The Minister of Scientific and Technological Development and Higher Education of the Republic of Srpska, Prof. Draga Mastilović PhD, met today in Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan (Russian Federation), with Deputy Minister of Science and Education Konstantin Mogilevsky. They discussed ways to improve and further intensify cooperation between the Republic of Srpska and the Russian Federation in the fields of science and higher education.

During the meeting, particular emphasis was placed on strengthening institutional cooperation between universities and scientific research institutions in the Republic of Srpska and the Russian Federation, as well as on creating new opportunities for joint work among scientists, researchers and the academic community.

Mogilevsky put forward an initiative to establish an Association of Russian and Serbian Universities, which, in its initial phase, would bring together universities from the Republic of Srpska and 17 universities from the Russian Federation. Following the signing of an agreement at ministerial level, the constituent assembly of the Association would be held in Moscow.

The establishment of the Association would represent a new dimension in cooperation between the Republic of Srpska and the Russian Federation in the fields of science and higher education, with the aim of further strengthening links between universities, scientists and the academic community.

Minister Mastilović stressed the Republic of Srpska's commitment to continuing to develop and institutionally strengthen cooperation with the Russian Federation, particularly in view of the traditionally strong relations and numerous contacts established between universities and scientific institutions.

He added that the cooperation achieved to date provides a good basis for further expansion, noting that greater emphasis should be placed in the coming period on concrete projects, exchange programmes and the establishment of links between research teams.

Deputy Minister of Science and Education Konstantin Mogilevsky expressed satisfaction with the results achieved so far and stressed that joint efforts would continue with the aim of creating new opportunities for students, professors, researchers and scientific research institutions in the Republic of Srpska and the Russian Federation.