DODIK: EXPANSION OF ECONOMIC COOPERATION COULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR BOTH COUNTRIES

KOSTAJNICA, JUNE 13 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik believes that expanding economic cooperation between BiH and the United States, as well as bilaterally regulating customs tariffs, could be beneficial for both countries.

Dodik noted that both imports and exports between BiH and the U.S. are nearly negligible.

"The United States has been very present here and has spent a great deal of its national income to implement, unfortunately, distorted ideas that we witnessed during previous administrations," Dodik told reporters in Kostajnica.

He explained that this is why he wanted to follow the new U.S. administration, which is sending very encouraging messages, such as that it will not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, will not engage in state- or nation-building, and will not impose its own decisions and solutions.

"And we are already experiencing that. That’s why it was only natural to propose something that could support or align with the policy of U.S. President Donald Trump, but also be beneficial for all of BiH, including Republika Srpska," Dodik said.

At today's extraordinary session, the BiH Presidency discussed expanding economic cooperation with the United States and the bilateral regulation of customs tariffs, thereby giving support to the initiatives of Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, as well as the prime ministers of Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH, along with the already initiated activities of the Council of Ministers, said Željka Cvijanović, the Serb member and Chairwoman of the BiH Presidency.