Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey have exceptional friendly and brotherly relations, Bosnia Presidency Chairman Sefik Dzaferovic said after the meeting with Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sarajevo on Tuesday, emphasising Turkey's commitment to Bosnia's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

“We will continue to strengthen those relations,” Dzaferovic said addressing a press conference.

He recalled that the two countries have exchanged four official visits – two in Ankara and two in Sarajevo, adding that there is no other country that Bosnia has such “close and strong” relationship like with Turkey.

Speaking about agreements between Bosnia and Turkey, and the projects that the two countries worked on together, Dzaferovic singled out the construction of the Sarajevo-Belgrade-Sarajevo highway and stressed that this project will hopefully be carried out soon.

“The second one is the free trade agreement. Turkey gave Bosnia and Herzegovina the most favourable conditions among all other countries when it comes to free trade and we must use that,” said the Presidency Chairman, adding that the trade exchange which is now at the 850-900 million dollars has to increase to one billion dollars by the end of the year.

As for the segments of cooperation that still need to be developed, Dzaferovic mentioned industrial zone and energy sector.

Also, the leaders discussed the travel conditions for the citizens of the two countries, agreeing that their movement need to be facilitated.

“We also discussed the movement of the citizens of Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina to these countries using IDs only. Erdogan and the Presidency members agreed with that proposal and it remains that all those procedures are carried out and we see how is this possible,” said Dzaferovic.

He also emphasised Turkey's commitment to Bosnia's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Turkey also supports the mandate of the EU military mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as its extension.

“Turkey, I would say, plays a very stabilising and relaxing role when it comes to the Western Balkans and when it comes to us in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we can say that Turkey has good relations with all peoples and this is important for the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he said.