Serbian president on two-day visit to Turkey

BELGRADE, ANKARA Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic is on Monday starting his two-day visit to Turkey, where he will be meeting with the country's top officials. Nikolic has conferred with his counterpart Abdullah Gul, and will meet with Turkey's parliament speaker, Cemil Cicek, it has been announced. Serbian president on two-day visit to Turkey He will also meet with the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew, and leading members of the Turkish business community. The president is accompanied by Serbian Minister of Sports and Youth Alisa Maric and Assistant Foreign Minister Goran Aleksic, as well as representatives of Serbia's businesses. Nikolic's foreign policy adviser Marko Djuric told Tanjug that the visit meant that intensive foreign policy activities were resuming, while the focus will be on the economic cooperation. The Serbian delegation, according to this official, expects concrete results in that area. However, the trip will also be a chance to stress that "political relations must closely follow the economic ones and that we expect Turkey to take into account our interests when it comes to Kosovo and Metohija," said Djuric. Nikolic was already in Turkey at the start of his mandate last summer when he and Gul co-presided over a summit of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. The two presidents also met for a bilateral meeting. (Beta/AP) Nikolic meets with Gul Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic met Monday morning in Ankara with Turkish President Abdullah Gul. Nikolic was welcomed at the presidential palace with the top state and military honors, and renditions of the two national anthems. After a one-on-one between the presidents, a meeting of the Serbian and Turkish delegations will be held, followed by the signing of an agreement between the two governments in the areas of youth and sport. Nikolic announced in Ankara today that a trilateral meeting between Serbia, Turkey and Bosnia-Herzegovina will be held in that city in May. After a meeting with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Nikolic said that Serbia has accepted this initiative by Turkey's president. “We support Turkey's initiative for a top-level meeting between Serbia, Bosnia and Turkey. President Gul has proposed to host the meeting in Ankara in May, and we accepted that,” Nikolic said. Earlier in the morning, he visited the Ataturk memorial center, dedicated to father of the Turkish nation Kemal Ataturk, where he laid a wreath. In the memorial book, Nikolic wrote: "I am honored to be able to bow to the shadow of the man whose vision brought this beautiful country and people to its feet. This great nation deserves a great father like Kemal Ataturk. Turkey will live on as long as his idea is alive." Nikolic advocates closer ties Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic has called for the establishment of much closer ties between Turkey and Serbia, and said he admires Turkey for achieving what Serbia wants - cooperation with the entire world. "For us, Turkey represents a very important partner. Turkey and Serbia must establish much closer ties and cooperation... What I am trying to achieve in Serbia, Turkey has already achieved. You cooperate with the entire world, Nikolic said in an interview for Turkish daily Today's Zaman ahead of his first officials visit to Ankara, during which he will meet with Turkey's top officials. Saying that the two countries were in conflict throughout their history, the Serbian president voiced belief that it is time for cooperation and that a joint government session between the two governments would help move things along much quicker between the two countries. The Serbian president said he believes Turkish and Serbian cooperation despite differences and disagreements will set an example for others in the world. Nikolic said he admires Turkey because Turkey does not depend on anyone and is developing by itself. He also pointed out that Serbia has completely opened the country to foreign investors, adding that the legal framework for investors and foreign businesses is very strong, so that foreign companies could take part in major infrastructure projects like railroads, dams and bridges. The president cited agriculture and energy as the main fields that can attract investments, for which he said there is a growing interest in Serbia not only from Western investors but also from the East, including from Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, China, and Arab and African countries. Nikolic also touted his country as a gateway for a larger market in Serbia's immediate and extended neighborhood. "Serbia has the most favorable trade agreement with Russia so that almost 80 percent of Serbian products can be exported to Russian territory without any customs," he explained. He said foreign companies, including Turkish ones, can easily tap into this vast market via Serbia while taking advantage of lower taxes and lower salaries in his country. The Serbian leader acknowledged that there are challenges in Serbia. In addition to territorial disputes, he said, Serbia has faced several problems, including economic hardships, judicial woes, corruption and organized crime. Nikolic noted, however, that Serbia is determined to solve these issues as soon as possible. The Serbian leader made it clear that his country does not have a problem with Turkey's interest and engagement in Serbia's predominantly Muslim region of Sandzak and described it as extremely positive. "Turkey can help us in the sense that we have the Bosniak population that lives in the Sandzak area of Serbia," he stated and pledged that Serbia would facilitate Turkish businesses that are interested in investing in Sandzak. "With Turkey's help, we can help them live a better life in that part of Serbia, where life is hard and there is poverty," he added, stressing that Serbia was committed to EU integration and would not abandon that path, but also warning Brussels not to present new obstacles in the process. "The EU without Serbia is not complete," he stressed. "If the idea behind the EU is to have many differences, to be colorful, then the EU will not reach its goal without Serbia," he said. The Serbian president made it clear, however, that his country is not putting everything in the EU basket, adding that itis strengthening old ties and cultivating new ones as well. Belgrade is especially trying to revitalize ties established during its lead role in the former Yugoslavia with the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Today's Zaman stated, adding that Serbia looks at Turkey, China, the Gulf and other countries to promote trade and investment. Serbia will never recognize Kosovo, Nikolic said. "As far as I know Serbia, and I know Serbia pretty well, no one who is in power in Serbia will ever sign a document that will recognize the independence of Kosovo," he explained, adding, however, that Belgrade has entered into very transparent consultations with the institutions of Pristina with a desire to solve the problem. He ruled out any military conflict over Kosovo, saying that Serbia will not give up on its diplomatic path to solve that problem. "But we have to have someone on the other side to speak to," the Serbian president complained. He vowed that the Kosovo problem would not derail Belgrade from cultivating closer ties with Turkey and other countries that have recognized Kosovo. Beta Tanjug

Serbian president on two-day visit to Turkey

He will also meet with the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew, and leading members of the Turkish business community.

