Selaković: The relations between Serbia and Türkiye are at a historical peak

At the press conference, Minister Selaković pointed out that today's meeting with Minister Çavuşoğlu had been a good opportunity to improve the comprehensive friendly relations between the two countries, emphasising particularly that such relations were marked for the most part by the personal relations between the two Presidents — Aleksandar Vučić and Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“Serbia attaches special importance to the improvement of political dialogue and bilateral cooperation with Türkiye, and it is satisfied with the upward trend in these relations, which are at their historical peak today”, Minister Selaković underlined.

Minister Selaković stated that he exchanged views with the Turkish Minister on the economic cooperation, the continuation of infrastructure projects, investments, energy, and cultural cooperation, as well as on the regional topics and the “Open Balkan” initiative.

“The economic relations between Serbia and Türkiye are at their peak according to the figures of economic exchange, and that is something we can be proud of”, said Minister Selaković, adding that the bilateral trade had grown by 31.2% in 2021.

Also, Minister Selaković said that they discussed the implementation of the most important infrastructure projects, the Belgrade-Sarajevo-Belgrade highway as well as the construction of trunk roads.

Minister Selaković stated that he had discussed the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina with his Turkish counterpart, adding that it was an opportunity to affirm Serbia`s position in support of the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Dayton Peace Agreement, underlining that any solution reached through dialogue and by respecting the will of all three constituent peoples and two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina was acceptable to Serbia.

Minister Selaković pointed out that the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština was discussed, adding that Minister Çavuşoğlu was always showing interest in the status of the dialogue and that it was encouraging to hear the words of support for the dialogue as a means of solving the problem.

Minister Selaković said that he had also discussed the situation in Ukraine with Minister Çavuşoğlu, highlighting Serbia`s commitment to peace and the desire for establishing peace as soon as possible.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu expressed satisfaction with his visit to Serbia, saying that Turkey was committed to maintaining the best relations with Serbia in these difficult and challenging times.

“I have talked this morning with President Vučić, to whom I extended my congratulations on the success at the elections and conveyed the greetings from President Erdogan as well as the expectation of making his visit to Serbia happen”, Minister Çavuşoğlu said.
Having assessed the economic relations as excellent, Minister Çavuşoğlu noted that Türkiye had increased its investments in Serbia, thanking President Vučić and the Government of Serbia for their support to the Turkish business community.

Minister Çavuşoğlu said that he had talked with Minister Selaković about the consulates and the network of consular services, echoing the fact that Türkiye had opened the Consulate General in Novi Pazar and was going to open a Consulate General in Niš as well.

Minister Çavuşoğlu expressed his satisfaction with the increase in the number of tourists, both in Serbia and in Türkiye, adding that the Ministers of Interior Affairs would sign an agreement allowing the citizens of both countries to travel to Serbia or Türkiye only with their ID cards.

Minister Çavuşoğlu stated that he had talked with his Serbian counterpart Minister Selaković about the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština, and the war in Ukraine, emphasising that the greatest efforts should be made to establish peace as soon as possible.

Also, today, Minister Çavuşoğlu and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and Information Maja Gojković signed the Agreement on Preventing Smuggling of Cultural Treasures between the Government of Serbia and the Government of Türkiye.