DODIK: PASSAGE OF TIME CANNOT DIMINISH MILAN JELIĆ'S LEGACY

BANJA LUKA, SEPTEMBER 30 /SRNA/ - There are people whose passing not even time can erase from our hearts and memories, and Milan Jelić was certainly one of them, President Milorad Dodik said.

"Today, as we mark 19 years since his death, we remember with deep respect a man whose life and tireless work are permanently woven into the foundations not only of his hometown of Modriča, which he loved above all else, but of the whole of Republika Srpska. Through his life, his work and the way he treated people, he left a profound and lasting mark", Dodik said in a statement to SRNA on the 19th anniversary of the death of former Republika Srpska President Milan Jelić.

He said the passage of time had neither diminished the void left by Jelić's death nor erased the memory of his character, energy and dedication to his people and Republika Srpska. On the contrary, Dodik said, the years had only further underscored the significance of Jelić's contribution and the special place he continued to hold in the memories of those who knew him.

"Milan Jelić was a man who sought through his work to contribute to society's progress, bring people together and leave something of lasting value for generations to come. His public and social roles carried great responsibility, particularly as president of the Republic, but also a sincere desire to do as much as he possibly could for Srpska", Dodik said.

He added that Jelić had a clear vision of the path Republika Srpska should follow and, as a prominent businessman, of how he could contribute to its development.

"He was a strong and steady personality who built his authority on results, inexhaustible energy and initiative. No problem was insurmountable for him, and he always acted without delay", Dodik said.

He remembered Jelić's inauguration speech, in which he pledged to work to improve the social position and well-being of all citizens, with particular emphasis on supporting young people and providing scholarships during their education.

Dodik said this commitment was the reason the Dr Milan Jelić Fund was established, ensuring that Jelić's name and legacy would continue into the future.

That is why when we speak about Milan today, Dodik added, we are therefore not speaking only about the time in which he lived and worked, but also about the values he left behind - humanity, responsibility, dedication, friendship and readiness to work for the benefit of every local community and Republika Srpska as a whole.

"He was not merely the holder of important political offices. Above all, he was a great man and a visionary who had the rare ability to recognize the needs of his people and fight for the progress of every individual. Throughout a career that was unfortunately cut short, he showed how mutual trust can be built through intellectual strength, human warmth and sporting spirit", Dodik said.

He noted that anniversaries were always moments of both sorrow and gratitude.

"Sorrow because a man who left such a powerful mark is no longer among us, but also gratitude because through his life and work he became part of the history and collective memory of our people and Republika Srpska. The passage of time will not and must not become a time of forgetting, but a time in which we preserve even more strongly the memory of our Milan and the values he stood for. We cherish his memory with deep respect. May he be eternally remembered. Rest in peace, my friend. You will forever be missed", Dodik said.

The 19th anniversary of the death of then Republika Srpska President, businessman and politician Milan Jelić will be commemorated today in Modriča.

Jelić was a university professor, held a doctorate in economics and was also active in sports.