DODIK: U.S. VISIT WAS SUBSTANTIVE, NOT MERELY CEREMONIAL

BANJA LUKA, FEBRUARY 7 /SRNA/ – SNSD President Milorad Dodik has stated today in Banja Luka that the visit of the Republika Srpska delegation to the USA was not protocolary or incidental, but substantive, and shows that Srpska has managed to overcome a difficult period of sanctions and boycotts aimed at undermining confidence in it.

Dodik stressed that politicians from Sarajevo, as well as former US Ambassador Michael Murphy and self-proclaimed High Representative Christian Schmidt, did not succeed in what they had been trying to do for years - to smear Republika Srpska and him personally with lies. "I do not want to respond to those who cynically want to turn this significant visit to the USA into a parody," Dodik said at a press conference at Banja Luka Airport upon the return of the Republika Srpska delegation from the USA. He emphasized that the visit was a success because it sought to affirm Republika Srpska, which was also discussed at important meetings. The SNSD leader said that members of the Srpska delegation spoke with 141 congressmen, several senators, as well as other important political figures. "We went exclusively as representatives of Republika Srpska, not BiH," Dodik underscores.