Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic conferred Saturday in Banja Luka with Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik on relations between Serbia and Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina, saying that there was positive change in the region.

Jeremic told reporters after the talks that these changes came about especially after Serbia was granted candidate status for membership in the EU.

Jeremic said that the talk was devoted mainly to European integration.

He said Serbia has good cooperation with the countries in the region, that cooperation is now more stable and harmonious and that joint efforts are needed to keep it that way.

Jeremic said that after positive changes in BiH, there is agreement in the stands of Belgrade and Banja Luka that it is difficult to justify the existence of the Office of the High Representative (OHR).

Artificial maintaining of an institution that is hindering progress not only at home but also in the region, as it supports an external management system is inconsistent with democratic principles, the European conditions and European rules ... I think it should be closed, Jeremic said.

As regards Serbia's candidacy for the chair of the UN General Assembly, Jeremic said that Serbia's policy is to support the countries of the region when they run for high office and reminded that this was the case when voting in the UN on membership of BiH in the Security Council.

He added, however, that every country makes its decisions independently, in accordance with its interests.

Dodik said that Serbia's position regarding the Dayton Agreement and the interests of Republika Srpska is right.

He said that BiH should be what it is, a service of policies and interests of the two entities.

Srpska expects Sarajevo to support the activities at the international level in future, especially regarding the candidacy of Minister Jeremic for the UN General Assembly, Dodik said.

It is of utmost importance for Republika Srpska, a supremely important political issue for the region, he said.