ST. PETERSBURG. April 23 (Interfax) - Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev has met with Milorad Dodik, president of Republika Srpska, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the sidelines of an international meeting of security officials in St. Petersburg.
"The parties discussed interaction between Russia and Republika Srpska in various fields. They expressed their satisfaction with the development of the entire spectrum of interstate cooperation and exchanged opinions on the situation in the Balkans and in Europe on the whole," the Russian Security Council's press service said.
Patrushev thanked Dodik for the decision to declare a period of mourning in memory of the victims of the terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall concert venue outside Moscow.
"Your personal trusting contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin play an important role in promoting bilateral interaction," Patrushev said.
"We have noticed that our approaches towards the situation in the Balkans, Europe, and the world on the whole are identical. We are well aware of the unprecedented pressure being put on Banja Luka," Patrushev said.
"In this context, we particularly value the principled position against joining the sanctions and your firm and consistent line concerning the Ukrainian crisis," Patrushev said.
Dodik praised relations between Moscow and Banja Luka and spoke in favor of their continued enhancement.
"I agree that our relations are excellent, and there's a trend towards making these relations even stronger," he said.
Republika Srpska is grateful for attitudes towards it in Russia, particularly on the part of "you personally, President Putin, and the Russian state," Dodik said. "We see this as strategic cooperation. Undeniably, this is of key significance for our continued existence," he said.
Touching on sanctions mentioned by Patrushev, Dodik said, "Certainly, the situation has become even more complicated for us lately. You're absolutely right when you say that this pressure is unprecedented and has been applied continuously."
Dodik also thanked Russian Security Council officials for inviting him to the international security meeting in St. Petersburg and said he greatly valued the chance to attend the event both last year and this time around.