Bosnia's northern city of Banja Luka, the second-largest, and the capital of Serbia are becoming sister cities, raising the cooperation to a higher level, the mayors confirmed in a meeting on Monday.

The agreement verifying the decision will be formally signed during October.

“We will raise the cooperation to formal level, and the specific forms of cooperation that already exist now will continue,” said Banja Luka Mayor, Igor Radojicic.

And Novi Sad, Serbia's northern city that was proclaimed the European Capital of Culture for 2021, will help Banja Luka nominate for this role in the upcoming years, added Radojicic.

Belgrade Deputy Mayor, Goran Vesic, thanked Banja Luka City Assembly for verifying the cooperation between the two cities, raising it into a more formal degree. Besides the cultural content that will make Banja Luka and Republika Srpska – Bosnia's Serb-dominated region where this city is located, more visible in Belgrade, Serbia's capital city is also likely to name one of its parks after this region.

“We also talked about naming a park in Belgrade after Republika Srpska, which will be organised in a way that its every part resembles a part of Republika Srpska,” added Vesic.