DODIK: COOPERATION AT HIGH POLITICAL LEVEL

ST. PETERSBURG, JUNE 4 /SRNA/ – SNSD President Milorad Dodik said that cooperation between Republika Srpska and Russia has been at a very high political level for the past twenty years and expressed confidence that several important projects will be implemented with St. Petersburg.

Following a meeting with St. Petersburg Governor Aleksandr Beglov, Dodik said cooperation has also been successful in other areas and noted that its twentieth anniversary will be marked next year. He expressed confidence that the warming of international relations would help develop several significant economic projects with St. Petersburg. "Another successful meeting with St. Petersburg Governor Aleksandr Beglov, and I expect Beglov to visit Republika Srpska," Dodik told media outlets from Republika Srpska. Dodik noted that Republika Srpska has always opposed sanctions imposed by Europe on Russia. "Thanks to its cooperation with the leadership of the Russian Federation, Republika Srpska has never hesitated to oppose sanctions," Dodik said, adding that Russia understands that political Sarajevo has often supported sanctions without a joint agreement within BiH. He expressed satisfaction at attending the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, saying it demonstrates that Republika Srpska is respected and clearly committed to peace and cooperation. According to Dodik, Sarajevo, because of its own limitations, continues to speak about alleged malign Russian influence. "Not a single word has been said that was not an attack on Russia", Dodik said. He assessed that Brussels and other Western structures are doing more to undermine BiH than Russia, which, he said, advocates adherence to the Dayton Peace Accords and thereby helps preserve the country. "Sarajevo is offering the illusion that it can dominate BiH. It cannot. It can only control what it already controls," Dodik concluded.