Balkans | Cavusoglu: We discussed how we can improve our relations with Serbia

Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu spoke with First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Ivica Dacic at the joint press conference held after his meeting in the ministry.

Regarding the Israeli soldiers’ raid on the Jenin camp, Cavusoglu said: “The Israeli side says that this is an anti-terror operation. But there are also elderly women among the dead here. Therefore, the government continues various provocations since the new government assumed power. We demand that the Israeli government refrain For such attacks and provocations, I would like to express my condolences especially to our brothers who died here. Make an evaluation.

In response to a question about the burning of the Noble Qur’an in Sweden, Cavusoglu confirmed that it was a hate crime and a racist act.

No one should try to tell us this as freethinking. It has nothing to do with it.” Minister Cavusoglu continued his words as follows:

Can the same action be taken against different beliefs now? It can’t be done. However, we believe that anti-Semitism is also a crime against humanity. Anti-Christianity and Islamophobia… But when you come to the West, only Islamophobia becomes freedom of thought. If Sweden says, “I am now a radical racist country. Therefore, it has become an Islamophobic country. If he says, ‘Islamophobia and racism are free’, that would. But that is also against the Council of Europe agreements. They always try to teach us a lesson. They try to teach a lot of lessons.” Serbia too.

The attack is also against EU rules, Cavusoglu said, “I mean, there is a law there. It is free under the law. Therefore, those who defend ‘it should be done’ are also accomplices to this crime. Whatever. Now, there is no element In anti-terror laws to fight terrorism properly. Now they have to change the constitution and the anti-terrorism law. Quite simply. No one should try to tell us anything else. That’s how the whole world sees it.” Use phrases.

Cavusoglu conveyed his wishes for a speedy recovery from the flood disaster in the Serbian New Bazaar and said that they are ready to provide all kinds of support to his colleague.

“In our meetings today, we discussed how we can improve our relations with Serbia. We are experiencing the best period in our relations. We had the opportunity to chat with President Vucic on the phone a short time ago. As Vucic said, we are living in a golden age in our relations.” Cavusoglu noted that the two countries should continue to work together in various fields.

Pointing out that he has visited Serbia 5 times on different occasions in the past 1.5 years, Çavuşoğlu stated that they have evaluated the relations with his counterpart meticulously.

Noting that the volume of trade between the two countries grew rapidly and approached $2.5 billion in 2022, Cavusoglu stressed that the leaders of the two countries have set a goal of $5 billion and that they believe they will reach this goal in the future.

Minister Cavusoglu expressed the increase of Turkish investments in Serbia and that the Serbian administration is closely interested in Turkish companies, and said: “We want to hold the fourth meeting of the Joint Economic Committee this year in order to discuss the dimensions of our economic cooperation in depth and depth.” He said.

Pointing out that a bilateral chamber of commerce will be established between the Federation of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Çavuşoğlu said that in 2022, 345,000 tourists came from Serbia and 116,000 people came from Turkey. He visited Serbia.

Cavusoglu said that Turkey has two representations in Serbia, he said that the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) will start the restoration of the Berkeley Mosque in Belgrade this year, the Yunus Emre Institute (YEE) organizes Turkish language courses and that more than 3,000 Serbian citizens attend these courses and stated that he participated In which.

Minister Çavuşoğlu stated that they also evaluated the fight against terrorism with his counterpart and continued his words as follows:

“We especially thank Serbia for its support regarding FETO. A person linked to the PKK is a terrorist. Today we asked for their support for his return. Irregular immigration is our common problem. We will strengthen our cooperation in this regard. Our Ministers of Home Affairs also meet regularly. Stability and peace in the Balkans It is important for all of us, and a new government is formed so as not to increase tension in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Here, the role that Turkey and Serbia will play is very important for stability and peace. In particular, the tripartite mechanism of Turkey, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina has been very useful. “

Referring to the increase in racism and Islamophobia in Europe, Cavusoglu stressed that burning the Qur’an in Sweden is a hate crime.

Minister Çavuşoğlu emphasized that one of the goals of these measures is to prevent Sweden from membership in NATO and said:

The PKK/YPG and the far-left parties in that country that support them are already aiming to prevent Sweden from joining NATO. Among them are politicians I know from both Finland and Sweden, and from the Council of Europe, who believe in far-left ideology. They are also looking for me. They say, “Ban our countries from joining NATO.” The same. They are already cooperating with the PKK. In the end, Sweden has to make a decision. Like I said before, they mine this organic process. Sweden has the power to move forward by removing these mines and blowing itself up by stepping on these mines. Now, in this environment, a tripartite meeting would have no meaning.” He said.

Noting that Sweden has not taken a serious step towards implementing the Triple Covenant, Çavuşoğlu said that Turkey has not received an official proposal to separate membership operations between Sweden and Finland, and that the problems with Finland are relatively less compared to Sweden. he added.

Source: AA