The President of the Republic of Srpska, Milorad Dodik, met yesterday with a delegation of businessmen and Serbs active in Serbian associations in Austria, and a delegation from Serbia.

After the meeting, the President of Srpska said that unity was needed to affirm Serbian national interests.

‘We do not want to put pressure on anyone, our aim is connecting the Serbian people, a better life,’ stated President Dodik.

The President of the Republic of Srpska noted that what took place in Banja Luka that day was a conversation with friends about the state of political security, the economy, and investments.

‘The Republic of Srpska is politically stable, free of visible potentially threatening challenges; the security situation is stable,’ said President Dodik.

Srpska’s President noted that the Republic of Srpska aimed to ensure respect for the letter of the Constitution in BiH, and Srpska was strongly affirming that aim through its institutions.

The President of the Republic said it was necessary to organize associations gathering the Serbian national community in the diaspora.

The President of the Republic of Srpska said he expected Austrian neutrality towards BiH.

Vienna and Belgrade expressed support for the Republic of Srpska in its efforts to preserve its institutions and competences, and Austrian businessmen expressed interest in investing in the Republic of Srpska.

The President of the Republic of Srpska said that Serbs were a large community and could be an important political factor in Austria.

‘All those who have the right to vote there should be united and thus help affirm Serbian national, political and cultural goals, not only in Austria, but also here in the Balkans,’ said President Dodik.

The President of Srpska thanked Serbian Ambassador to Vienna Marko Blagojević for his success in working on the attainment of these goals, and the Head of Srpska’s Vienna Representation, Mladen Filipović, who had made the Representation recognizable and achieve important successes in bringing people from the region together.

The meeting at the Palace of the Republic was also attended by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Srpska, Radovan Višković, Srpska’s Minister of Finance, Zora Vidović, and Minister of European Integration and International Cooperation Zlatan Klokić.

Today we had the opportunity to hear the views of the Republic of Srpska, which are important to be heard also in Austria, said the Head of the Republic of Srpska Representation in Austria, Mladen Filipović.

– Our people show that it is important for the future to have the Serbian voice heard, not only here, but also abroad – Filipović said.

He adds it is noteworthy that the businessmen attending today’s meeting with Srpska’s President employ over 2,000 people.

Source: President of the Republic of Srpska – Ministry of European Integration and International Cooperation – RTRS

Photo: Office of the President of the Republic of Srpska/Borislav Zdrinja