PRESS CONFERENCE

Sarajevo, January 15th, 2009.

Press Release

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Sven Alkalaj and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey  Ali Babacan hold press conference

On January 15th, 2009 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Sven Alkalaj and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey Ali Babacan held press conference after their official meeting.

Both Ministers agreed that relations between two countries are very good and highlighted that economic and trade cooperation should be improved. Trade exchange ratio between B&H and Turkey exceeded USD 600 million in the last year and the Ministers agreed there is still room to increase it in the years to come. Minister Alkalaj expressed his concern over existing B&H trade deficit given that the ratio between import and export is only a few percentages.

Both emphasized that efforts should be orientated towards creation of conditions for increasing of investments and mutual investments in economy. For that purpose, a group of Turkish businessmen came to B&H together with Minister Babacan. They will carry out concrete activities on improvement of cooperation in this domain and talk to B&H businessmen. Minister Babacan mentioned signing of contract between Air Bosnia and Turkish Airlines as good example of partnership between B&H and Turkish companies.

Minister Alkalaj informed press that certain concrete issues in terms of improvement of trade cooperation are being realized at the meetings of the mixed committee for economic relations and joint board in the first quarter of this year.

According to Minister Babacan, Turkey will support B&H in every way possible on its path towards the full fledged NATO membership. Turkey is greatly interested in preserving the B&H sovereignty, territorial integrity and its internationally recognized borders. B&H is a key factor to stability in the region. Signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement between our country and the EU is very significant. Turkish Minister is hoping that B&H will assume candidate status for membership in the EU in this year, which would represent significant step forward in the process of the European integrations.

Minister Babacan reconfirmed Turkish support to B&H candidacy as the non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2010-2011.

Minister Alkalaj said to the press that in B&H there are powers and conditions for keeping of its integrity without international presence. Minister Babacan said that there have been a lot of achievements made on creation of conditions for increasing investments in B&H. However, their actual implementation depends namely on political stability in B&H.