Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey participated in the Trilateral Consultation Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on May 8, 2013.

Regional cooperation and good neighborly relations, economic cooperation, EU and Euro-Atlantic integration as well as the preparations of the Third Trilateral Balkan Summit which will be hosted by H.E. Mr. Abdullah Gül, President of Turkey on 14-15 May 2013, in Ankara were discussed at the meeting.

Speaking at the joint press conference, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu stressed that bilateral relations between Turkey-Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia-Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia-Turkey gained great power and momentum thanks to the mechanism of trilateral cooperation. “In this region, our history, our fate and our future are common”, he added.

Recalling that the first meeting in 2009 was considered as one of the most important developments after the Cold War, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu stated that today the trilateral cooperation achieved more than the initial goals. “The point we reached is an indication that the Balkans has turned into a basin of peace and stability” emphasized Foreign Minister Davutoğlu.

Foreign Minister Davutoğlu pointed out that during the civil unrest in Libya, he gave instructions to evacuate the citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia together with Turkish citizens. “Wherever they live in the world, doors of Turkish missions are open to the citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia. They will be welcomed with hospitality” said Foreign Minister Davutoğlu.