The president is accompanied by Serbian Minister of Sports and Youth Alisa Marić and Assistant Foreign Minister Goran Aleksić, as well as representatives of Serbia's businesses.

Nikolić's foreign policy adviser Marko Đurić told Tanjug that the visit meant that intensive foreign policy activities were resuming, while the focus will be on the economic cooperation.

The Serbian delegation, according to this official, expects concrete results in that area. However, the trip will also be a chance to stress that "political relations must closely follow the economic ones and that we expect Turkey to take into account our interests when it comes to Kosovo and Metohija," said Đurić.

Nikolić was already in Turkey at the start of his mandate last summer when he and Gul co-presided over a summit of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. The two presidents also met for a bilateral meeting.

Nikolić meets with Gul

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić met Monday morning in Ankara with Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

Nikolić was welcomed at the presidential palace with the top state and military honors, and renditions of the two national anthems.

After a one-on-one between the presidents, a meeting of the Serbian and Turkish delegations will be held, followed by the signing of an agreement between the two governments in the areas of youth and sport.

Nikolić announced in Ankara today that a trilateral meeting between Serbia, Turkey and Bosnia-Herzegovina will be held in that city in May.

After a meeting with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Nikolić said that Serbia has accepted this initiative by Turkey's president.

“We support Turkey's initiative for a top-level meeting between Serbia, Bosnia and Turkey. President Gul has proposed to host the meeting in Ankara in May, and we accepted that,” Nikolić said.

Earlier in the morning, he visited the Ataturk memorial center, dedicated to father of the Turkish nation Kemal Ataturk, where he laid a wreath.

In the memorial book, Nikolić wrote: "I am honored to be able to bow to the shadow of the man whose vision brought this beautiful country and people to its feet. This great nation deserves a great father like Kemal Ataturk. Turkey will live on as long as his idea is alive."

Nikolić advocates closer ties

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić has called for the establishment of much closer ties between Turkey and Serbia, and said he admires Turkey for achieving what Serbia wants - cooperation with the entire world.

"For us, Turkey represents a very important partner. Turkey and Serbia must establish much closer ties and cooperation... What I am trying to achieve in Serbia, Turkey has already achieved. You cooperate with the entire world, Nikolić said in an interview for Turkish daily Today's Zaman ahead of his first officials visit to Ankara, during which he will meet with Turkey's top officials.

Saying that the two countries were in conflict throughout their history, the Serbian president voiced belief that it is time for cooperation and that a joint government session between the two governments would help move things along much quicker between the two countries.

The Serbian president said he believes Turkish and Serbian cooperation despite differences and disagreements will set an example for others in the world.

Nikolić said he admires Turkey because Turkey does not depend on anyone and is developing by itself.

He also pointed out that Serbia has completely opened the country to foreign investors, adding that the legal framework for investors and foreign businesses is very strong, so that foreign companies could take part in major infrastructure projects like railroads, dams and bridges.

The president cited agriculture and energy as the main fields that can attract investments, for which he said there is a growing interest in Serbia not only from Western investors but also from the East, including from Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, China, and Arab and African countries.

Nikolić also touted his country as a gateway for a larger market in Serbia's immediate and extended neighborhood.

"Serbia has the most favorable trade agreement with Russia so that almost 80 percent of Serbian products can be exported to Russian territory without any customs," he explained. He said foreign companies, including Turkish ones, can easily tap into this vast market via Serbia while taking advantage of lower taxes and lower salaries in his country.

The Serbian leader acknowledged that there are challenges in Serbia. In addition to territorial disputes, he said, Serbia has faced several problems, including economic hardships, judicial woes, corruption and organized crime. Nikolić noted, however, that Serbia is determined to solve these issues as soon as possible.

The Serbian leader made it clear that his country does not have a problem with Turkey's interest and engagement in Serbia's predominantly Muslim region of Sandžak and described it as extremely positive.

"Turkey can help us in the sense that we have the Bosniak population that lives in the Sandžak area of Serbia," he stated and pledged that Serbia would facilitate Turkish businesses that are interested in investing in Sandžak.

"With Turkey's help, we can help them live a better life in that part of Serbia, where life is hard and there is poverty," he added, stressing that Serbia was committed to EU integration and would not abandon that path, but also warning Brussels not to present new obstacles in the process.

"The EU without Serbia is not complete," he stressed. "If the idea behind the EU is to have many differences, to be colorful, then the EU will not reach its goal without Serbia," he said.

The Serbian president made it clear, however, that his country is not putting everything in the EU basket, adding that itis strengthening old ties and cultivating new ones as well.

Belgrade is especially trying to revitalize ties established during its lead role in the former Yugoslavia with the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Today's Zaman stated, adding that Serbia looks at Turkey, China, the Gulf and other countries to promote trade and investment.

Serbia will never recognize Kosovo, Nikolić said.

"As far as I know Serbia, and I know Serbia pretty well, no one who is in power in Serbia will ever sign a document that will recognize the independence of Kosovo," he explained, adding, however, that Belgrade has entered into very transparent consultations with the institutions of Pristina with a desire to solve the problem.

He ruled out any military conflict over Kosovo, saying that Serbia will not give up on its diplomatic path to solve that problem. "But we have to have someone on the other side to speak to," the Serbian president complained. He vowed that the Kosovo problem would not derail Belgrade from cultivating closer ties with Turkey and other countries that have recognized Kosovo.