Relations between Russia and Bosnia’s Serb-majority part are heading in the right direction, most of all regarding economic and political issues, Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik told ‘Sputnik’ in St. Petersburg where he is participating in the International Economic Forum.

Dodik said that Russia is acting correctly regarding the Dayton Peace Agreement, that it is supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina’s territorial integrity but that it also defends the rights given to Republika Srpska by the Agreement and by the Constitution.

“Russia is advocating solutions that are based on the agreement within Bosnia and Herzegovina and not imposed by one side, and we welcome that,” he said.

“The other issues are linked to economic relations and there the most important item is the work of the oil refinery, and ‘Zarubeznjeft’ owns those companies,” he said, referring to the north-Bosnian refinery in Bosanski Brod.

Russia is sending an important message that, despite all the pressure, Republika Srpska does not want Bosnia to become a NATO member but that it wants to stay neutral, he said.

“There are constant pressures regarding the joining of NATO – certain forces in Bosnia want that. Republika Srpska’s policy is military neutrality and I think we are sending the message that we do not want to be part of any structures that have global problems with Russia,” Dodik said.

Nobody should lose any friends because of the efforts of the West, he said.

“Whenever Russia starts going forward with its economy and power, the West finds some way either through war or sanctions – to stop it, to stop Russia’s global positioning,” he said.