By participating in the plenary session of the International Security Forum and later holding a bilateral meeting with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, the delegation of Republika Srpska concluded its official visit to Moscow.
Addressing the Forum, SNSD leader Milorad Dodik pointed to the security challenges facing Republika Srpska, stressing the need for consistent and just policies by major powers. Russian President Vladimir Putin also addressed the gathering via video link.
The plenary session formed part of the 14th International Meeting of High Representatives Responsible for Security Issues. In his opening remarks, President Putin stated that this year’s Forum would contribute to achieving a stable balance of power in the world and emphasized the importance of such meetings at a time when the international community faces serious challenges.
“As before, international terrorism, the risks of uncontrolled nuclear proliferation, extremism, drug trafficking and cybercrime remain serious threats to all states without exception. The modern world is interconnected and interdependent. Therefore, any escalation of tensions in individual regions negatively affects the entire international community,” Putin said.
The conflict in Ukraine was among the central topics of discussion. Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu argued that Russian-American peace initiatives regarding Ukraine had stalled primarily due to what he described as a lack of political will for peace on the part of the authorities in Kyiv and their continued pursuit of escalation. At the same time, Shoigu claimed that Western countries were seeking to provide additional weapons and military equipment to Ukraine.
“This is taking place against the backdrop of the militarization of the European Union, which has become a full-fledged military-political bloc with an anti-Russian orientation. Following the German model of the 1930s, a large-scale campaign is being conducted to prepare European societies for a major war. According to statements from Brussels, more than €800 billion is planned for strengthening the EU’s offensive capabilities in the coming years,” Shoigu said.
Dodik expressed similar views during his address, arguing that Europe, and particularly the European Union under Germany’s leadership, is entering a phase of remilitarization and political transformation that could lead to instability. According to Dodik, the EU increasingly sees the Russian Federation as its primary adversary.
“We fully share the view regarding the militarization of Germany and the covert role of Great Britain. They must be stopped, because the next phase is a road with no return. We agree that the European Union is transforming from a political into a military alliance, which is very dangerous for our Serbian people and for the place where I live. We support efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the world and strengthening mechanisms of international communication and coordination,” Dodik said.
He stressed that it is important to the Serbian people which major power pursues a consistent and just policy, adding that throughout history Serbs have known how to recognize such policies. Dodik stated that Serbian politics is facing difficult times but remains oriented toward what he described as a single axis – Russia.
“The Serbian people know that, with Russian strength and determination, as in the Second World War, good will prevail over evil and that the future world order will be built on firm and stable foundations of global multipolarity, with the Russian Federation as one of its central pillars,” Dodik said.
Following the plenary session, Dodik and Shoigu held a bilateral meeting during which they stated that relations between Republika Srpska and Russia are at their highest level and that political, economic and other forms of cooperation will continue.
“We know that general elections are scheduled for this autumn in Republika Srpska under conditions of constant Western pressure on the Serbian entity. The upcoming election cycle will be a serious test for Banja Luka. I want to firmly assure you that Russia will continue to provide comprehensive political support to Republika Srpska,” Shoigu said.
Dodik responded by saying that Republika Srpska operates in an environment under constant pressure and argued that Bosnia and Herzegovina functions as an international protectorate.
“Western powers have installed their own representatives who govern Bosnia and Herzegovina, and consequently influence us as well,” Dodik stated.
During the meeting, Dodik reiterated that Republika Srpska would not impose sanctions on the Russian Federation and thanked Russia for what he described as its principled position regarding the preservation of the Dayton Peace Agreement and the constitutional competences of Republika Srpska.
“We in Republika Srpska are fighting to preserve our freedom, literally our freedom. We want to free ourselves from the colonial burden imposed through self-proclaimed high representatives and foreign judges in the Constitutional Court,” Dodik concluded.
The two delegations also discussed the continuation of economic cooperation between Russia and Republika Srpska.
Source: RTRS
