Hungary has a vested interest in the peace, stability and security of the Balkans, and Serbians living in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Republika Srpska play a key role in that process, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Saturday, after meeting Milorad Dodik, the Serbian member of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s presidential troika, in Banja Luka.
“Hungarian history shows clearly the effect of the region’s events on our country,” and Hungary is committed to supporting the region’s development, PM Orbán told the press after the meeting.
“We will expand our neighborhood and economic program to the Republika Srpska, we will support small and medium-sized enterprises and open new opportunities for Hungarian entrepreneurs too,” he said.
According to Milorad Dodik, PM Orbán has “arrived on a friendly visit,” with the aim of further strengthening the cooperation between Republika Srpska (RS). Dodik added that the Hungarian prime minister is a “great friend” of the RS and a “significant European politician.”
Speaking to representatives of the press, Milorad Dodik confirmed that while the RS respects the Dayton Agreement and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s territorial integrity, it plans to reinstate its original competencies laid out in the agreement.