Milorad Dodik, president of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Republika Srpska (RS) entity, said, immediately before the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg, that he would first of all "thank him for Russia's position in the UN General Assembly on the Resolution on the Srebrenica genocide", adding that he needs to find out what Putin's further plans are in order to adapt.

Speaking about the Resolution on the genocide in Srebrenica, which was adopted by the General Assembly on May 23 this year, Dodik felt the need to thank Putin.

“First of all, I would like to thank him for Russia's clear position. They [the Russians] said at the General Assembly that this does not contribute to reconciliation and additional understanding between people and that they want to demonize a people. President Putin understands that very well and he understands it and is against it, so it is easy for me to talk to him on that topic,” said Dodik.

Then, openly and without concealment, Dodik confirmed that he actually aligns his actions and policies with Putin's plans.

“What we'll focus on is finding out what the plans and projections are for the future so that way we can adapt some of our plans and relationships. President Putin is a man who is undoubtedly a strong statesman and has shown the ability to lead a great and powerful Russia and a man who has had to make difficult decisions at critical moments. And I know from past conversations how much the suffering of others burdens him, but simply the state and national interests of Russia were threatened and they had to defend themselves in this way, as well. So we will have the opportunity to go through all that”, Dodik said.

In the end, he announced that he would ask Putin to consider ways in which the RS could participate in the BRICS forum.