MINIĆ: RUSSIA A POWERFUL PARTNER FOR SRPSKA.

BANJA LUKA, OCTOBER 1 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska Prime Minister Savo Minić has said that Russia is an important and influential partner for Srpska, particularly given its role as one of the guarantors of the Dayton Peace Accords and its ability to raise concerns over shortcomings in the accord.

Minić stressed that Russia understands well Srpska's institutional struggle regarding the OHR and that it itself withdrew from the Peace Implementation Council because it saw the direction in which things were heading.

"President /of Russia Vladimir/ Putin says Republika Srpska every time. What is very important is that we are not any kind of disruptive factor. We want Republika Srpska within the framework of the Dayton Peace Accords and, as such, within BiH. We have nothing against anyone, but we are against Republika Srpska being degraded," Minić told RTRS.

He added that Europe would face serious consequences regarding gas and heating, but that Srpska and Serbia would retain the current price.

"The price could be expected to reach around EUR 1,000 per 1,000 cubic metres of gas, while ours will remain at around EUR 360," Minić said.

He added that obstructions from the BiH level remain when it comes to construction of a gas-fired power plant and laying a gas pipeline beneath the Drina River.

"At the meeting with President Putin, I noticed that he had decided to become more actively involved in resolving these problems, which I am pleased about. I also had meetings the previous day and presented the capacities of the Orao company, where we opened a new production facility 10 days ago," Minić said.

He added that Russia possesses state-of-the-art technology and could therefore be a good partner when it comes to "Orao."

Minić said they also discussed quotas for exports of fruit and vegetables, milk and dairy products to Russia.

"We would have an extremely serious market there and an opportunity for cooperation that perhaps exceeds the capacities of major European countries," Minić said.

He added that Putin had been informed about Srpska's economic indicators, positive trends and its capacity for cooperation with Russia as well as with other countries.

"We are constantly showing what Republika Srpska looks like when the steel shackles - unjust, political and economic are removed from it," Minić said.

He added that economic and business cooperation with Russia is a priority, but that they also want better cooperation in education, culture and other areas.

"We have as a friend someone who shapes world politics, who is a guarantor of the Dayton Agreement and who will protect Srpska's institutions, someone who is ready for economic cooperation that will lead to the development of some of our capacities," Minić stressed.

Speaking about the work of the Government during his term, Minić said he was satisfied.

"We have invested more than BAM 700 million in local communities. Everything we have received from local communities in terms of projects is being implemented on the ground," Minić said.

He added that a major investment cycle is under way in Srpska and would exceed BAM 8 billion by the end of the year.

Minić noted that work had also been done on increasing disability benefits, veterans' allowances and maternity benefits.

"Consumption is increasing, the flow of money is increasing and the economy is growing. We have 1,300 more employed people than on the same day last year and 3,000 fewer unemployed. We still have requests for the import of labor," Minić said, adding that Srpska has favorable conditions when it comes to electricity prices and taxes.