Djuric: Visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina aimed at progress in cooperation, Serbs' position

SARAJEVO - Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Wednesday his visits to Banjaluka and Sarajevo had been aimed at tangible and concrete progress in regional cooperation, as well as at looking after the position of Republika Srpska and the Serbs and at discussions on mutual support on the EU path.

"I can say that I am very pleased with the discussions I had both in Sarajevo today and in Banjaluka yesterday," Djuric told reporters in Sarajevo after meeting with Bosnia and Herzegovina FM Elmedin Konakovic, adding that the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina recognised the Republic of Serbia and its internationally recongised borders, including Kosovo-Metohija, was significant for Serbia.

He noted that Serbia, too, supported the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Dayton Agreement, the position of Republika Srpska, as well as overall cooperation, which he said should be future-oriented.

"It is clear that there are different views on many topics and phenomena from the past three and a half decades - that certainly remains something that is present both in political life and in the historical memories of our peoples, and no one is saying that things should be swept under the carpet, but there is a clear commitment and a desire for things in the relations to move forward, for the sake of the future of our countries and our peoples," Djuric said.

He said he was not in Bosnia and Herzegovina to make any kind of political gains.

Noting that he was aware that there were much more popular things to do politically, Djuric said he had been tasked by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to work on stabilisation, on protection of the position of Serbs and on strengthening economic cooperation, and added that he also personally wished to do so.

"That was the purpose of all of today's meetings, and I am also very glad to have been in Banjaluka yesterday, where I really felt phenomenally, so we are wrapping up this visit successfully," Djuric said.

He also said Serbia was committed to cooperate with Bosnia and Herzegovina and everyone in the region just as much as it was committed and determined to stand with its people and Republika Srpska, and added that the cooperation with Banjaluka was not at anyone's expense.