Hungary will provide support to the preserving of the unity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said following the meeting with Bosnia State Presidency Chairman Milorad Dodik in Budapest on Tuesday, urging for the improvement of relations with the Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Budapest will also, Orban said, work on strengthening the relations with Banja Luka, the administrative centre and informal capital of Bosnia's Serb-dominated entity Republika Srpska, which Dodik represents in the state Presidency.

Hungary's relations with the Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina are not at a satisfactory level, according to Hungary's senior official.

“We will strengthen the mutual relations of Banja Luka and Budapest and we will design a long-term cooperation because there are broad possibilities for that on the grounds of the mutual friendship of the two people,” said Orban addressing a joint press conference with Bosnian Serb leader who represents both the Serbs and Republika Srpska entity in Bosnia's State Presidency.

Dodik's visit to Budapest, Orban added, means a new chapter in the relations of the two countries.

Addressing the press conference, Bosnian Presidency Chairman said he informed Prime Minister Orban about the state of affairs in Bosnia and the fact that the state government has not been formed since the October election, which prevents cooperation with Hungary in full capacity.

“Cooperation between Budapest and Banja Luka can help achieve better results. I am glad we got the understanding in order to exchange the ideas on economic cooperation,” said Dodik.

He emphasised that the two countries are not burdened with open issues, which is a good basis for future cooperation.

“Budapest and Banja Luka are very close and can develop much more voluminous relations. We sought for a method to make those relations as good as possible,” said Bosnia Presidency Chairman.

He thanked Hungarian Prime Minister for the support that his country provides to Bosnia on its European road and also assessed that Hungary is a link between NATO and Bosnia, which is why it is very important to reach understanding on this matter.

Milorad Dodik paid a three-day visit to Hungary, where he visited the Serb communities and met the country's senior officials.