Prime Ministers of Republic of Srpska and Serbia Savo Minić and Đuro Macut met in Trebinje today where they discussed key infrastructure and development projects including construction of the Trebinje airport, gas connection between Serbia and Republic of Srpska, revitalization of the railway infrastructure and cooperation in the fields of education and justice.

Prime Minister of the Republic of Srpska Savo Minić stated after the meeting that the main design for the Trebinje Airport will be completed within 90 days explaining that the environmental impact study has been completed, while the environmental permit is expected in the next 45 days after the application is submitted.

"I think this is a great thing for Serbia and Republic of Srpska that we have finally managed to go through significant phases", Prime Minister Minić said recalling that the project had been slowed down due to administrative obstacles, but that the necessary consents from Croatia and Montenegro have now been secured.

Speaking about the energy projects, Minić confirmed support for the gas pipeline project that will connect Batajnica and Republic of Srpska havng added that Serbia was already working on implementation of this project. He stated that significant progress was expected after the meeting of representatives of Serbia, Republic of Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in early June in Tuzla.

Minić also announced a new meeting of the two governments on June 23 in Banja Luka, where one of the topics will be increasing the number of flights between Banja Luka and Belgrade, as well as revitalization of the narrow-gauge railway that would connect Višegrad and Serbia.

Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Macut said that work on the Trebinje airport project is being done seriously and systematically, and that there is a clear intention to bring the project to completion in the interest of citizens and the development of the region.

"This shows that this project is being worked on seriously and systematically and that there is a clear intention to bring it to completion in the interest of the citizens and the development of the entire region", Prime Minister Macut said.

Mr. Macut particularly emphasized the importance of the gas connection between Serbia and Republika Srpska, stating that the new route of the gas pipeline from Batajnica to the border with Republic of Srpska could significantly increase energy capacities and contribute to economic development.

He also added that Serbia was working on revitalization of the railway section from Mokra Gora to Višegrad assessing that this project will restore the importance of Višegrad and contribute to development of that region.

During the day in Trebinje, the Ministers of Justice of Republic of Srpska and Serbia, Goran Selak and Nenad Vujić, respectively, signed a statement of intent related to mutual recognition of bar exams and strengthening institutional cooperation in the field of justice.

Selak emphasized that this agreement represented an important step towards strengthening of legal certainty, professional mobility of legal graduates and further connecting the judicial systems of Republic of Srpska and Serbia.

According to the signed statement, the next steps will be focused on preparing the necessary legal acts and obtaining the opinions of the competent institutions, with the aim of improving cooperation in the interest of citizens on both sides of the Drina river.