RSE: Why does Turkey invest more in Serbia than in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Does Turkey have strategic interests in Bosnia and Herzegovina, how strong are the ties between the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) and Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party, about the ties between Erdogan and Izetbegović, about why the anniversary of the failed military coup in Turkey was marked in Sarajevo in the presence of the highest Bosniak officials, were discussed in the latest Radio Free Europe's Bridge. The guests were Lejla Ramić-Mesihović, director of the Foreign Policy Initiative of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Zijad Bećirović, director of the International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies from Ljubljana.

The discussion also covered the extent to which Turkey's internal problems are transferred to Bosnia and Herzegovina, how much Turkey, which is in sharp conflict with the European Union, especially with Germany, can be an obstacle on Bosnia and Herzegovina's path to the European Union, why Turkey is only tenth on the list of investors in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as why Turkish state television is filming a series about Alija Izetbegović.

RSE: Does Turkey have strategic interests in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Lejla Ramić Mesihović: Turkey is a regional power and certainly has strategic interests in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They change periodically, they can be different, but it certainly has them.

Zijad Bećirović: First of all, I would say that Turkey has strategic interests in the Balkans, and Bosnia and Herzegovina is certainly part of those interests. Turkey supports the existence of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its international legal subjectivity, which is very important for BiH, as Turkey is a member of the Peace Implementation Council in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Of course, other countries also have interests in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the problem is that some political officials of BiH are outposts of other countries, instead of representing the interests of their own country.

RSE: To what extent does Turkey support Bosniaks on the international stage and do Bosniaks benefit from that support?

Lejla Ramić Mesihović: I think that every Bosnian and Herzegovinian, including Bosniaks, should be interested in Turkey supporting the entire country. Any support for particular interests in Bosnia and Herzegovina has a negative impact on Bosnian society.

Zijad Bećirović: Turkey's support for the existence of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina is not only important for Bosniaks, but also for all those who oppose the division of Bosnia and Herzegovina and attempts to erase it from the political map. Turkey's role in protecting BiH's sovereignty is crucial here, and I don't think they will give up on that. However, it is not good to talk about one nation, but about relations between states. Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a multi-ethnic state, is very sensitive to the favoritism of any ethnic community by another state. Turkey must take this into account, as must the state leadership of Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially the representatives of the Bosniak political elite.

RSE: How strong are the ties between the Party of Democratic Action and Erdogan's Justice and Development Party?

Lejla Ramić Mesihović: The ties between the Party of Democratic Action and Erdogan's Justice and Development Party are primarily at the level of their leaders and generally strengthen during periods when both need to mobilize votes during elections.

Zijad Bećirović: These are two parties that belong to the same political pole. They are conservative parties of right-wing political provenance. The ties between these two parties are not as strong as the personal ties between the leaders of these parties - Turkish President Erdogan, who is also the president of the Justice and Development Party, and Bakir Izetbegović, a member of the Presidency of BiH and president of the Party of Democratic Action. This connection works on the principle of connected vessels. Erdogan receives support from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Izetbegović receives support from Turkey when they need it.

Read the full interview by clicking HERE.