RUSSIAN-SERB FRIENDSHIP CELEBRATED AT RITEŠIĆ EVENT

DOBOJ, SEPTEMBER 26 /SRNA/ - The Russian and Serb peoples have always stood together and jointly worked to overcome difficulties and remain, as she put it, eternal winners, Sanja Vulić, a member of the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, said at the Serb-Russian "Days of Honey, Rakija and Cauldron Cooking" event in Ritešić near Doboj.

Vulić stressed the importance of Russian-Serb friendship and cooperation between the Russian Federation and Republika Srpska, which she said was also strengthened by the good cooperation between their leaders, Vladimir Putin and Milorad Dodik.

"Today, we are in Ritešić to remind ourselves of everything that forms part of our culture, tradition and cuisine," Vulić told reporters.

Yuri Pichugin, adviser at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in BiH, said the Serb-Russian Spiritual Center and the Monastery of Saint Matrona of Moscow in Ritešić have for around 20 years symbolized friendship between the Russian and Serb peoples, a relationship he said continues to develop to mutual benefit thanks to Zoran Gajić, president of the Association of Serb-Russian Friendship and Unity of Orthodox Peoples.

"The Embassy of the Russian Federation supports this project, and every year we take part in this wonderful event celebrating brotherhood and cultural exchange," Pichugin said, announcing continued support for the construction of the Serb-Russian Pan-Orthodox Ethno Village being developed as part of the Serb-Russian Center.

He explained that the chef at the Russian Embassy in BiH was preparing a variety of traditional Russian dishes at the event for visitors to sample, including marinated shashlik, the so-called Russian salad, which is actually known as Olivier salad, and the Central Asian Soviet-style rice dish plov.

Vladimir Lukin, the Russian Embassy's chef, explained that plov differs from classic risotto in having a richer consistency and containing plenty of garlic and peppers, which give it a distinctive flavor.

The menu also includes mushroom soup, Russian piroshki, Olivier salad and fruit-based desserts.

The exhibition stands feature fruit brandies, honey and honey products, as well as other goods and handicrafts from exhibitors who have also come from Serbia and Montenegro.

The event is being held in the Serb-Russian Pan-Orthodox Ethno Village, which is under construction as part of the Serb-Russian Center located next to the Monastery of Saint Matrona of Moscow in Ritešić.

Zoran Gajić, president of the Association of Serb-Russian Friendship and Unity of Orthodox Peoples, said the local community was known for its hospitality and that construction of the complex was unfortunately progressing more slowly because of international market conditions and broader international relations.

The Serb-Russian Pan-Orthodox Ethno Village will include several functional sections, among them a Russian corner, a Russian Tsar restaurant, a meeting hall, apartments for officials and pilgrims, a Russian military museum and a Russian hospital.

Vulić and Pichugin, together with Republika Srpska National Assembly MP Danijela Jošić and Deputy Defense Minister in the Council of Ministers Aleksandar Goganović, visited the Monastery of Saint Matrona of Moscow and then toured the local exhibitors.

Construction of the Monastery of Saint Matrona of Moscow and the Russian ethno village in Ritešić began in 2009 at the initiative of Zoran Gajić, president of the Association of Serb-Russian Friendship and Unity of Orthodox Peoples.

In 2017, a memorial bust of Russian Emperor Nicholas II was unveiled in the Russian ethno village. Its installation was organized by the Association of Serb-Russian Friendship and Unity of Orthodox Peoples with support from the Russian Embassy in BiH.