Serbian FM meets with RS president

Serbia has a vital interest in the prosperity and stability of the Serb republic (RS), Bosnia-Herzegovina and Western Balkans, said Vuk Jeremic. Serbia's foreign minister was on Wednesday visiting Banja Luka, RS, where he met with the Serb entity's president Milorad Dodik. Serbian FM meets with RS president Belgrade and Banja Luka share the same view on the future of Western Balkans, Jeremic said. He told reporters that his meeting with Dodik focused on the upcoming meeting of the council for the implementation of the agreement on special parallel ties between Serbia and RS, expected to be held in a few weeks in Belgrade. Other topics discussed were the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina and RS and in Western Balkans in general, Jeremic said. The talk also focused on the process of integration in the European Union and both sides are ready to help each other in this process, he said. "After the elections held in Bosnia-Herzegovina, it is important to constitute all its authorities, he said," noting that the Serb republic has already done so. "Full understanding and synchronized activities between Belgrade and Banja Luka will be very important in the near future," Jeremic said. "Things are moving in the right direction." "President Dodik will have a series of important meetings in the coming days," Jeremic was quoted as saying and noting that he and Dodik held consultations and exchanged views in the expectation of these meetings. "There are no differences in views on any issues between Belgrade and Banja Luka and they will work closely together in the future," he said. Noting that his meeting with Jeremic focused on the upcoming session of the council of Serbian and RS bodies, President Dodik said that the talk focused also on the political situation developments in Serbia and in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He noted that he informed Minister Jeremic that RS has already constituted all its authorities and that its institutions are working according to the law. RS readily entered the negotiations on the constitution of Bosnia-Herzegovina authorities, he said, adding that his party SNSD signed with SDS a platform on joint activities within Bosnia-Herzegovina. There has been a delay in constituting new Bosnia-Herzegovina authorities, and RS is ready to activate all its potentials to achieve this goal as soon as possible, Dodik emphasized. He reiterated that the Serb republic wants to maintain the principle of rotation as regards the election of the chairman of the Council of Ministers and to get the ministerial posts that belong to it according to the Bosnia-Herzegovina Constitution. "RS believes that constituting authorities comes first, after which agreement can be reached on the issues that should be resolved," he said. Dodik noted that he informed Jeremic that he would visit Berlin on February 11 and confer with German officials and Chancellor Angela Merkel. He expects the talks in Germany to focus not only on political issues regarding Bosnia-Herzegovina and integration in the European Union, but also on economic cooperation between RS and German partners. "RS wants to foster its relations with Serbia within the framework of the Dayton Accord and of EU practice and trends," he said. Dodik and Jeremic meet in Banja Luka (Tanjug) "Good relations with everyone" Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic stated in Banja Luka on Wednesday that Serbia needs to have good relations and communication with all international forces when it comes to the future of the Balkans, adding that Germany's role in these relations has a special gravity. Replying to reporters' question regarding Germany's influence on the events in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Balkans, Jeremic said that Germany is not the only country that has an influence and interests in the Balkans, noting that other countries with similar interests include Russia and Turkey. "We need to talk to everyone and we have to engage itself fully when it comes to the future of the Balkans," Jeremic said and added that Serbia needs to have good communication and relations with all international forces and all the countries that exert international influence. He also noted that Germany has a special gravity in these relations. "We will talk to everyone, with Europe, Russia, Turkey, with everyone who are influential here, but we start from the maters that constitute our national interest," Jeremic stated and underscored that Serbia will communicate with everyone that are interested in the stability of this part of the world, which will help the country to achieve its interests as well. German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently initiated talks with representative of strongest parties in Bosnia-Herzegovina and a number of bilateral meetings with representatives of the parties have so far been held in Berlin.

Serbian FM meets with RS president

Belgrade and Banja Luka share the same view on the future of Western Balkans, Jeremić said.

He told reporters that his meeting with Dodik focused on the upcoming meeting of the council for the implementation of the agreement on special parallel ties between Serbia and RS, expected to be held in a few weeks in Belgrade.

Other topics discussed were the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina and RS and in Western Balkans in general, Jeremić said.

The talk also focused on the process of integration in the European Union and both sides are ready to help each other in this process, he said.

"After the elections held in Bosnia-Herzegovina, it is important to constitute all its authorities, he said," noting that the Serb republic has already done so.

"Full understanding and synchronized activities between Belgrade and Banja Luka will be very important in the near future," Jeremić said. "Things are moving in the right direction."

"President Dodik will have a series of important meetings in the coming days," Jeremić was quoted as saying and noting that he and Dodik held consultations and exchanged views in the expectation of these meetings.

"There are no differences in views on any issues between Belgrade and Banja Luka and they will work closely together in the future," he said.

Noting that his meeting with Jeremić focused on the upcoming session of the council of Serbian and RS bodies, President Dodik said that the talk focused also on the political situation developments in Serbia and in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

He noted that he informed Minister Jeremić that RS has already constituted all its authorities and that its institutions are working according to the law.

RS readily entered the negotiations on the constitution of Bosnia-Herzegovina authorities, he said, adding that his party SNSD signed with SDS a platform on joint activities within Bosnia-Herzegovina.

There has been a delay in constituting new Bosnia-Herzegovina authorities, and RS is ready to activate all its potentials to achieve this goal as soon as possible, Dodik emphasized.

He reiterated that the Serb republic wants to maintain the principle of rotation as regards the election of the chairman of the Council of Ministers and to get the ministerial posts that belong to it according to the Bosnia-Herzegovina Constitution.

"RS believes that constituting authorities comes first, after which agreement can be reached on the issues that should be resolved," he said.

Dodik noted that he informed Jeremić that he would visit Berlin on February 11 and confer with German officials and Chancellor Angela Merkel.

He expects the talks in Germany to focus not only on political issues regarding Bosnia-Herzegovina and integration in the European Union, but also on economic cooperation between RS and German partners.

"RS wants to foster its relations with Serbia within the framework of the Dayton Accord and of EU practice and trends," he said.

"Good relations with everyone"

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić stated in Banja Luka on Wednesday that Serbia needs to have good relations and communication with all international forces when it comes to the future of the Balkans, adding that Germany's role in these relations has a special gravity.

Replying to reporters' question regarding Germany's influence on the events in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Balkans, Jeremić said that Germany is not the only country that has an influence and interests in the Balkans, noting that other countries with similar interests include Russia and Turkey.

"We need to talk to everyone and we have to engage itself fully when it comes to the future of the Balkans," Jeremić said and added that Serbia needs to have good communication and relations with all international forces and all the countries that exert international influence. He also noted that Germany has a special gravity in these relations.

"We will talk to everyone, with Europe, Russia, Turkey, with everyone who are influential here, but we start from the maters that constitute our national interest," Jeremić stated and underscored that Serbia will communicate with everyone that are interested in the stability of this part of the world, which will help the country to achieve its interests as well.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently initiated talks with representative of strongest parties in Bosnia-Herzegovina and a number of bilateral meetings with representatives of the parties have so far been held in Berlin.