During the briefing, Maria Vladimirovna answered questions from The Moscow Post.
"When can the Russian consulate in the Republika Srpska be opened, what did President Milorad Dodik talk about?," our correspondent asked.
In response, Maria Zakharova said that the branch of the Russian Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina in Bani Luka was approved in the summer of 2022.
Grounds - an order of the Government of Russia of May 25 of that year and the preliminary official consent of the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
And she added - the foreign institution will begin to practical work as soon as the remaining issues of a technical nature are resolved.
"We are sure to inform you in this regard. And we are convinced that the opening of a branch of the Russian Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina in Ban Luka will contribute to the strengthening of traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between our peoples. And, of course, we are grateful to the President of the Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, for attention to this topic, "added the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Probably, the document mentioned by the diplomat, this is an order of the Government of the Russian Federation of 25.05.2022 No. 1309-r.
"To accept the proposal of the Russian Foreign Ministry to establish a branch of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Bosnia and Herzegovina in Banja Luka (Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina)... The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia to establish the staffing of the Embassy within the established number of employees of foreign institutions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia and approve its staffing table, "it said.
Recall that in the fall of 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin received Milorad Dodik in the Kremlin.