DODIK: HUNGARY SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN BALKAN ISSUES AND OFFER SOLUTIONS

BUDAPEST, JUNE 5 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik said today in Budapest that Republika Srpska supports Hungary's right to be involved in all Balkan issues and challenges.

After a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Dodik told reporters that Republika Srpska sees Hungary as a strategic partner.

He emphasized that Hungary views Republika Srpska as an essential actor and believes that, in line with international agreements, Republika Srpska's right to that status should be affirmed.

"That political support is not one-sided. We support Hungary's efforts to be involved in all Balkan issues and challenges, to observe them and define potential solutions aimed primarily at peace," Dodik said.

He pointed out that Hungary is a member of both the EU and NATO, which presents a serious opportunity for Republika Srpska to stay informed about developments at the global level.

Dodik added that Hungary has good relations with the new U.S. administration under President Donald Trump and that strategic relations between Hungary and the United States are being shaped.

"This was an opportunity for me to say that these strategic relations should also extend to our region, and that Republika Srpska should remain visible in that context and not be marginalized," Dodik said.

He said that Republika Srpska does not want anything to be done to anyone’s detriment, and that its cooperation with Hungary is not directed against the Federation of BiH or anyone else.

Dodik reminded that a delegation from the Government of the Federation of BiH had previously visited Hungary, which Republika Srpska supports as a platform for cooperation.

"This is an opportunity given to us, and we appreciate the foresight of Prime Minister Orbán, who initiated this cooperation at a strategic level, developing our relations, which continuously strengthen and expand with new ideas," Dodik emphasized.

He pointed out that there is a strong Serbian community in Budapest as well as a Serbian school with many students from Republika Srpska.

The President of Republika Srpska stated that today's meeting confirmed the longstanding friendship between Hungary and Republika Srpska, and announced plans for more such meetings with Orbán before the end of the year.