Zvizdić-Davutoglu: Strengthen cooperation in all fields and make additional efforts to increase investments

The meeting between the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denis Zvizdić, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, Ahmet Davutoğlu, began with a ceremonial welcome in front of the building of the Government of the Republic of Turkey, it was announced from the Council of Ministers, reports the news agency Patria.

A meeting of the two prime ministers was held, followed by a meeting of the delegations of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Government of the Republic of Turkey.

During the talks between Chairman Zvizdić and Prime Minister Davutoğlu, opinions were exchanged on the current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey. They noted that relations between the two countries are good and friendly, without any open political issues. They said that cooperation is constantly being improved in all fields.

Chairman Zvizdić expressed regret over the terrorist attacks with heavy human casualties that have shaken Turkey in recent months.

Chairman Zvizdić informed Prime Minister Davutoğlu about the achieved goals from the Reform Agenda and the political and economic indicators that show constant positive growth. He thanked the high officials of Turkey for their continuous support to Bosnia and Herzegovina on its path towards the European Union and NATO. Chairman Zvizdić praised the high level of regulated bilateral agreements and emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina has the largest number of agreements with the Republic of Turkey.

Prime Minister Davutoğlu congratulated Bosnia and Herzegovina on submitting its application for membership in the European Union. He said that Turkey pays special attention to the economic development of our country and its path towards EU integration and that it will continue to support the Bosnian economy in the coming period through development projects financed by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), through which about 700 projects worth around 300 million dollars have been realized so far.

They also discussed the trade agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey and the export of meat as one of the important elements of that agreement. Chairman Zvizdić said that it is important for Bosnia and Herzegovina to expand trade to include cheese and milk, as well as to confirm the capacity and quality of products from Bosnia and Herzegovina that are already present on the Turkish market, such as oil or other products exported from Bosnia and Herzegovina. He proposed that quotas for meat exports become part of the trade agreement and become part of a long-term program.

The interlocutors expressed their commitment to continue improving cooperation in all fields in the coming period and to make additional efforts to increase Turkish investments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in improving the development of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Chairman Zvizdić said that he is confident that Turkey will continue to achieve its political and economic goals in the coming period and maintain a strong position on the world political stage.

The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Chairman and Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mirko Šarović, the Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Marina Pendeš, the Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Adil Osmanović, the Minister of Tourism and Environment of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Edita Đapo, the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Turkey, Damir Džanko, and the Ambassador of Turkey to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cihad Erginay.

After the meeting between the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr. Denis Zvizdić, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, Ahmet Davutoğlu, and the meeting of the delegations of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Government of the Republic of Turkey, the Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Marina Pendeš, and the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Turkey, İsmet Yılmaz, signed the Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Government of the Republic of Turkey on cooperation in military training.

This was followed by addresses to the media by Chairman Zvizdić and Prime Minister Davutoğlu.

Prime Minister Davutoğlu emphasized Turkey's commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina in his address to the media. He stressed that every good news from Bosnia and Herzegovina brings joy, while every bad news brings pain.

"I want to tell my friend Denis Zvizdić and the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina that Turkey always stands by you. We support your path towards the EU and NATO and encourage our businessmen to invest in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We also support regional cooperation of states because, as we see it, peace in Bosnia is peace in the Balkans," said Prime Minister Davutoğlu.

Expressing gratitude to the Republic of Turkey for its continuous friendly support to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chairman Zvizdić emphasized that Turkey has always helped all peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina equally, without distinction, respecting the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He added that Turkey has helped in the restoration of cultural heritage in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as economic development.

"In the same way, the Republic of Turkey today helps people in Syria. Today, it is a moral matrix on a global level of how to help people in need. Therefore, the terrorist attacks in Turkey have hit us very hard. On this occasion, I express my condolences to the families and want to tell the Turkish people that we stand by you in the fight against terrorism," said Chairman Zvizdić, according to the statement.