ĆOSIĆ: ISTOČNO SARAJEVO GIVEN OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THREE-YEAR COOPERATION PLAN WITH ST. PETERSBURG

ISTOČNO SARAJEVO, SEPTEMBER 2 /SRNA/ – Istočno Sarajevo Mayor Ljubiša Ćosić said after a meeting with Republika Srpska Minister for European Integration and International Cooperation Zlatan Klokić and St. Petersburg delegation that Istočno Sarajevo had been given the opportunity to join the three-year cooperation plan between Republika Srpska and the Russian city.

“I believe today’s meeting was an opportunity for Istočno Sarajevo to join this cooperation, which has been ongoing since 2017, and to cooperate in all areas in which we have an interest,” Ćosić stressed.

He said this primarily referred to city administration, culture, religious affairs, sports, the non-governmental sector, as well as the economy.

Ćosić said that over the next three years, in addition to its existing cooperation with Krasnodar and Nizhny Novgorod, Istočno Sarajevo could also join the cooperation plan with St. Petersburg.

“The Istočno Sarajevo City Administration pays particular attention to international and regional cooperation with partners from the Russian Federation,” Ćosić stressed, expressing satisfaction that the city would be able to participate in the work of the team working on mutually beneficial cooperation in the coming period.

Klokić said he was pleased that cooperation with the Russian Federation had become increasingly intensive in recent years in various areas, including culture, sports, education, medicine and scientific - technological innovation.

He noted that Republika Srpska receives comprehensive support from partners in the Russian Federation, adding that the Republika Srpska delegations visit St. Petersburg, while delegations from the Russian city visit Srpska to further strengthen cooperation.

“Tomorrow we will hold a meeting of our working group, which will define a new plan, a roadmap and the objectives to be covered during this three-year period,” Klokić said.

He expects intensive cooperation with St. Petersburg to continue, noting that representatives of the city are always welcome in Istočno Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Trebinje and other local communities in Republika Srpska.

Klokić thanked Ćosić for his hospitality.

Deputy Chairwoman of the St. Petersburg Committee for External Relations Olga Androsova said that the city’s delegation had come to Istočno Sarajevo in accordance with an agreement between St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov and the Republika Srpska leadership.

“St. Petersburg and Republika Srpska are connected by longstanding friendly and business ties. Our cooperation covers a wide range of areas, including the economy, culture, youth policy, education and so on,” said Androsova, who is heading the St. Petersburg delegation.

She said the purpose of the visit was to participate in a meeting of the working group dedicated to cooperation between St. Petersburg and Republika Srpska, as well as to create new projects and a roadmap for the years to come.

Androsova noted that the meetings in Republika Srpska would also address events planned for next year, which will be a jubilee year, as it will mark 20 years since cooperation between St. Petersburg and Republika Srpska was established.

“Three months ago, we organised the Days of St. Petersburg in Republika Srpska event. It was a major series of events that included both cultural and business components,” Androsova said.

She expressed hope that an even greater number of events would be organised next year, not only in Srpska but also in St. Petersburg, and thanked Ćosić and Klokić for receiving the delegation.

Republika Srpska - St. Petersburg cooperation has been ongoing since 2017, and according to the meeting participants, a new three-year cooperation plan should be defined in the coming period.