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Gül aims at mobilizing bilateral ties with Sarajevo
His visit comes at the invitation of Haris Silajdzic, the chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and other two members of the presidency and is a reciprocation of the visit paid by the three to Turkey in September 2008.
Gül, speaking at a press conference before his departure for the Balkan Peninsula country, said he would hold talks with Valentin Inzko, High Representative and European Union Special Representative (HR/EUSR) for Bosnia and Herzegovina, in addition to members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“I will address the Bosnia and Herzegovina Parliament and, as a result of Turkey’s distinguished position in Bosnia and Herzegovina, I will meet all members of the Interreligious Council – a privilege rarely offered to foreign heads of states,” Gül said.
The Bosnian Interreligious Council was formed in 1997 through joint commitments by The Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Bosnian Christian community, the Roman Catholic community in Bosnia and the Bosnian Jewish community.
“In Bosnia and Herzegovina enormous grief is still fresh in people’s memories. During my visit – which is just before general elections on Oct. 3 – I will encourage all groups to act in mutual understanding and cooperation. I will once again stress that our country will support these actions,” Gül said.
“I will stress that taking the steps required for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s integration with Europe and Euro-Atlantic institutions by all segments of the society will contribute to regional peace, stability and welfare,” he said.
Bosnia and Herzegovina will hold elections on Oct. 3. Some Western analysts hope the political landscape, which is dominated by leaders focused on ethnic divisions rather than EU-centric reforms, will change.
After the World Court ruled in July that Kosovo’s declaration of independence did not violate international law, Bosnian Serb leaders have made it clear they will use the ruling to bolster a long-term threat of secession from Bosnia.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s two regions must agree on the distribution of state property to fulfill conditions to transform the country’s international protectorate status, while nationalist rhetoric is set to overshadow the economic and EU agenda in the campaign, limiting this year’s prospects for a more functional central state and faster reform.
Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina control 49 percent of Bosnian territory and constantly advocate for greater autonomy. They adamantly oppose the centralization of the country. Turkey has repeatedly stated its support for Bosnia’s territorial integrity.
The 1992-95 Bosnian conflict left the country split into two semi-independent entities: the Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation, each having its own government. They are united by weak central institutions.
In a recently held interview, Haris Silajdzic a Bosnian Muslim, said he found Turkey’s Balkans policy “very positive” and knows many people in Europe have positive thoughts about Turkey playing a greater role in the Balkans.
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