President Erdoğan: We know that Türkiye’s efforts to maintain peace and stability in this region disturb some circles that rely on turmoil and chaos
President Erdoğan: Regardless of what others do, we will continue to embrace Serbs, Croats, Albanians and Macedonians along with our Bosnian brothers and sisters
At the reception of the representatives of Bosnian non-governmental organisations in Türkiye, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, “We have provided support without discrimination in order to achieve stability by preserving Bosnia and Herzegovina's multicultural and ethnic identity. Since the Dayton Peace Agreement, Türkiye has been the most powerful deterrent against the repeat of tragic events that occurred in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the past.”
Wishing Allah’s mercy on Hasan Cengic, one of the fellows in the common cause of the late Aliya Izetbegovic, the first president of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Muamer Zukorlic, the former mufti of the Meshihat of the Islamic Community in Serbia, President Erdoğan said that a delegation headed by AK Party Deputy Chairman Numan Kurtulmuş would pay a visit to Bosnia.
Recalling that Cengic fought on the front line in the Bosnian War, President Erdoğan said:
“He was a real hero who became a fellow and companion in the common cause to the late Aliya and devoted his life to Bosnia and Herzegovina. May Allah be pleased with him and reward him with His divine beauty and Paradise. I am very happy to meet with you, my brothers and sisters and friends, who represent our Bosnian citizens. I thank each and every one of you individually for your visit. I pray to Allah that our contacts will be auspicious for our Bosnian brothers and sisters and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Today, I would rather listen to you and hear your valuable opinions. However, before moving on to this part of our conversation, I would like to share my thoughts on some current issues with you.”
Expressing that Türkiye had hosted millions of people who migrated for different reasons from lands dear to our hearts in the last two centuries, President Erdoğan continued as follows:
“Today, we have around two million citizens of Bosnian origin in almost every province of our country. If I say, ‘There are more Albanians living in Türkiye than there are in Albania, and more Bosnians than there are in in Bosnia and Herzegovina.’ I wouldn’t be mistaken. These brothers and sisters still have strong ties to homelands. Every development in the Balkans, whether positive or negative, is closely watched by you and the brothers and sisters you represent. While favourable developments affecting the welfare, tranquillity, and peace of the Balkans make us happy, worrisome ones make us all nervous.”
Emphasising that Bosnia and Herzegovina, with which Türkiye has had strong relations for centuries, held a special place in the hearts of our nation, President Erdoğan expressed that the Turkish nation saw it as a responsibility to stand by Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bosnians, regardless of the circumstances at the time.
Stating that Türkiye mobilised all of its resources during the Bosnian War, in which huge massacres and crimes against humanity took place, President Erdoğan continued his remarks as follows:
“We will continue to stand by our Bosnia brothers and sisters in a much stronger and more distinct manner from now on. We have made every effort to keep the climate of peace established after the war lasting, and will continue to do so. We have provided support without discrimination in order to achieve stability by preserving Bosnia and Herzegovina's multicultural and ethnic identity. Since the Dayton Peace Agreement, Türkiye has been the most powerful deterrent against the repeat of tragic events that occurred in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the past. Bosnians, as well as Serbs and Croats, have benefited from the projects Türkiye has implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as development assistance and investments of Turkish companies.”
“The construction of the Belgrade-Sarajevo Highway is proceeding in line with the schedule.”
Noting that Türkiye is a Balkan country in terms of geography, as well as human and cultural ties. President Erdoğan said, “It is unimaginable for Türkiye to turn its back on this geography in a scenario in which certain countries with no borders with the Balkans intervene directly. We view every development in the Balkans as our own domestic matter, and we have taken and will continue to take the necessary efforts to resolve the issues. Additionally, we are aware that Türkiye’s attempts to maintain peace and stability in this region irritate those circles that rely on turmoil and chaos. However, despite these evil groups, we continue to strive for the well-being of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the entire Balkans.
