Milorad Dodik, the Serb member of Bosnia's tripartite Presidency, has arrived in Sankt Petersburg where he will attend the International Economic Forum and meet Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

“I am glad that we have the opportunity to resume our earlier talks. There are no speculations, anything the others claimed two to three months ago has been missed,” said Dodik, adding that the talks will focus on “how to stabilise our relations, enhance the projects related to gas pipeline and two gas power plants construction, and how to strengthen our efforts to cooperate at the cultural and economic as well as other levels.”

Speaking to the public broadcaster RTRS, Dodik said that the event he is attending in Russia is one of the largest economic forums, especially today when it is being held in light of the conflict in Ukraine.

“There will be 70 or 80 representatives of the states and governments, the most important companies from the part of the world that does not belong to the West, because the West has obviously boycotted it,” said Dodik.

“According to our policy that we do not want to be a part that would support and praise or challenge someone, we equally want to be present and be part of a forum that should respond to many challenges in the world,” he added.