DODIK: CONTINUATION OF STRUGGLE FOR STATUS WHICH IS NECESSARY FOR SRPSKA

BELGRADE, OCTOBER 31 /SRNA/ - President Milorad Dodik said that through political dialogue with the new US administration, the fight for the status that Republika Srpska needs can continue.

Dodik said that during today's meeting in Belgrade, he told His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Porfirije about the activities of Republika Srpska regarding the normalization of relations with the new US administration. President Dodik stated that at the meeting with the patriarch, he confirmed the excellent relations with the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić, and that the confirmation of this is everything they have done in the past and what they want to do. "For the past year, Serbia has been exposed to constant attempts by one structure to destabilize it, and we believe that stabilization is not in doubt," emphasized Dodik. Looking back on one year since the tragedy at the Railway Station in Novi Sad, Dodik said that "tomorrow is an important, but also a difficult day for everyone" that should pass in peace. "And the current leadership, legally elected by the people, is completing its important internal and international affairs. We should all be gathered, to honor the victims and continue to build the Republika Srpska and Serbia," said Dodik. Dodik expressed his satisfaction that he maintains regular contacts with the Serbian patriarch and emphasized that even now the action and support of the Serbian Orthodox Church, which has done a lot throughout history to help the Serbian people survive the most difficult times, is needed. "His Holiness knows that I belong to people who know and believe that without the Serbian Orthodox Church, identity would be lost and that global processes are linked precisely to the struggle for identity. All peoples who lose their identity, lose their sovereignty and states, and lose their history," Dodik pointed out for RTRS. Dodik pointed out that he unreservedly supports all the activities of the Serbian Orthodox Church. "I am ready to support and participate in any activity, not only the construction of churches and monasteries," said Dodik. The meeting with the patriarch was also attended by the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republika Srpska Željko Budimir.