Turkish Ambassador Denies Claims from Dodik's Cabinet Statement

(Patria) - The Communications Office of the Turkish Embassy in BiH has, in a way, denied today's statement released by the cabinet of the BiH Presidency member Milorad Dodik following a meeting with Ambassador Haldun Koc.

In the statement sent to the media, Dodik allegedly told Ambassador Koc that he thanked the Republic of Turkey and its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for their determination to continue BiH and Turkey's activities on initiated projects, which should not be jeopardized due to the newly created situation in BiH.

Dodik stated that he thanked Erdogan for the continuation of projects, despite the fact that SNSD is blocking processes and decision-making at the state level. The statement sent from the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in BiH, referring to the mentioned parts of Dodik's statement, says:

"As previously stated, it has been made clear from our side in contacts that for the continuation of initiated projects, the decision-making mechanisms of the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina need to be active. Our position on this matter has been clearly conveyed".

Another part of Dodik's statement claims that "the Turkish ambassador informed the BiH Presidency member about the problems related to migrants, emphasizing that this problem is largely caused by the hypocritical and two-faced policy of the European Union".

A more precise explanation, or rather a denial, has also arrived for that part.

"Regarding migrants, it was also emphasized in contacts that discussions with the EU and all other interested parties are ongoing, that this is a global problem, and that a common stance needs to be taken on this issue," the Turkish ambassador conveyed, thus rejecting the claims.

It should be noted that Dodik's associates quoted statements by Ambassador Haldun Koc, although this is not the practice after meetings between political officials and foreign diplomats.