At the initiative of 14 associations of Herzegovinians from East and Old Herzegovina, representatives of the organisations met with MP Miodrag Linta at the National Assembly House to exchange views and suggestions on how to improve the cooperation of East and Old Herzegovina, as part of the Republic of Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the Republic of Serbia.

Following an in-depth discussion on the problems troubling the inhabitants of this part of Herzegovina, the participants agreed to organise a visit of representatives of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce to Herzegovina to view the situation in the field and find a solution to the problems of product distribution between East Herzegovina and the Republic of Serbia. One of the proposals accepted at the meeting was that representatives of the associations of Herzegovinians should initiate the construction of two product distribution centres on the territory of East Herzegovina.

Considering the inadequate economic and social development of East and Old Herzegovina and the fact that this part of the Republic of Srpska abounds in unused potential such as natural resources, favourable climate and environmentally clean area, rich cultural heritage and long tradition, the associations of Herzegovinians wish to motivate all relevant factors in the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska to jointly contribute to making the area a place of quality living and sustainable return.

The meeting also touched on promoting cultural cooperation, the possibility of organising school trips to this part of Herzegovina, reconstruction of sports halls and the construction of highway Belgrade-Visegrad-Trebinje-Herceg Novi.

On the occasion, Linta suggested organising a series of meetings between the representatives of the associations and the relevant authorities at the Ministry of Culture and Media, Ministry of Trade Tourism and Telecommunications and the Ministry of Finance, as well as the European Integration Office to examine the possible participation in IPA projects.

They also agreed that the associations’ Coordination Board should send an appeal to the Mayor of Belgrade Sinisa Mali asking for office space in Belgrade for the representatives of the associations of Herzegovinians which would be of great help since, they say, they are very active in the organisation of humanitarian actions such as the ones they conducted last year to assist the areas affected by the floods.

One of the ideas was to initiate twinning between East Herzegovina and municipalities in Serbia, and that a Serbian delegation should visit the village of Prebilovci where the reconstruction of a church dedicated to the All Serbian Saints and Martyrs of Prebilovci is underway.

The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Culture and Media, Ministry of Trade Tourism and Telecommunications, Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Belgrade Chamber of Commerce, Ministry of Mining and Energy, Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection and Ministry of Youth and Sport.