DODIK: IMPORTANT VISIT OF RUSSIAN DELEGATION AS CONFIRMATION OF STRATEGIC COOPERATION

BANJA LUKA, APRIL 13 /SRNA/ – SNSD leader Milorad Dodik announced that a top-level delegation from the Russian Federation will visit Republika Srpska in seven days, as Srpska seeks to confirm its strategic cooperation with that country and previously made mutual agreements.

"A deputy foreign minister of Russia will come to Banja Luka on Monday /April 20/, with whom we will also hold official meetings. A panel will also be held to discuss the situation in the world, global relations, and how these relations affect the Balkans, primarily Republika Srpska," Dodik told the press in Banja Luka. He stated that, in addition to political topics, discussions with the Russian delegation will also include the completion of the Russian-Serb cathedral church, i.e. the Orthodox centre in Banja Luka, which they will visit together. Dodik says that the Russian-Serb cathedral church is already a visible landmark of the city and that from the beginning it was agreed with the Russians that they would be involved in the finalization of the project, including interior painting and decoration. He added that His Eminence Archbishop and Metropolitan Jefrem of Banja Luka and people from the Serbian Orthodox Church invested great effort to ensure the construction of this church.