Dodik meets Putin, talks on Election Law continue

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - BiH Presidency member Milorad Dodik is travelling to Moscow tomorrow where he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as representatives of Gazprom with whom he will discuss gas supply.

"I will meet with Putin, and that is why I am going there. There have been some cynical reactions to that... The West's strategy, Great Britain's, says there is some malign Russian influence here. And they don't just have malign, but disastrous policies, Great Britain, partly America, and I see that we will not be well-positioned with the new German government either. But what can we do, we are not here to fulfill their wishes," said Dodik.

He stated that he has been working to explain to Russia and China what is going on, and they want to hear from him. He also mentioned that significant work is being done to initiate a lawsuit against High Representative Christian Schmidt in Germany.

He stated that Russia has proven to be an important partner of Republika Srpska, and all of this has resulted in economic cooperation and the supply of energy at more favorable prices.

"I believe that for our needs and for the needs of building the gas pipeline and two gas power plants, we will reach an agreement and preserve this price for this period, just as Serbia has done, and that we will also achieve the success that Aleksandar Vučić achieved and Putin's understanding that we will also find it," stated Dodik.

Dodik said that during his visit to Moscow, he will also discuss economic issues, emphasizing that the construction of the gas pipeline from Rača to Banja Luka will undoubtedly be a topic with both the President of Russia and the top officials of Gazprom.

On Monday, Dodik held a meeting with US envoy for electoral reform Matthew Palmer and EU representative Angelina Eicchorst at the residence of the Head of the EU Delegation, Johann Sattler. The presidents of SDA and HDZ BiH, Bakir Izetbegović and Dragan Čović, were also present in the evening, but were not inclined to make statements. 

Foreign mediators in BiH will remain until December 2nd, and possibly longer, to reach an agreement. 

Yesterday, meetings were held with the civil sector, members of the Central Election Commission (CIK), as well as with representatives of opposition parties in the FBiH. 

New talks are scheduled for today, and some of the meetings will take place at the Embassy of the Netherlands.