Senior Republika Srpska officials met in Banja Luka with Jeffrey Sachs, a Columbia University professor and one of the world’s best-known economists.
Sachs expressed his satisfaction at visiting Banja Luka and said he was deeply honored by the University of Banja Luka’s decision to award him an honorary doctorate.
“It is a great pleasure for me to be here in Banja Luka today. I have been coming to this country and this region for about ten years, and it is always a great pleasure to return. I want to thank you for the excellent conversation we have just had. I learn a great deal from these discussions and truly appreciate them,” Sachs said at a press conference with Republika Srpska Prime Minister Savo Minić.
Sachs said he remains optimistic and argued that the overall international situation would be significantly better if decision-makers in Brussels and Washington showed greater understanding and relied more on dialogue and reason.
“I am encouraged by the very good meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. It was a good and constructive approach toward reducing tensions around the world,” Sachs said.
He also welcomed talks between the Russian and German foreign ministers.
“I was also pleased to see that the foreign ministers of Russia and Germany met, because if there were more dialogue in the world, there would be fewer wars,” Sachs emphasized.
Minić said the opportunity to speak with Sachs, whom he described as a renowned expert of global standing, was a great honor and privilege for the senior leadership of Republika Srpska.
The meeting was also attended by Serb member of the BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović and Milorad Dodik.
Dodik welcomed Sachs to Banja Luka, saying that Republika Srpska values genuine friends and open dialogue with people who put their knowledge, experience and courage to use in addressing major global challenges.
Cvijanović described the meeting with Sachs as significant and substantive, referring to him as one of the world’s leading contemporary economists.
Also attending were BiH Minister of Finance and Treasury Srđan Amidžić, Republika Srpska Interior Minister Željko Budimir, Director of the Republika Srpska Office for International Cooperation Ana Trišić Babić and Acting Rector of the University of Banja Luka Ranko Škrbić.
Sachs is scheduled to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Banja Luka tomorrow and deliver a lecture at the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy.
Trišić Babić expressed satisfaction that Sachs had accepted the honorary doctorate and would have the opportunity to share his knowledge and experience with students and the academic community of Republika Srpska.
Jeffrey Sachs is an American economist and university professor known internationally for his work on economic development, international finance and sustainable development.
He earned his doctorate from Harvard University, where he taught for more than two decades, before continuing his academic career at Columbia University in New York.
Source: RTRS
