Turkey, Serbia to Strengthen Relations

Turkish President Abdullah Gul arrives in Belgrade today for a two-day state visit, as the two countries look to strengthen their economic and political ties.

In an interview with daily Danas, Gul said that Turkey and Serbia are historically the most important Balkan countries and that cooperation between them is, thus, of great importance for peace and stability in the region.

“My friend President Boris Tadic and I will commit ourselves to mutual cooperation [for the] future as well as [on] concrete projects we will realise," the newspaper quoted Gul as saying. 

Gul is the first Turkish head of state to visit Serbia since 1986. Relations between the two countries were strained after Turkey became one of the first countries to recognise Kosovo’s unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February 2008.

“Our recognition of Kosovo’s independence, with whose people Turkey [has] always had strong and special relations, and whose independence came as a result of a long-term engagement of the international community, is not a stance directed against Serbia. This stance should not represent an obstacle for the development of mutual relations,” Gul told the daily.

Turkish-Serbian relations improved in June 2008 with the signing of a bilateral free trade agreement, aimed at encouraging direct investment from Turkey in Serbia and joint projects.

In an interview with Turkish daily Today’s Zaman, Serbia’s ambassador to Turkey, Vladimir Curgus, said that bilateral political relations were "very good".
 
"Turkey is not only the biggest country in the region, but is also a very important country for us to work with. We believe that we can do much more together for the western Balkans, for the stability of the region and, of course, particularly, for integration into the EU. Both countries, all of the Balkans, want that," the daily quoted Curgus as saying.

The two countries have the same aim: to join the EU. “We appreciate and support Serbia’s European integrations […] As for Turkey’s EU membership, we count on Serbia as a country [for] support and help,” Gul said.
 
The Turkish president is scheduled to hold talks with Tadic, after which the two leaders will attend a joint news conference. He will also speak with Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic and Speaker Slavica Dukic-Dejanovic, and attend a Turkish-Serbian Business Council meeting.