Turkey wants to stabilize the Balkans in order to open the door to a more aggressive economic approach, Mirza Kusljugic, member of the Presidency of the Social Democratic Party [SDP] of Bosnia-Hercegovina, has told Dnevni Avaz as he commented on the results of a several day long visit to our country by Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

Emerging Region

Davutoglu's tour of Bosnia-Hercegovina to coincide with the end of the Ramadan attracted a great deal of attention and reaction in Bosnia-Hercegovina's political circles.

While some believe that Turkey's efforts are purely for its internal political agenda, others see its decision to step up its engagement in the Balkans as reflecting the desire of a sincere friend to help Bosnia-Hercegovina. Kusljugic believes that the purpose of the visit was to create space for expanding economic ties.

Turkey has very good relations with Croatia and Serbia and the visit is most likely part of it preparations to launch a more aggressive economic approach, Kusljugic said, adding that Turkey's industrial productions has advanced strongly over the last 10 years.

According to him, Bosnia-Hercegovina should devise a strategy to join this process rather than observe passively while "Turkish diplomats pave way for boosting investment in the region." In the Serb Republic [RS] politicians gave the visit a rather cool reception. Mladen Ivanic, the PDP [Democratic Prosperity Party] chairman, does not attach much importance to the visit.

In my opinion, the visit is primarily Turkey's internal policy affair designed to demonstrate that Turkey is gradually becoming a regional power, something by which it lays great store, Ivanic said.

Lazar Prodanovic, an SNSD [Alliance of Independent Social Democrats] deputy in the House of Representatives of the Bosnia-Hercegovina Parliament, noted that other issues aside, Davutoglu did after all say that he regarded Bosnia-Hercegovina as a friendly country.

Political Positioning

If he succeeded in persuading the leaders of the SDP [Social Democratic Party] and SDA [Party of Democratic Action] to act in the interest of Bosnia-Hercegovina, then the effects of his visit will be extremely important. However, it would be a pity if their standpoints remain the same, Prodanovic said.

Mate Franjicevic, a senior HDZBiH [Croat Democratic Union of Bosnia-Hercegovina] official, believes that Davutoglu's visit showed that Turkish diplomats have a special relationship to Bosnia-Hercegovina compared to other countries. He said that this should be reckoned with and borne in mind with regard to "political positioning."

Turkey as Leader in the Balkans

Fuad Cibukcic, the executive secretary of the Alliance for a Better Future of Bosnia-Hercegovina in charge of the party's foreign affairs, said that with Turkey being a regional power and a reliable partner of the United States we should be pleased with its involvement in our country.

"I believe that the great powers have tacitly allowed Turkey to be the leading force in the efforts to resolve problems in the Balkans," Cibukcic said.

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Source: Dnevni avaz, Sarajevo, in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian 1 Sep 11 p 5