UPDATE - Türkiye reaffirms commitment to Bosnia Herzegovina's sovereignty, unity: Foreign minister

UPDATES WITH BOSNIAN, CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS’ REMARKS

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Saturday reaffirmed Türkiye’s “unwavering support” for Bosnia Herzegovina’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and unity.

“Our position is well known to all parties in Bosnia and the region. I once again reaffirmed our unwavering support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political unity of Bosnia Herzegovina,” said Fidan in a joint news conference with his Bosnian and Croatian counterparts in the Croatian city of Dubrovnik.

Stressing that both Bosnia and Croatia are important for the lasting peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region, Fidan said they discussed several topics, including current political developments in Bosnia and joint concrete projects during their meeting.

“We hope they (the projects) will contribute to the economic development of our region,” he further said.

Expressing Ankara’s concern over the “ongoing divisive rhetoric and actions” in Bosnia, Fidan said creating an environment of reconciliation is crucial for progress.

“Finally, we touched upon the topic of connectivity and infrastructure projects in Bosnia and Croatia,” he added.

Stating that the meeting was fruitful in exchange of views, Fidan expressed his will to hold these meetings regularly to advance regional cooperation.

Croatian and Bosnian foreign ministers expressed their strong relationship with Türkiye, indicating their commitment to further enhancing these ties across multiple areas.

Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman underlined the common strategic goals of ensuring a secure, stable, and prosperous Western Balkans.

Expressing Croatia's satisfaction with the start of EU accession talks with Bosnia Herzegovina, Radman anticipated an early intergovernmental council meeting between the two countries.

Stressing fruitful discussions with Fidan during his official trip to Türkiye in January, Radman highlighted Croatia's perspective on Türkiye as a significant candidate for EU membership and a crucial NATO ally.

Radman also welcomed the progress and enhancement of political ties with Ankara, emphasizing that they have enjoyed dynamic and productive relations for three years.

He expressed gratitude to Ankara for maintaining this ongoing cooperation.

Radman stressed that Turkish companies find Croatia attractive for investment, and noted Türkiye’s involvement in significant projects in tourism, global energy, banking, and infrastructure.

Bosnian Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic reaffirmed Bosnia Herzegovina's robust relations with Croatia and Türkiye, mentioning their exploration of new opportunities and ongoing discussions on collaborative areas.

Agreeing on the annual organization of trilateral meetings, Konakovic emphasized the importance of gathering and sharing information, with stability in Bosnia Herzegovina being a regional priority.

He further stated that Ankara’s influential role in the region and its positive relations are crucial for Bosnia Herzegovina's sovereignty and territorial integrity.