DODIK: SRPSKA PROUD OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH RUSSIA

SAINT PETERSBURG, JUNE 19 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik said he is glad that relations with Russia have continuously developed over the past 20 years, and that Srpska is very proud to have received the status of a strategic partner of this powerful country.

In an interview with Izvestia, Dodik emphasized that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his entire team understand global processes and how to maintain peace in the Balkans like no one else, while also clearly recognizing the hypocrisy of the collective West. "One can say that Republika Srpska is a small community with an unusual status. For the past 35 years, since the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, under incredible pressure from the neoliberal West, it has strived to preserve and protect its subjectivity and independence," Dodik said. When asked whether the proceedings before the extra-constitutional Court of BiH affect his international visits and if he plans to travel to Russia again, Dodik replied that he will visit Russia once more by the end of the year. "This is my third visit to Russia since the beginning of the year. I have been to Moscow twice, now I am in Saint Petersburg, and I will not miss the opportunity to come to Russia again before the end of the year," said Dodik, who is leading the Republika Srpska delegation at the International Forum. Dodik expressed his gratitude to Putin for the traditional invitation to participate in the Forum, which gathers representatives of politics and the economy not only from Russia but from around the world. "I am very glad to be back in this magnificent and powerful country. The central event of the Forum remains the plenary session, which I will attend this year. I believe that Putin’s traditional address and speech will once again highlight the current situation not only in Russia but globally," Dodik said. Dodik added that during his stay in Saint Petersburg, a meeting is planned with the leadership of the Republic of Tatarstan, with whom Republika Srpska has developed relations and wishes to further expand them. "And, of course, with Forum guests who are coming from all over the world. Representatives of Russian companies, with whom we have established good business relations, will also be present. I believe there will be an opportunity, which would be extremely important for us, to meet with President Putin," Dodik said. Dodik emphasized that Republika Srpska fully supports the Russian Federation and all actions aimed at strengthening its sovereignty and preserving security and freedom. "We appreciate the fight led by Putin. I listened to his speech back in 2007 at the Munich Conference, where he prophetically addressed the entire international community, which, unfortunately, refused to listen, and that has led to the situation we are witnessing today," Dodik said. He said he supports all of Putin’s efforts aimed at establishing communication and dialogue to the greatest possible extent. "But at the same time, in order to protect the country’s strategic interests and its citizens in the territory of Ukraine, it was necessary to launch the special military operation," Dodik said. He pointed out that Russia, with all its power and history, deserves its place as a global power. "Over the past decades, there have been attempts to weaken, divide, and dismantle Russia. But Putin is fighting to strengthen the country and elevate it to the global status it deserves. Even now, in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, both the Trump administration and the West expect him to play a role in achieving peace. That’s why we can say he is respected around the world as a peacemaker," Dodik said.