Meeting with Milorad Dodik and Savo Minić

From the Russian side, taking part in the meeting were Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov Ushakov YuryAide to the President , Minister of Energy Sergei Tsivilev Tsivilev SergeiMinister of Energy of the Russian Federation , and Head of the Federal Agency for Technical Regulating and Metrology, Russian Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Russia - Bosnia and Herzegovina Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation Anton Shalayev.

Head of the Republika Srpska Representative Office in Russia Duško Perović also attended the meeting.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Friends, good afternoon.

I am delighted to see you.

This year, a high-level delegation from Republika Srpska took part in celebrations held in Moscow to mark the 81^st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. We are very grateful to you for your participation.

The partnership between the Russian Federation and Republika Srpska is based on a time-tested friendship. For many years throughout our history, Russia, the Russian people, and the Serbian people have maintained special ties.

We will, of course, continue our efforts to further develop our relations. This includes political dialogue, cooperation within the UN framework, implementation of joint economic projects, and, naturally, our traditionally strong contacts in the cultural and humanitarian spheres.

Together, we strive to establish a more just world order. As I have already mentioned, we consistently support Republika Srpska at multilateral platforms, including the United Nations Security Council.

The date of the general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina is approaching: as I understand it, they are to be held very soon, on October 4. Russian representatives will participate as observers of the voting process. We wish success to the ruling coalition you represent. We trust that no external influence will alter the views of the majority of the population or prevent patriotic forces from securing a mandate to continue pursuing a course that safeguards the inalienable rights and interests of Republika Srpska within Bosnia and Herzegovina and fosters constructive cooperation with Russia.

We realise the complexity of the situation. You are aware of our position on the post-Yugoslavia settlement: since the collapse of Yugoslavia, a fairer attitude towards the Serbs - the Serbian people - has been both necessary and essential for ensuring stability. After all, discrediting even a single participant in this settlement process cannot lead to stability and peace in this challenging region.

I would like to reiterate that we sincerely wish you success.

To be continued.