Turkey supports Bosnia’s integrity and stability and will help the country in case of any crisis, said Turkish Ambassador to Bosnia, Haldun Koc, on Monday.
“We want to see a more developed and prosperous Bosnia and Herzegovina that will live in peace and stability and preserve its sensitive position in the Balkans because this is a special country with a special system of governance,” the ambassador said.
“Such a sensitive arrangement will stand on more stable foundations when relying on economy and trade. Therefore, as a sincere friend of the region and this country, we will always be with Bosnia in all circumstances and we will support its development and stability. This is, of course, important for us because we have deep historical and cultural ties,” Koc said.
Ankara advocates for the preservation of the integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its EU and NATO membership, he stressed.
One of Bosnia’s burning problems right now is also brain-drain and this can be stopped with the creation of more job opportunities for which the country needs foreign investments.
Turkey’s Ambassador commented on an agreement on free trade between the two countries, calling it an important legal framework for strengthening economic cooperation.
“When it comes to trade, we have reached a trade exchange of 700 million US dollars in previous years, but our goal is to reach a billion US dollars, as soon as possible,” he said.
“The pandemic has slowed us down in that regard because there has been a stalemate in economic terms. Nevertheless, we will maintain this existing level of 700 million US dollars by the end of the year, and we are happy about that,” he said.
However, arrangements that would make trade easier would attract more investors, popular brands and Bosnian officials are ready to make those arrangements, especially after the pandemic that has slowed down economic growth and employment, he argued.
But regardless of the pandemic, Turkey continues to import the same amount of meat and agricultural products from Bosnia and Herzegovina as before.
“These are important steps for both of us to overcome these difficult times,” Koc said.
The ambassador also said that Turkey believes that regional projects are very important, such as the Sarajevo – Belgrade highway, which should strengthen the cooperation of Serbia and Bosnia and the relations between their populations.
Ankara will open a consulate in Banja Luka this year which will increase its presence on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina as that is important for economic ties.
Many Turks are usually visiting the country as tourists and although the pandemic has slowed down tourism, Koc said he believes that the numbers will pick up as soon as the virus is gone.
Turkey is a member of the Peace Implementation Council – a body consisting of ambassadors of several countries that monitor the 1995 peace agreement which stopped the Bosnian war.
“The goal we all agree on is the unity, integrity and stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the PIC insists on that,” Koc said.
“A crisis or problem in Bosnia can be a factor of instability for the whole region and therefore the integrity and stability of this country represents the stability of the Balkans,” he said.
Koc noted that Bosnia is now facing a migrant crisis, “which is a particularly difficult issue due to the organization of the country, so we need to keep in mind this sensitive situation and we need to work together to ensure stability for this country and not put additional burdens on it.”