Stating that Türkiye has a presence in a wide spectrum ranging from the investments of Turkish companies to the activities of institutions such as Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), Yunus Emre Institute (Yunus Emre Enstitüsü), Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye (DEİK), as well as from the banking sector to universities, President Erdoğan said:
"The total value of Türkiye's direct investments in Bosnia and Herzegovina today exceeds 250 million dollars. We want to quickly expand our bilateral trade volume, which was 650 million dollars last year despite the pandemic, to more than 1 billion dollars. Through our non-governmental organizations, we extend our people's helping hand to the Balkans' most remote corners. Our project of the Belgrade-Sarajevo Highway, which will significantly boost the region's economy, is proceeding as planned. This, in our perspective, is not only a road project; it is a peace initiative in every way. We have recently established a new Consulate General in Novi Pazar (Yeni Pazar). The Novi Pazar-Tutin highway will also be brought into service next year. Inshallah, we will accelerate our projects in every field from air transport to trade, from transportation to industry and education."
Stating that they desired that the Balkans, which had suffered a lot in history and was remembered with the conflicts until very recently, be recognized as a source of peace rather than tensions, President Erdoğan continued as follows:
"We want the Balkans to become an island of stability in the heart of Europe, to develop and become economically stronger. We never want Bosnia and Herzegovina to become a centre of influence and conflict for those with a stake in the region. With this awareness, we have significantly stepped up our diplomatic efforts in the aftermath of recent tensions that prompted discussions even about Bosnia's unity and integrity. As a nation that engages in dialogue with all parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina and is regarded and trusted by everyone, we have taken the initiative to resolve the issues. First, we sent our Minister of Foreign Affairs to Bosnia and Herzegovina and conveyed our messages clearly to our interlocutors. Then, during my visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina in August, we again conveyed our views and suggestions at the highest level. Mr. Dodik proposed mediation in this context. In fact, all parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina wanted Türkiye to be a part of this process from the beginning. We said, 'If you are adamant about resolving this matter among yourselves, we will assume the role of a mediator; but, Mr. Dodik, this will not happen only because of your request. Both Džaferović and Komšić should strongly support this.”
On September 18, we discussed the developments with the President Vučić of Serbia in Istanbul. On Wednesday, Mr. Bakir Izetbegović was my guest; we had a working lunch. I discussed with my brother Bakir about the situation in the country and ways to alleviate tensions before they escalate further. During our meeting, we had the opportunity to examine Türkiye's potential contributions in this period. I plan to host other officials from Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially Dodik, as well as Komšić and Džaferović in Ankara in the coming days, and we will hold the necessary discussions on this matter. We will do everything we can to keep the late Alija Izetbegovic's legacy safe. We will continue to expand our dialogue with all parties in order to prevent Bosnia and Herzegovina from reverting to its difficult times in the past. Meanwhile, I intend to meet with President Vučić, either during a one-day visit to Serbia or by inviting him to Ankara in the same manner."
"I expect you to place your trust in the Turkish diplomacy and the Republic of Türkiye"
President Erdoğan said, "Regardless of what others do, we will continue to embrace Serbians, Croatians, Albanians, Macedonians, as well as our Bosnian brothers and sisters", and he noted:
"I believe that we will settle this matter in a short period of time on the basis of justice and equity and with a conciliatory and solution-oriented approach. I am aware that you, my brothers and sisters, are as concerned as all Bosnians living in our country about the escalating tensions. Likewise, I am aware that our entire nation is intently following the developments. At this moment, I expect you to place your trust in us, the Turkish diplomacy and the Republic of Türkiye. Türkiye will most definitely not allow Bosnia and Herzegovina to go through the agonies of the 1990s again. We will continue our efforts until a lasting solution to this problem is found. It is redundant for me to emphasise that we will not hesitate to take a more assertive stance if necessary. Türkiye, as it was known during the late Aliya's leadership, no longer exists; a new Türkiye has emerged. As a result, our actions will be substantially different as well.
