LONČAR: SUMMIT A MAJOR OPPORTUNITY FOR BANJA LUKA AND REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

BANJA LUKA, MAY 27 /SRNA/ - The first European Summit on Economy and Security is a major opportunity for Banja Luka and Republika Srpska, Jana Lončar, president of the Gold Institute, has stated.

Speaking at a reception ahead of the opening of the event, she stressed that Banja Luka has the privilege of hosting the first European Summit on Economy and Security. Lončar thanked all participants and members of her team. "This is a major opportunity for Banja Luka and Republika Srpska. I hope we will have excellent panel discussions tomorrow and that this evening will also be a great success", Lončar said at the reception attended by Republika Srpska President Siniša Karan. The reception was attended by Serb member of the BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović, Serb delegate in the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly Radovan Kovačević and President of the Gold Institute for International Strategy Eli Gold. More than 100 participants from over 20 countries are expected at tomorrow's European Summit on Economy and Security in Banja Luka, including prominent figures from the worlds of business, security, diplomacy and politics. The summit will include panel discussions on the topics "Development of the European and Transatlantic Security Architecture and Its Implications for the Balkans" and "Economic Resilience, Regional Integration and Investment Opportunities in Balkan Economies", according to the Gold Institute website. Additional panel topics include "Hybrid Threats, Information Operations and the Struggle for Influence in Southeast Europe", "Energy, Infrastructure and Connectivity as Tools of Both Cooperation and Coercion" and "The Role of Democratic Institutions, Governance and the Rule of Law in Supporting Security and Growth". The event will also officially mark the opening of the first Gold Institute office for Europe, headquartered in Banja Luka, with additional details to be announced later, the institute said. Among those attending the reception ahead of tomorrow's summit, held at the Terme Hotel in Banja Luka, were former US national security adviser General Michael Flynn, Serb member of the BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović, Serb delegate in the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly Radovan Kovačević and Acting Director of the Republika Srpska Office for International Cooperation Ana Trišić-Babić.