Citizens expect the cooperation between Bosnia and Croatia to intensify and the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be a reliable partner towards the improvement of bilateral relations between the two countries, Presidency Chairman Zeljko Komsic said in a congratulatory note he sent to Zoran Milanovic, the presidential election winner in Croatia.

“Mr Milanovic, I sincerely congratulate you on the victory in the presidential election in the Republic of Croatia. In the wake of Croatia's assuming of European Union Presidency, the citizens of the Republic of Croatia and the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina expect the cooperation between two friendly countries to intensify. You have reliable partners in the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina towards the improvement of bilateral relations,” said Komsic as he congratulated the election of Croatia's new President to the citizens of that country.

“I sincerely wish Zoran will find a new path and strength to be different from everything up to now, we all need him to be like that,” added Komsic.

With nearly all of the ballots counted, former Prime Minister and centre-left candidate Zoran Milanovic won 52.7 percent of the votes, while the incumbent conservative president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, with 47.3 percent of the votes, did not manage to win a second term.

Other Bosnian officials joined Komsic and extended congratulations to the newly elected President.

Bosnian Serb Presidency member, Milorad Dodik, expect Milanovic to be the President to all citizens and that he will work on the improvement of the status of Serbs in Croatia.

“I expect that soon after officially assuming the duty of the President of Croatia we will improve our relations and intensify the cooperation and dialogue on many open issues in mutual interest and for the benefit of all citizens,” Dodik wrote in his message.

Bosnian Croat leader, Dragan Covic, called Milanovic to work on the protection of Croats in Bosnia towards their full equality as a constituent ethnic group.

He also urged the new President to work together with Bosnian authorities on the strengthening of good neighbourly relations and the achievement of Bosnian Euro-Atlantic road.