DODIK: WE REMAIN RUSSIA'S STRATEGIC PARTNER AND A CREDIBLE PARTNER OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

BANJA LUKA, OCTOBER 19 /SRNA/ - President Milorad Dodik told SRNA that Republika Srpska has succeeded in maintaining its traditional and unchanged relationship with Russia.

"Highly valuing President Vladimir Putin and his efforts to preserve and strengthen Russia, while at the same time fostering excellent cooperation with his allies, we have managed to ensure a relationship with Russia that continues to be our priority," Dodik said. He emphasized that Russia's special military operation was provoked by the unfair behavior of Western countries. "Had U.S. President Donald Trump been in power at that time, I believe that war would not have happened. But today we can say with certainty that the Western countries wanted that war," Dodik stated. Dodik added that Republika Srpska remains a strategic partner of the Russian Federation and that its policy in this regard will not change. "This is what we have been doing and will continue to do. We will always talk with our partners - with Serbia, Hungary, Russia, and with the U.S. administration," Dodik told SRNA. He said that Republika Srpska welcomed Donald Trump's major victory and that this position was never hidden. "Even when we were with our strategic partners in Russia, we spoke about it openly. We never shied away from the fact that we support Trump's return to power - and I believe we were right. Everything he has done so far clearly shows that this is a shift toward restoring global stability," Dodik emphasized. According to him, Republika Srpska wants to demonstrate that it is a credible partner to the new American administration. Dodik praised Trump's actions in the U.S. related to USAID, as well as his defense of traditional values that Republika Srpska also upholds. "Trump stopped the shameful trend of undermining the institution of marriage. He clearly said that there is only a man - a father, and a woman - a mother. We fully support that. It is a return to traditional principles that formed the foundation of civilization for centuries and millennia and never weakened it. What we have been witnessing from the neoliberals - legalizing all forms of marriage - has led to the erosion of civilization," Dodik said. He expressed gratitude to Trump for his persistence and courage in standing up for those values. "Trump stopped major wars and continues to act and speak in line with what we believe should be the philosophy of international and diplomatic relations," Dodik noted. He recalled Trump's statement that America does not wish to interfere in others' affairs, but seeks partnerships instead. "Well, we want to be a partner of the United States - without jeopardizing our strategic relationship with the Russian Federation. Is that possible? We believe it is," Dodik concluded.