Dacic: Serbia-Turkey relations at historical high point

ANKARA - Serbian First Deputy PM and FM Ivica Dacic said on Thursday in Ankara Serbia-Turkey relations were at a historical high point and that the two countries aimed to increase the volume of their bilateral trade from the present cca 2.5 bln dollars to 5 bln dollars.

"It is an extremely open and friendly relationship, a relationship of trust that is based on the trust between the two presidents, (Serbia's Aleksandar) Vucic and (Turkey's Recep Tayyip) Erdogan, and the two of us as FMs," Dacic said at a press conference with Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu.

"We started by working on signing an agreement on abolishing visas and a free trade agreement over ten years ago. As early as then, we had a vision of what we need to do, without waiting for the EU," Dacic said.

Our economic cooperation is on a rise and we have a series of investments and many people are getting jobs, Dacic said, noting that important infrastructure projects included a motorway to Sarajevo.

"There is also a presence of (Turkish) financial capital, a bank and a development agency, and we are also working to develop our relations in culture and education, as well as in the field of sports, science, etc. "

He noted that, following a bilateral agreement on abolition of visas, the Serbian parliament was also due to ratify an amendment enabling travel between the two countries with ID cards only.

He said Serbia was under pressure to abolish the visa-free regime with Turkey.

"We have been refusing to do that because we believe it is not in our interest, or in the interest of Turkey, the entire region or Europe, and that, together, we must all make an effort to prevent abuses of the visa-free regime in the case of illegal migration," Dacic said.

Serbia and Turkey want to be constructive in international relations and take no sides, Dacic also said.

"We advocate respect of territorial integrity and sovereignty. We did not join the sanctions against Russia due to our state and national interests, as well as due to the economic cooperation with Russia and the Kosovo-Metohija issue, because Russia supports us on that issue. Imposing the sanctions would be unfair and detrimental, but it does not mean we will not say clearly that we do not support the violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine," Dacic said.

He said he had accepted Cavusoglu's initiative aimed at resolving the problem of chairmanship in the Organisation of Black Sea Economic Cooperation.

"Given that Turkey has ties with the initiative, whose members include both Russia and Ukraine, and since chairing it is very difficult, in an agreement with Russia, we have accepted a Turkish initiative that we chair the initiative in the next six months despite the fact it is not our turn, in order to contribute to peace and stability in the region," Dacic noted.

Dacic and Cavusoglu also condemned a recent burning of the Qur'an in Stockholm.