A thousand and one delegate will vote on Saturday to elect a new leader of the Alliance of the Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), the ruling party in Bosnia's Republika Srpska entity, currently led by Milorad Dodik. Dodik is also the only candidate for the position.

The convention that is taking place in the northern city of Doboj is attended by a large number of guests, including senior officials, local and international representatives.

Dodik arrived at the event in company of Milos Vucevic, the leader of the ruling party in Serbia SNS.

The event is also attended by Ivica Dacic, Serbian Foreign Affairs Minister and the SPS party leader, Russian ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Igor Kalabukhov, Chinese ambassador Ji Ping, as well as the ambassador of Hungary Krisztian Posa.

Among the local politicians attending the event are Petar Djokic, Nenad Nesic, Nenad Stevandic and others.

Addressing the attendees Dodik said that the SNSD party advocates peace and a better life of citizens.

He greeted the “friends” from Serbia, Hungary, Montenegro, China, Russia.

The convention is chaired by SNSD senior member Zeljka Cvijanovic, who currently serves as the Serb member of Bosnia's tripartite state presidency.