CVIJANOVIĆ: ISRAEL ALWAYS READY TO DEFEND INTERESTS OF SRPSKA

JERUSALEM, JUNE 22 /SRNA/ - The Serb member of the Presidency of BiH Željka Cvijanović said following her meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar that she is encouraged by the fact that Israel is always ready to defend the interests of Republika Srpska.

Cvijanović said the talks were very constructive and substantive, and that they discussed issues concerning the region, with particular emphasis on the situation in BiH. She said that the meeting with Sa'ar provided an opportunity to explain why Republika Srpska must seek a new formula that would ensure full equality for all three constituent peoples. "They view this from a different perspective and believe that all communities, both Christian and non-Christian, should enjoy equal rights and must not be threatened," Cvijanović said. She pointed out that a high degree of understanding was reached on all the issues discussed during the meeting. "We also discussed developments on the global stage. It was truly informative and valuable to hear the State of Israel's views on all those issues," Cvijanović told RTRS. She said that full commitment was expressed to strengthening friendship and partnership, as well as to further developing them in every possible way. "We also discussed Israel's relations with the United States, as well as our relations with America and the situation regarding the EU," Cvijanović said. Noting that it was interesting to hear Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address at the opening of the International Policy Summit in Jerusalem last night, Cvijanović said that she is also scheduled to meet with him. The Serb member of the Presidency of BiH said that in her evening address at the Summit, she will refer to the burdens facing Republika Srpska, namely the denial of its constitutional rights. She pointed out that the focus will be on the need to find a new solution and on how to revitalize equality for all in BiH. "I will speak about how we view our region from a security perspective, as well as in economic terms, and in terms of broader regional issues," Cvijanović said.