Chairman of Council of Ministers of B-H Nikola Špirić in Official Visit to Republic of Turkey

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dr Nikola Špirić is in an official visit to Ankara, where he had discussions with President of the Republic of Turkey Abdulah Gul and Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey Recep Erdogan. 

It was concluded at the meetings that the bilateral relations are at high level, while the economic cooperation remains below the realistic possibilities of both countries, so that further steps towards finding a way for future enhancement of that cooperation must be sought.

 

Špirić noted that Turkey, although a country with which B-H has concluded the largest number of agreements, participates in foreign investments in B-H with only one percent.

 

Foreign trade was assessed as being at a very low level, especially the coverage of import by export, and that the extend of foreign exchange, which is now at the levels not even close to real potentials, needs to be increased.

 

The Chairman of the Council of Ministers expressed the interest for an improved inflow of Turkish capital, saying that B-H continuously improves relevant legislative in order to remove administrative barriers to foreign investments.

 

The meeting considered modalities of cooperation in the sector of tourism, as well as on the cultural area.

 

Chairman Špirić stressed the commitment of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the development of good-neighbourly and regional cooperation.

 

Špirić informed the President and Prime Minister of Turkey of the situation in B-H. He said he does not agree with those who say that there is no progress in B-H. There is a progress, but it means in no way that all the challenges and all issues are solved.

 

The Chairman of the Council of Ministers said that the OHR formula is a spent formula, which only generates a political parasitism, because a part of political elites are in the phase of waiting, in stead of being in the phase of decision-making.

 

Chairman Špirić asked his interlocutors to encourage internal dialogue in B-H, which is an irreplaceable method of dealing with outstanding issues.

 

In B-H, a focus is necessary to be placed on economy, as an integrative factor in every society, in stead of placing it on unsuccessful reform efforts of which B-H has got tired, Špirić said.

 

Chairman Špirić expressed his regret for Bosnia and Herzegovina did not get the NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP) and “white Shengen”, because these two break through points would make it realistic to expect successes in other reforms, including the Constitutional reform, in particular. 

 

When it comes to the internal situation in B-H, Prime Minister Erdogan said that the most important thing is for B-H leaders to reach an agreement.

 

Prime Minister Erdogan said that the Turkish cooperation will be directed towards all constitutive peoples in B-H and that his country will continue to support B-H integration into NATO, as well as its efforts towards prosperity.

 

Chairman Špirić thanked to Turkey for its support to Bosnia and Herzegovina at the multilateral plan.

 

Chairman Špirić met today with representatives with Turkish Chambers of Commerce and Stock Exchanges, and discussed with them modalities of improvement of economic cooperation between the two countries.

 

The Chairman of the Council of Ministers laid a wreath in the Kemal Ataturk Mausoleum

 

According to the visit programme, Chairman Špirić is scheduled to hold talks with  Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Turkey Mehmet Ali Sahin.

 

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