ŽUNIĆ: IT IS OUR DUTY TO PRESERVE MEMORY OF FALLEN SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS

DERVENTA, MARCH 25 /SRNA/ - The cooperation agreement between the town of Derventa and the Republika Srpska Memorial Center was signed today at the City Hall, marking the official start of a project for the systematic recording and archiving of testimonies of the families of fallen and missing civilians and soldiers from the area.

Mayor Igor Žunić emphasized that this is a project that will be remembered as an important and historic initiative, highlighting its significance for future generations to ensure they do not forget the sacrifice and deeds of their ancestors. "I am convinced that what has been initiated today is something unprecedented in this region when it comes to the culture of remembrance and the preservation of history. It is both our duty and our responsibility to remember, to learn, and to pass the truth on to future generations," Žunić said. The Director of the Memorial Center Denis Bojić stated that the testimonies should become part of the largest digital database documenting the suffering of the Serb people, which would reduce the possibility of manipulation and historical revisionism. "There are more than 300 families in Derventa who can testify about the loss of a family member who either fell as a member of the Republika Srpska Army or went missing and perished as a civilian. Our responsibility is great, but we have already managed to record the first 20 testimonies," Bojić said. The testimony of Sanja Tominčić, daughter of fallen Republika Srpska Army soldier Mirko Nović, was recorded today in Derventa. It was a difficult experience for her as she spoke about her father’s life. "I think I confronted a trauma I experienced in my childhood, and I spoke from the perspective of a 12-year-old girl. This project is very important, and I believe our fathers, brothers, and sons were not just statistics, but people of flesh and blood who never had the chance to tell their full story," Tominčić said.