Djuric: Important that Bosnia and Herzeovina recognizes Serbia within its internationally recognized borders, including Kosovo and Metohija

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marko Djuric stated that he was satisfied with the talks he held today during his visit to Sarajevo and yesterday in Banja Luka, emphasizing that the goal is to build better-quality relations, not to score political points.

Djuric said this at a press conference after a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konakovic, and the Director for Western Europe at the European External Action Service, Emanuele Giaufret, organized by the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Amer Kapetanovic.

“I am satisfied with the talks I had here today in Sarajevo and yesterday in Banja Luka. The Serbian delegation is not here to score political points but to build better-quality relations, as well as out of concern for the position of the Republic of Srpska and our people, and also to discuss how we can support each other on the path toward the EU,” Djuric said.
He added that Serbia supports the Dayton Agreement.

“It is important that Bosnia and Herzegovina recognizes the Republic of Serbia within its internationally recognized borders, including Kosovo and Metohija, and that is significant for us. We support the Dayton Agreement, but also cooperation that should be oriented toward the future. It is clear that there are different views on many topics and developments from the past three and a half decades, that remains present and no one is saying that things should be swept under the rug, but there is a clear commitment for relations to move forward. We are not here to score political points, but we believe and I have a mandate from President Aleksandar Vucic to work on protecting the position of our people and strengthening economic cooperation,” Djuric said.

The minister emphasized that this is an election year, so it will be difficult to control rhetoric, but that Serbia does not lack the will to try to do so.

“We will not resort to using the methodology that was used against us. On the contrary. We want to achieve a kind of moratorium on harsh words and harsh actions. I cannot assess what the success of that will be because it does not depend only on us, but we do not lack goodwill in that regard. As for the results that the leadership of the Republic of Srpska has achieved on the global level, they are impressive and significant for our entire people, including those outside the Republic of Srpska. Yesterday I sincerely expressed my wish that through mutual cooperation and advocacy for certain values we achieve even better results in the future. That cooperation is not to anyone’s detriment but is the result of Serbia’s unwavering determination to stand by its people, just as we are determined to cooperate with Bosnia and Herzegovina and with all regional actors. We believe that the changes taking place in the world represent a political constellation that requires us to take the first step even when it is not the most popular,” the head of Serbian diplomacy concluded.