DODIK: FRIENDSHIP WITH RUSSIA - STRATEGIC COMMITMENT OF FREE AND PROUD SRPSKA

ISTOČNO SARAJEVO, SEPTEMBER 22 /SRNA/ - President Milorad Dodik stressed that friendship with Russia is not a matter of day-to-day politics, but a strategic commitment of a free and proud Republika Srpska.

Dodik, who together with Prime Minister Savo Minić met today in Istočno Sarajevo with Russian Ambassador to BiH Igor Kalabukhov, said they had highlighted the high level of cooperation and understanding. He expressed satisfaction that talks between the Russian Federation and Republika Srpska would continue at the highest level in the near future. "We are also pleased by the fact that Russia has a special working group for cooperation with Republika Srpska in all areas and at all levels," Dodik said, describing this as a clear sign that Moscow understands and respects the equality of peoples here, unlike those who have for years worked to promote and encourage majorization in favor of Bosniaks, pushing Serbs into a subordinate position. Dodik said that he and Kalabukhov discussed a meeting of this working group, which will be held on Jahorina. According to him, the meeting also highlighted Republika Srpska's support for the goals of the special military operation in Ukraine, which is another historic contribution by the Russian side to dismantling the hegemony of centers of power that sought to destroy Russia as a stronghold of the family, traditional values and Christianity. "They were mistaken, and this is clearly evident. Russia is defeating all the military might of the West handed over to Ukrainian hands, while across Europe and the world, forces of common sense, policies based on Christian values and the defense of the family are growing stronger, rejecting social, religious and political experiments imposed on their peoples," Dodik said on X. Dodik added that he and Minić asked Kalabukhov to once again convey their congratulations to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the successfully held elections and another magnificent victory by United Russia party. "Russia is showing particularly clearly today what we have also learned here - that a people cannot be defeated when they know who they are, when they preserve their faith and when they have a leader they trust," Dodik concluded.