BOSNIA TO BOOST TIES WITH TURKEY

ANKARA, Turkey (September 4,2008) - The Turkish President Abdullah Gul hosted a banquet yesterday in honor of the Bosnian President Haris Silajdzic and the members of the Bosnian State Presidency Zeljko Komsic and Nebojsa Radmanovic at Cankaya Presidential Palace in Turkish capital of Ankara.Turkish Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other officials attended the banquet.

Gul said Turkey and Turkish people always attached a special importance to developments in Bosnia and they would continue to do so.

Turkey attached a great importance to sovereignty of Bosnia.

"We think that a stable Bosnia-Herzegovina is also important in regard to security and stability of Europe," he said.

The Bosnian President Haris Silajdzic said he hoped that Bosnia and Turkey Turkey would become full members of the EU and he believed that both countries' membership would benefit the EU.

President Silajdzic said they were eager to boost bilateral relations with Turkey in every area.He said Bosnia considered Turkey a real friend, and urged trade between the two friendly countries to be improved.

"Bosnia is willing to see more Turkish investors in the country. Double taxation problem has been solved," the Bosnian President Haris Silajdzic added.

Addressing Turkey-Bosnia Business Council meeting in Istanbul organized by the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), President Silajdzic said Bosnia was the model of globalization which brings people together.

Commenting on situation in the Caucasus, President Silajdzic said extreme efforts should be exerted to normalize the situation.

An agreement was signed between Bosnia and Turkey to prevent double taxation, and the Bosnian State Presidency approved the agreement on July 28th, 2008.

The Turkish President Abdullah Gul was glad thatthe Bosnian President and the members of the Bosnian State Presidency have paid a visit to the Republic of Turkey and added that Turkish people and government respect united Bosnia with all its peoples and this is how they would like to see it in future. He expects that Bosnia will continue to be a democratic, peaceful and stable state that will provide safety for all its citizens. He added that Turkey strongly supports Bosnia's integration in the Euro-Atlantic community and stronger EU engagement in Bosnia.

President Gul emphasized the importance of Bosnia’s joining the Partnership for Peace, which resulted with intensified dialogue with the NATO, adding that Turkey strongly supports this model of development.

During the meeting both parties expressed satisfaction over good political relations between the two countries, which serves as a basis for better economic and trade cooperation. They also talked about cooperation in the area of energy, education and tourism.

Furthermore, it was stated that Turkey will continue to support Bosnia in the field of defense and security.

Bosnian state officials thanked for the support Turkey is providing to the country and invited President Gul to pay a visit to Bosnia.
.