Unbreakable Bonds: The Unwavering Friendship Between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey
Chairman of the BiH Presidency Meets with Turkish President in Istanbul
The Chairman of the BiH Presidency, Denis Bećirović, met with the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul as part of a working visit to the Republic of Turkey.
In a meaningful and friendly conversation that lasted several hours, Bećirović thanked the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, for all the help to Bosnia and Herzegovina so far. He especially thanked the Republic of Turkey for its support during the adoption of the Resolution on the International Day of Remembrance and Commemoration of the Genocide in Srebrenica in 1995 at the United Nations General Assembly.
As announced by the Cabinet of Chairman Bećirović, he said that the friendship between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Turkey is invincible, and he emphasized the positive and very important role of the Republic of Turkey in the development and building of a multi-ethnic organization and a functional Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Republic of Turkey is a proven friend of Bosnia and Herzegovina and one of the strongest members of the NATO alliance, which is why, among other things, its support to Bosnia and Herzegovina is extremely important.
PHOTO: Mena
Bećirović also emphasized the fact that EUFOR forces include members of the Turkish contingent, as well as members of the NATO headquarters in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Chairman of the Presidency of BiH said that membership in NATO is a strategic foreign policy goal of Bosnia and Herzegovina and that the realization of the main foreign policy goals, among other things, requires continuous improvement of defense capabilities, strengthening and modernization of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this context, he emphasized the importance of cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Turkey in the field of defense and security.
He thanked the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, that the Republic of Turkey, in addition to strong support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, provides strong support to Bosnia and Herzegovina on its way to Euro-Atlantic integration. He also said that regional cooperation is an important factor on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s path towards European and Euro-Atlantic integration, as well as that Bosnia and Herzegovina remains committed to promoting peace, stability and security in the region.
Erdoğan said that he will work on strengthening the general relationship between the two countries in the next period. He pointed out that preserving the unity, peace and stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina is very important to the Republic of Turkey, and that it will continue to provide full support to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The interlocutors said that Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Turkey have traditionally had very good and friendly relations. In addition to the successful and very intense cooperation in the political, social and cultural fields, Chairman Bećirović and President Erdoğan emphasized that they want to make an extra effort to further improve the bilateral economic and trade relations of the two countries. It was emphasized that mutual visits at a high level also contribute to strengthening relations.
During the conversation, it was said that additional efforts will be made to intensify economic cooperation between the two countries by participating in business forums, but also through direct contacts between businessmen.
Bećirović especially thanked the engagement of the Turkish Development and Coordination Agency (TIKA) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and pointed out the importance of several other projects implemented by Turkish organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina.