The visit of Russian Foreign Affairs Minister to Bosnia and Herzegovina is the most important visit over the past years, a lot more than it was thought it would be, said political analyst Ibrahim Prohic.

Speaking for N1, Prohic noted that the many Bosniaks were somewhat afraid of the visit, due to Russia’s stand on the issues and events from the Balkans and its “taking side” of the Serbs and Republika Srpska (RS), Bosnia’s Serb-dominated entity.

“This visit has had several dimensions and it was one diplomatic lesson that everyone could learn a lot from,” underlined Prohic.

Russia’s Lavrov paid an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday where he held a series of meetings with senior state officials and representatives of RS. He first held a meeting with Bosnian Presidency members and Foreign Affairs Minister and then proceeded to the city of Banja Luka, the seat of RS institutions, where he met Bosnian Serb leader and attended a ceremony of the laying of a cornerstone for a church in that city.

On several occasions during the day, Lavrov reiterated Russia’s support to Bosnia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while emphasising that any change in the country must be carried out in agreement of Bosnia’s three constituent peoples and two semi-autonomous entities.

“Lavrov said absolutely nothing that wasn’t known before, but this is where the main benefit for Bosnia and Herzegovina and its future is hiding. It tells us that Russia’s diplomacy is not changing its course towards Bosnia and Herzegovina,” stressed Prohic pointing out the fact that Lavrov first arrived in the country’s capital city and visited state institutions, and only afterwards left to Banja Luka.

“It is a crucial benefit that Russia doesn’t change its stance towards Bosnian issue. The second lesson says there is no adventurism, and we know the RS President is inclined to that”, concluded Prohic.

Lavrov ended the visit Friday evening and departed from Banja Luka’s Mahovljani airport.