RECONSTRUCTION OF 172 GRAVESTONES COMPLETED

SOKOLAC, OCTOBER 3 /SRNA/ - The reconstruction of 172 gravestones of Serb soldiers was completed today at the Novi Zejtinlik Military Memorial Cemetery in Sokolac.

Milovan Gagić, president of the Presidency of the Republika Srpska Veterans’ Organization /BORS/, said the reconstruction was carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor, War Veterans' and Disabled Persons' Protection and the Republika Srpska Government, at the initiative of the Sokolac Municipal Veterans’ Organization.

Gagić explained that around BAM 1.5 million was allocated for the reconstruction of all the gravestones, as well as other works to improve the cemetery and access roads.

"It was done partially over the years, but now everything has been completed. We are also renovating the fence, which has been unsteady for years, and we will complete that work as well," Gagić told reporters.

He announced that 52 monuments at the military cemetery in Knežina would also be renovated.

Radenko Topalović, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Labor, War Veterans and Disabled Persons' Protection of Republika Srpska, said that the Republika Srpska Government allocates funds every year for the renovation of monuments and cemeteries.

Aleksandar Marković, president of the Sokolac Municipal Veterans' Organisation, thanked representatives of Republika Srpska institutions for supporting the memorial site improvement project.

"It is up to us to do everything we can to ensure that these sites are maintained in a dignified manner," Marković added.

Goran Šehovac, coordinator of veterans' organisations in the Sarajevo-Romanija region, said that desecrated gravestones are a painful issue for every Serb.

"We have made great efforts and, in a way, we felt we owed it to our fallen comrades to honour the sacrifice they made," Šehovac said.