Dodik: Putin could soon visit Serbia, and Balkans

Dodik: Putin could soon visit Serbia, and Balkans

MOSCOW -- RS President Milorad Dodik is in Moscow on Thursday where he told B92 that Russian President Vladimir Putin could soon travel "to the Balkans and Belgrade."

The leader of the Serb entity (RS) of Bosnia-Herzegovina met with Putin today.

"It was a successful and good meeting, President Putin showed he was significantly well informed about the state of affairs in our region, he wished me success in elections, and hinted at his arrival to the region, and a new meeting I will have with him very soon," Dodik revealed.

Asked whether Serbia was mentioned during their conversation, Dodik replied:

"Serbia is an important partner of the Russian Federation and, of course, Serbia was also mentioned. Russia appreciates very much Serbia's principled position and behavior when it comes to this whole situation and in that regard, as I understood it, a certain visit is planned."

After Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić visited Moscow in July, it was suggested that Putin would attend ceremonies to mark the WW2 liberation of Belgrade on October 19.

Tanjug is reporting today that Putin received Dodik and stressed on the occasion that Russia and the RS were developing their relations successfully.

The Russian president also remarked that the volume of trade between Russia and the RS was "modest" but that it had increased by 25 percent lately.

Putin wished Dodik success in upcoming elections in Bosnia, stressing he was "aware that a significant number of voters supported him - that is already clear now."

He then noted that this was their second meeting this year, and added:

"You are a very...