The Montenegrin Foreign Ministry has distanced itself from Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandic's failure to display the Bosnia and Herzegovina flag during last week's meeting with the president of the Bosnian Serb entity of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik.

The BiH Foreign Ministry sent a protest note to the Montenegrin ministry on 28 February because RS insignia and not BiH insignia were displayed during the meeting.

Bosnia sends protest note to Montenegro

Protest in Montenegro over Dodik’s visit

Responding to the protest note, per Beta news agency, the Montenegrin ministry said it did not take part in the organisation and protocol activities regarding Dodik's visit and that the visit was organised by the Montenegrin parliament.

The ministry said it notified parliament of the oversight in not displaying the BiH flag along with the RS flag.

The Montenegrin government supports BiH's sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as its state insignia, flag and historical continuity, the Foreign Ministry said, adding that it hopes this event will not affect the friendly and good neighbourly relations between Sarajevo and Podgorica, Beta reported.

Visiting Montenegro last week, Dodik gave Mandic a draft agreement on special RS-Montenegro ties and praised the Serbian World concept.

Mandic, the head of Montenegro's pro-Serbian and pro-Russian ruling majority, was the only Montenegrin official who met with Dodik.

During a reception outside the Montenegrin parliament, dozens of protesters booed Dodik, calling him a fascist. Before visiting Montenegro, Dodik met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko.