Jusko: Turkey wants to start the Sarajevo - Belgrade expressway project as soon as possible

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina Ismir Jusko, after a meeting with representatives of the Republic of Turkey, led by the Deputy Director General of the Highways Directorate of the Republic of Turkey, Mehmet Tutaş, and representatives of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Republika Srpska, the Government of Brčko District of BiH, and public enterprises for highways and roads from the Federation and Republika Srpska, stated that this was an extremely significant visit. The realization of the announced project for the construction of the Sarajevo – Belgrade expressway was discussed, where available data regarding both routes of the Sarajevo – Belgrade road will also be presented.

- Turkey wants to start the realization of this project as soon as possible. 13 experts from Turkey were present today. A feasibility study will be conducted to determine the next steps. Presentations were made from RS and Brčko District. Representatives of the entities presented their proposals. At this moment, it is difficult to talk about the financial model because it is impossible until both routes are determined – Jusko said.

The Ambassador of Turkey to BiH, Haldun Koc, spoke on behalf of the guests from this country and emphasized that Jusko had summarized the chronology of this project. After last week's high-level meeting, the President of Turkey convened all relevant institutions and asked them to start working to see how this project would proceed.

- As a result of this strongly expressed political will, two expert delegations and one contact today have started and we have a team of experts who have started discussions in Serbia. Today's meeting was an exceptional opportunity to hear everything firsthand directly from the primary source. Talking about some modalities at this moment is premature. We are now in the data collection phase, and we can talk about something more concrete after the Turkish delegation completes its feasibility study – Koc said.

He stated that for Turkey, this project is socio-economic and regional, aiming to support the strengthening of the region.

- We are very pleased with what we saw today because there is general support for this project.

When asked if they have information about the exact length of both routes and if the exact route is known, Jusko emphasized that the goal of today's meeting was to define the route and the price.

- We had four presentations. Only when we gather all the information and in the local communities will we be able to answer that question – the minister added. 

The Turkish ambassador said that when it comes to financing, he can say that there are many options.

It was also stated that at the meeting in Turkey, where Aleksandar Vučić and Bakir Izetbegović were present, political will was reached for the construction of two routes to create a kind of ring between these two capitals.