Davutoglu pledges Turkey's continued support for Bosnia and Herzegovina

Meeting yesterday with the Serbian, Bosniak and Croatian members of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Presidency Council, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu reaffirmed Turkey's support for the country. Davutoglu was in Bosnia and Herzegovina to attend the Ministerial Meeting on the Alliance of Civilizations Southeast Europe Strategy. He had separate meetings with Croatian Council Chairman Zeljko Komsic, Bosnian Council member Haris Sladzic and Serbian member Neboysa Radmanovic. During the meetings, Davutoglu said Turkey has long supported Bosnia and Herzegovina, citing its efforts to support the country in the international arena. He told them about Turkey's vision of the Balkans, calling for a climate of peace and security. Davutoglu also urged mutual economic reliance among Balkan countries and pointed to the importance of multiculturalism, which he called one of the pillars of the region. On the sidelines of the ministerial meeting, Davutoglu and his Bosnia and Serbian counterparts Sven Alkalaj and Vuk Jeremic held a tripartite meeting as well. Davutoglu told reporters after the meeting that Turkey and Serbia are working to promote national unity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Saying that Turkey, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina agree on the need for regional integrity, Davutoglu expressed pleasure at Bosnia and Herzegovina serving on the UN Security Council. Davutoglu said that the next tripartite meeting would take place in Belgrade. Alkalaj said that the meeting was very fruitful, adding that they would continue their efforts. Alkalaj said that they discussed matters concerning the three countries, and that they would pursue cooperation. For his part, Jeremic said that they try to hold this meeting once a month, adding that all three countries support Bosnia and Herzegovina's territorial integrity. At the end of this first regional meeting of the Alliance of Civilizations, a Sarajevo declaration called the Alliance of Civilizations Southeast Europe Strategy for Cultural Dialogue and Cooperation was released.