Closer Turkey-Serbia ties "important for Balkans"

BELGRADE Serbia and Turkey should further improve bilateral and economic cooperation and strengthen parliamentary relations, a meeting in Belgrade concluded on Monday. This was agreed by the two countries' parliament speakers Nebojsa Stefanovic and Cemil Cicek during their meeting, Tanjug is reporting. Closer Turkey-Serbia ties "important for Balkans" The two officials also "estimated that this was of great importance for the entire Balkans." Serbia has Turkey's strong support for EU accession, Stefanovic told reporters at the National Assembly House. The visit of Turkey's parliamentary delegation is one the first steps toward improvement in cooperation between the two countries which would be even more intensive in the coming period, he added. Serbia and Turkey are "two friendly countries linked by common culture, history, geography," and our duty is to develop relations even further, Cicek said. He noted that Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and Prime Minister Ivica Dacic have recently visited Turkey, and added that the cooperation of officials "paves the way for future cooperation and better understanding of the two peoples". The speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey said that the good relations between the two countries are of great importance for preservation of peace, stability and prosperity in the Balkans. Cicek noted that he informed his host about the requests of the Turkish government referring to the country's wish to secure a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2015. Besides that, Turkey wants support for joining the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, and opening Turkish cultural centers in Belgrade and a consular office in Novi Pazar (a town in the area of Raska in which Muslims constitute a majority), Cicek said. He added that Serbia's support concerning the 2020 Summer Olympics in Istanbul is of great importance for Turkey. He also asked for Serbia's support for drafting a parliamentary protocol for South-Eastern Europe, whose outline will be presented during the inter-parliamentary conference in Ohrid on May 20. Stefanovic and Cicek agreed to sign a protocol that will facilitate more intensive and better cooperation between the Serbian and Turkish parliaments during their next meeting that is to take place in Turkey. Stefanovic and Cicek are seen in Belgrade on Monday (Tanjug) Tanjug

Closer Turkey-Serbia ties "important for Balkans"

The two officials also "estimated that this was of great importance for the entire Balkans."

Serbia has Turkey's strong support for EU accession, Stefanović told reporters at the National Assembly House.

The visit of Turkey's parliamentary delegation is one the first steps toward improvement in cooperation between the two countries which would be even more intensive in the coming period, he added.

Serbia and Turkey are "two friendly countries linked by common culture, history, geography," and our duty is to develop relations even further, Cicek said.

He noted that Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić and Prime Minister Ivica Dačić have recently visited Turkey, and added that the cooperation of officials "paves the way for future cooperation and better understanding of the two peoples".

The speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey said that the good relations between the two countries are of great importance for preservation of peace, stability and prosperity in the Balkans.

Cicek noted that he informed his host about the requests of the Turkish government referring to the country's wish to secure a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2015.

Besides that, Turkey wants support for joining the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, and opening Turkish cultural centers in Belgrade and a consular office in Novi Pazar (a town in the area of Raška in which Muslims constitute a majority), Cicek said.

He added that Serbia's support concerning the 2020 Summer Olympics in Istanbul is of great importance for Turkey.

He also asked for Serbia's support for drafting a parliamentary protocol for South-Eastern Europe, whose outline will be presented during the inter-parliamentary conference in Ohrid on May 20.

Stefanović and Cicek agreed to sign a protocol that will facilitate more intensive and better cooperation between the Serbian and Turkish parliaments during their next meeting that is to take place in Turkey.