"We'll do everything to avoid repeat of 1990s"

"We'll do everything to avoid repeat of 1990s"

Covic, who is also chairman of the Croat National Assembly in Bosnia-Herzegovina and president of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) in Bosnia-Herzegovina, said that relations between the Serbia and Croatia "will no longer be strained since the election campaign in that country will be completed next week."

"It is true we have differing views on past events and we will hardly change them, but that is exactly why it is important to talk about future relations," Vucic said, adding this should be achieved through sincere discussions as well as good economic cooperation.

The good cooperation between Serbs and Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina will continue, he noted, adding this was "something good and important in times of not too enviable stability."

Vucic also said he "hoped and would do everything in his power to avoid a repeat of the situation in the region in 1991."

Commenting on Serb Democratic Party leader Mladen Bosic's statement that "many things happening in the region were reminiscent of 1991," Vucic said that Serbia would do everything to preserve peace and regional stability.

"This is not the time when Milosevic introduced sanctions against Karadzic, nor when Tadic wrote negatively of Dodik," Vucic told reporters in Belgrade after meeting with Covic.

Vucic also said that Serbia and the Serb Republic (RS) have "the best possible relations and that was how it would be in the future," and that Serbia respected Bosnia-Herzegovina's integrity.

"Serbia was and will be by RS' side, that is our obligation and right," Vucic added.

The RS will not, for a second, be without Serbia's support and assistance, Vucic said when asked why Serbia decided against backing the RS Day referendum.

"We did not back that decision but we neither exerted pressure, nor will we in any way influence the decision on whether the referendum will be held," Vucic told a press conference with Covic.

"Serbia has been and will be with the RS," he noted, stressing that Serbia's position on the referendum should not make anyone draw conclusions about divisions.

He said he hoped nothing that was related to the referendum would deteriorate the situation or cause an escalation threatening regional security, adding that Serbia would do everything to preserve peace and stability in the region.

Asked to comment on a request of the Prosecution of Bosnia-Herzegovina "related to an investigation against (RS President) Dodik," Vucic briefly replied:

"Serbia respects President Milorad Dodik."

Dragan Covic also spoke about the RS referendum to say that "he personally was not surprised by the decision to call it" and expects the referendum to be held. Covic also said that "too much tension has been created around this issue," and that he expects "nothing to change" after the plebiscite takes place on September 25.

The Croat member of the Bosnia's Presidency also said he was grateful to Vucic for the time he set aside for their "friendly conversation, held with the goal of putting an end to the negative atmosphere felt in Bosnia-Herzegovina, but also in the region."