President Erdoğan: Bosnia and Herzegovina’s territorial integrity, political unity and sovereignty are key to the regional peace
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at a joint press conference with members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidential Council.
Stating that steps to further enhance the cooperation between Turkey and Bosnia Herzegovina were discussed at the talks held with members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidential Council, President Erdoğan said: “We discussed what kind of steps we can take in both bilateral and regional, even in global terms. We have agreed on accelerating our works to complete the project of peace which will strengthen the political, economic and social ties in the region. The updated Free Trade Agreement, which we signed during the official visit paid by members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidential Council to Ankara in May 2019, took effect as of August 2021. This development will contribute to the increasing of both the bilateral trade volume and our investments in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
“WE REITERATED OUR SUPPORT FOR BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA’S INTEGRATION WITH EUROPEAN-ATLANTIC INSTITUTIONS”
Underscoring that the today’s talks addressed the recent developments in the Balkans as well, President Erdoğan noted: “It is of utmost importance that steps to further increase the economic development and prosperity in a way that will benefit the peoples of the region be taken, and that above all, we reach our bilateral trade volume goal of 1 billion Euros. We have reiterated our support for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s integration with European-Atlantic institutions. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s territorial integrity, political unity and sovereignty are key to the regional peace. We will continue to work together to preserve the regional stability.”
“THE QUESTION IS NOT WHAT THE TALIBAN SAYS BUT WHAT IT DOES”
Stating that the developments in Afghanistan were also on the agenda of their talks, President Erdoğan drew attention to the number of the casualties in Afghanistan which reached 170 as he spoke, and said: “All of these incidents show us that the countries that describe themselves as the greatest in the world should withdraw from the places they have entered in a much more careful manner, and these withdrawals have never been as they have been told to be. Unfortunately, leaving those countries by handing over them to terrorist organizations leads to severe consequences For instance, DAESH claims responsibility for this act. Are you putting up a fight against DAESH? No. On the other hand the strongest fight against DAESH has been put up by us as Turkey. Actions speak louder than words. Therefore you must do what must be done. All they say is the Taliban nowadays. You say, ‘The Taliban is not the one it used to be.’ The question is not what it says but what it does. And what the Taliban will do in the upcoming period in Afghanistan is of great importance. As Turkey we have already brought our civilians to our country. We have a specific number of, a few number of technical staff there, but other than them, we have withdrawn all other teams from Afghanistan.”
Further stressing that no one could benefit from the conflicts of terrorist organizations, and that what really matter for the time being was to ensure the peace of the Afghan people, President Erdoğan said: “If the US wants to do anything, it should ensure this. If there is any step they will take, it should be to this direction, but the US says, ‘I am withdrawing, I am leaving, you do what you want to do.’ What will NATO do now? We are a NATO member, too, and we will obviously hold talks with them.”
