PUTIN: THE RUSSIAN SIDE IS FIRMLY COMMITTED TO CONTINUING COOPERATION WITH REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

MOSCOW, MAY 9 /SRNA/ - The Russian side is firmly committed to continuing productive cooperation with Republika Srpska, Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin said during a meeting with the Republika Srpska delegation.

"We have established constructive, regular interaction with Mr. Milorad Dodik. It is important that you are all like-minded," Putin said, according to the Kremlin. At the Kremlin, Putin met with Republika Srpska President Siniša Karan, Republika Srpska National Assembly Speaker Nenad Stevandić, SNSD President Milorad Dodik, and Republika Srpska's representative in the Russian Federation Duško Perović. "I welcome you to Moscow on your first visit as President of Republika Srpska. I am also pleased to see Mr. Stevandić here with you, as well as our good longtime friend Milorad Dodik," Putin said. Putin stated that he appreciates their participation in marking the 81st anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War. "This is our shared holiday. We know that in Republika Srpska, May 9 is officially celebrated as Victory Day over Fascism. We honor the memory of those who, through enormous effort and at the cost of their own lives, defended the right to peace, freedom, and independence," Putin said. He emphasized that the ties between Republika Srpska and Russia are based on centuries-old traditions of friendship and spiritual kinship between the two peoples. "We share a common vision of history and a common approach to the situation in BiH, the Balkans, and Europe. Together, we advocate for the creation of a more just world order and the advancement of mutually beneficial cooperation without external interference in our internal affairs," Putin added. He stressed that partnership will continue to develop in the political, economic, cultural, and humanitarian spheres. Putin reiterated that for centuries there have been particularly close relations and full mutual understanding between the Serbian and Russian peoples, as well as between Serbs and the other peoples of Russia. "We are very pleased to see you in Moscow. Welcome," Putin said. Karan stated that the Serbian people and Republika Srpska have always been committed to historical cooperation with Russia. "We are connected by historical circumstances and the facts of our many relations, which developed on the basis of our ties, identity, and spiritual bonds. In this way, we strengthened the sense of brotherhood and friendship between our peoples," Karan said. He agreed that the two peoples resisted genocide and defeated fascism. "You, Mr. President, said several times today that we must not allow history, suffering, or historical injustice to be revised. Republika Srpska, as you rightly said, is a historical response to suffering, so that the tragedy of the Serbian people is never repeated," Karan stated. He emphasized that the support provided by Russia is a great honor for Republika Srpska, its delegation, and the entire Serbian people. "We thank you for your hospitality. We are very grateful for the opportunity to be here in the Russian Federation. Our visit to the Russian Federation is proof that we share a common approach to the legacy of the Great Patriotic War and that we are true friends," Karan said. He also noted that relations over the years have become especially strong, based on mutual respect, and that regular contact exists between the Russian president and Dodik. Karan thanked Putin for the fact that the Russian Federation is Republika Srpska's most important strategic partner on the international stage and expressed hope that it will remain so while even stronger foundations continue to be built. "Our partnership is based on sincere friendship, equality, and the absence of political conditions. This is proof that Russia continues to support the Dayton Peace Agreement. We thank Mr. Lavrov and all your representatives, especially in the Federation Council and through the Peace Implementation framework, for respecting the legacy of the Dayton Peace Agreement," Karan stated. On the Russian side, those attending the meeting included Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov, and Anton Shalaev, head of the Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology and chairman of the Russian side of the Intergovernmental Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation.