Turkey urges support for Bosnia’s NATO accession bid

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - The head of the Turkish delegation to NATO parliamentary assembly on Friday called on allies to support Bosnia and Herzegovina's accession to the intergovernmental military alliance.

In a statement on Friday, Ahmet Berat Conkar said that Bosnia and Herzegovina's NATO membership will be of vital importance for the permanent peace and security in the Balkans.

"The Balkans geography should be turned to a region where peace and tranquility have a full dominance," said Conkar.

"We are calling on our allies to support Bosnia and Herzegovina's full membership into NATO due to the future of the Balkans and the Euro-Atlantic region."

Conkar added that Turkey would continue to take side with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In mid-February, Turkey commemorated 66 years of NATO membership, and Turkish army is the second strongest army of the NATO after the U.S. armed forces.