is one of those who, during the most decisive days, took responsibility for the future of his people. Your loss is immense, but having such a man in your family history is an honour. May the Serb soil he loved so deeply rest lightly upon him, and may he be thanked for every honourable decision and every brave step he took for his people and Republika Srpska," Dodik said.