RUSSIA SERIOUSLY INTERESTED IN COOPERATION WITH REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

ISTOČNO SARAJEVO, SEPTEMBER 3 /SRNA/ - Russia is showing serious interest in enhancing cooperation with Republika Srpska, while innovative technologies could be a focus of cooperation over the next three-year period, Minister for European Integration and International Cooperation Zlatan Klokić said.

Klokić expressed satisfaction that the meeting of the Working Group for the Development of Cooperation between Republika Srpska and St. Petersburg, held in IstočnoSarajevo, discussed a new three-year period.

“Russia is showing serious interest in enhancing this cooperation. The very fact that they are in Istočno Sarajevo shows that they want to expand cooperation beyond Banja Luka to other administrative centres in Republika Srpska as well,” Klokić said.

Minister Klokić and Russian Ambassador to BiH Igor Kalabukhov assessed that the meeting of the Working Group was further proof of the good and strategic relations between the Russian Federation and Republika Srpska, noting that 2027 will mark 20 years of cooperation with St. Petersburg.

Klokić told reporters that cooperation to date has focused on youth policy, sport, culture, healthcare, the economy, scientific and technological development, and innovative technologies.

He pointed out that Republika Srpska’s second public university is in Istočno Sarajevo, which creates opportunities to enhance cooperation between the University of Istočno Sarajevo and some of the universities in St. Petersburg.

Russian Ambassador Kalabukhov expressed satisfaction with the holding of the Working Group meeting and stressed that Russia’s strategic relations with Republika Srpska are developing in several directions and at several levels.

"We have regular meetings between our leaders and good communication at the level of the republic's ministers, who frequently travel to the Russian Federation. We also have good ties between universities, as well as at the humanitarian and cultural levels," Kalabukhov said.

Speaking about ties between the regions of the Russian Federation and Republika Srpska, Kalabukhov noted that St. Petersburg is at the forefront in this regard, stressing that cooperation is not limited to declarations, but that people from Republika Srpska can travel to the Russian city for medical treatment and to learn about modern technologies.

"I am pleased that this cooperation has been developing for almost 20 years. The first agreement was signed in 2007, which means that next year will mark 20 years. That is why work is now underway on a roadmap covering several areas," Kalabukhov said.

Olga Androsova, Deputy Chairwoman of the St. Petersburg Committee for External Relations, who heads the delegation from the Russian city, expressed satisfaction with her visit to Republika Srpska and noted that a number of areas in which cooperation could be expanded, such as youth policy, had been discussed during the visit so far.

"Today we are discussing promising areas of cooperation and a roadmap for the 2027–2029 period. Our cooperation covers a number of areas, including education, higher education, sport and culture," Androsova said.

She said that during the meeting of the Working Group for the Development of Cooperation between Republika Srpska and St. Petersburg, visions and proposals regarding the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of cooperation would be presented, stressing that the activities would be held both in St. Petersburg and Republika Srpska.