DODIK: WE REINFORCE COOPERATION, SRPSKA'S RECEPTION TONIGHT AS GIFT TO HUNGARY

BUDAPEST, NOVEMBER 26 /SRNA/ – SNSD leader Milorad Dodik stated that the Republika Srpska delegation at today’s meeting in Budapest briefed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his ministers on the current situation in Republika Srpska and the presidential elections, which were held amid unconstitutional processes and what Dodik described as a harangue aimed at pushing Republika Srpska toward disintegration and destabilization.

"We have managed to reach a position where the elections are behind us, in which our candidate Siniša Karan won. We thanked President Orbán for his first congratulatory message to Karan and the SNSD," Dodik emphasized. He told journalists that this was also an opportunity for the Republika Srpska delegation, which included him, Acting President Ana Trišić-Babić, and newly elected President Siniša Karan, to be present together, a fact noticed by the Prime Minister Orbán. "We said that was a gift to him, because situations like this rarely occur in life – that the three of us, who over the past few months have performed, are performing, and will perform the presidential function, can be together. This shows that we are a team that will continue to work together. The main point we wanted to demonstrate here is that what is happening in Republika Srpska is a matter of continuity, politically and in every other sense, and especially continuity of high-level cooperation with Hungary," Dodik stressed. He expressed Republika Srpska's gratitude toward Hungary for all the attention it has given so far, which will continue in the future. "We discussed this, as well as some new projects and new political processes. We also spoke with ministers in the Hungarian government, and this evening we will host a reception here, dedicated by the three of us, representing Republika Srpska, to our good cooperation with Hungary. Hungarian government ministers and prominent figures from Hungary's cultural and political life will attend," Dodik said, adding that Republika Srpska will continue to cooperate with Hungary on institutional, political, and every other level. He reiterated that today's meeting was exceptionally good, friendly, and in a trusting atmosphere.