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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia, Turkey strive towards prosperous stable Balkans

Belgrade, 23 July 2009

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu stated today that despite differences over the Kosovo issue, Serbia and Turkey will continue to strive for the creation of a prosperous and stable Balkans, integrated into the EU.

Author: Fonet

Jeremic and Davutoglu told the press after their meeting that it is important for Serbia and Turkey to advance their economic cooperation.

The Ministers also signed a memorandum of understanding on behalf of the two governments concerning the formation of a programme coordination office of the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency

Stressing that Turkey has an important role to play in the Balkan region, Jeremic said that there is full political will within Turkey to make major infrastructure investments in Serbia.

The Serbian and Turkish governments will work together on infrastructure projects, primarily the construction of a motorway through Serbia.

I hope that Serbia and Turkey will establish even better relations and develop a strategic partnership. Cooperation is in our joint interests, said Jeremic.

He said that there are also some open issues, of which the most sensitive is Kosovo, but despite these differences both sides are fully prepared to make joint efforts in the interests of peace and stability in the region, with the hope and intent that current differences will be overcome.

Jeremic said that he hopes that all the Western Balkan countries and Turkey will become members of the EU soon.

He reiterated that improving regional cooperation is one of Serbia’s three foreign policy priorities and that the government will continue work on establishing good relations with countries in the region.

Differences in opinion and controversial issues should be settled through dialogue and cooperation, which is precisely what we are doing, said Jeremic.

Davutoglu said that Belgrade and Ankara share the same vision of a stable and prosperous region.

We have a common aim, to change the image of the Balkan region and to make it a region of stability, security, peaceful co-existence and prosperity, Davutoglu said.

Turkey supports the Euro-Atlantic orientation of the region, Davutoglu said.

With the development of bilateral relations and mutual dedication to European and Euro-Atlantic integration I believe we have a great future ahead, Davutoglu said.

We must not allow for the picture of conflict and tension to be created, like it was in the 1990s. Together with Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia we wish to create a different image of our region, the image that we rely on political dialogue, cultural co-existence and economic cooperation, he said.

Asked whether Turkey will re-examine its decision to recognise Kosovo if the International Court of Justice states that it is against international law, Davutoglu said that there are some issues that even friends disagree about and that despite differences regarding Kosovo we can together work on the stability of the region.

He also said that there are no open issues between Belgrade and Ankara and that there is a strong will to further bilateral relations.

There is full political will to develop our economic relations and increase Turkish investment in Serbia, he said.

Turkey is particularly interested in investing in the Sandzak region, which is seen as a bridge of friendship between Turkey and Serbia, he said.

Cooperation between the two countries will be further strengthened with the implementation of the free trade agreement between Serbia and Turkey, he concluded.