Erdoğan: Serbia ‘key country’ for stability in Balkans

ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency

Serbia is a “key country” for peace and stability in the Balkans, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on May 6.

“Serbia is a friendly country for us, a key country for peace and stability in the Balkans,” said Erdoğan, speaking at the Turkey-Serbia Business Forum in Istanbul.

“Both countries have a strong will to develop bilateral relations in all fields, and carry it to a further point,” he said.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who is in Turkey on a two-day official visit, also attended the business forum.

Pointing out that bilateral trade volume had surpassed $1 billion last year, the Turkish leader said the target had been increased to $2 billion in the short term, then to $3 billion.

“We want to deepen, diversify and extend our business alliance to new fields,” he said.

Tourism is one of the sectors where both countries could develop their relations, Erdoğan said.

He said the first Turkey-Serbia High-Level Cooperation Council meeting—scheduled to be held on May 7 with the participation of the Serbian leader—“will further increase our momentum.”