RUSSIA'S SUPPORT IS IMPORTANT FOR PROTECTING REPUBLIKA SRPSKA'S STATUS AND POSITIONS

BANJA LUKA, OCTOBER 3 /SRNA/ - The Speaker of the Republika Srpska National Assembly, Nenad Stevandić, stated that Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik’s visit to Russia and the outcome of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin represent support for protecting Republika Srpska’s status, as well as the Republic’s positions regarding commitment to the original Dayton principles and the rejection of foreign interference in BiH’s internal affairs.

Stevandić told SRNA that it is very important that Republika Srpska’s leadership is able to maintain communication with the most significant political actors in both the East and the West. Regarding the West, Stevandić emphasized that a great deal of work has been done for Republika Srpska by Željka Cvijanović, who serves as the Serb member of the Presidency of BiH, while Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik is doing significant work for the Republic in the East. "After all, the world has always depended on agreements among the major powers, which is why Republika Srpska needs to maintain good relations with both sides," explained Stevandić, who is also the leader of United Srpska. He emphasized that the meeting between Dodik and Putin is also important in the context of the UN Security Council session on BiH, scheduled for October 31 and to be presided over by Russian representatives. "In that regard, it is very important that we protect our position through the strongest countries, namely the guarantors of the Dayton Agreement. I hope that this continues to establish Republika Srpska as a state-building entity and a societal community that preserves its status, the Dayton Agreement, its sovereignty and territorial integrity," Stevandić emphasized. On the sidelines of the Valdai Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin met yesterday in Sochi with Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik.