Davatoglu, Jeremić meeting yesterday (FoNet)

He said that this was one of the most historic days in relations between Serbia and Turkey, and that it was the first time that the two countries’ foreign ministers had visited Sandžak together.

“We discussed our vision of Sandžak, and of the Western Balkans. We discussed economic, infrastructural and strategic projects in Sandžak. Together we’ll work on a highway that crosses Sandžak, and for this we’ll require unity among people, political parties, unity between states,“ stressed the Serbian foreign minister.

Davutoglu said that Sandžak was a “green light“ for further cooperation between Serbia and Turkey.

"I’m sure that by working together, Sandžak can prosper. It will be Serbia’s marvelous heritage and star,“ he said.

Davutoglu’s visit to the region is interesting in that it brought recently sworn political enemies in Novi Pazar to the same table for talks.

The men in question are Sandžak Democratic Party leader Rasim Ljajić and the leader of the Coalition of Bosniaks for a European Sandžak, Sulejman Ugljanin.

Ljajić told B92, however, that the Turkish minister had not come to mediate between the two political leaders in Sandžak.

“Turkey is not mediating in any talks. We are responsible people, we have a responsibility to the people of Sandžak. It is very important to develop a strategic partnership between Turkey and Serbia, and Sandžak can benefit from this cooperation through Turkish investments. Our obligation is to ensure political stability,” Ljajić said.

Before making his visit to Sandžak, Davatoglu said that there were unbreakable ties between Turkey and Serbia that could be further strengthened through economic cooperation.

"There is large population from the Balkans in Turkey. We have more Bosniaks than Bosnia, more Albanians even. We have quite a few migrants from Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia. In Turkey, we look on all these cultural groups as a bridge between ourselves and their states. In that sense, we say we’re neighbors, as whatever happens in our region, that’s our common destiny,“ said the minister.

“So, we don’t see the presence of these groups as a problem between the two countries, rather as a means for forging cultural and political dialogue, even economic cooperation. Our relations will be stronger through these kinds of ties. And Turkey will always be constructive in that sense. Peace in Turkey, peace in the region, peace in the world is the basic tenet of our foreign policy,“ he said.

It is not known whether Davutoglu will meet with religious leaders in Novi Pazar, after the Turkish embassy in Belgrade initiated reconciliation between the two opposing groups in the Islamic community.

He and his Serbian counterpart Vuk Jeremić will, however, visit the city fortress in Novi Pazar, the Hamam and Sopoćani monastery.

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