VIENNA, March 11. /TASS/. Hungary, Serbia and Republika Srpska (one of the two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina) are ready to develop cultural ties with Russia, special representative of the Russian President for international cultural cooperation, Mikhail Shvydkoy told reporters.

"Today, if we talk about European countries, a lot depends on the political position of the country’s leadership. In this sense, let’s say, my recent trip to Hungary, where I met with representatives of various ministries and various cultural institutions, showed that Hungary is ready to resume cultural contacts namely with Russian institutions, not with private representatives of Russian culture, but precisely with institutions. The same situation is with Serbia, which is developing quite actively, and in this sense, the representation of Russian culture in Serbia - as well as in Bosnia and Herzegovina (I am talking about Republika Srpska) is quite broad," Shvydkoy said.

He noted that this year celebrations on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the forum of Slavic cultures created by decision of the leadership of Russia and Slovenia will be held in Serbia. According to him, the choice of this Balkan country as a site for the celebration was due to its "acceptability for all participating countries" of this initiative.

Shvydkoy is in Austria on a visit. He visited the Russian House in Vienna, where he met with compatriots and local cultural figures. After Vienna, the special representative of the Russian President for international cultural cooperation will visit Bratislava, where he will meet with representatives of the Slovak authorities. Earlier, the Minister of Culture of Slovakia, Martina Simkovicova, canceled the ruling under which, after February 24, 2022, the republic’s cultural cooperation with Russia and Belarus was stopped.