FDPM and MFA of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic received today, at Serbia Palace, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu, who arrived today on an official visit to Belgrade.
Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu, who underlined that this was his fifteenth visit to Belgrade, thanked his host for the warm welcome. Meeting for the third time since the appointment of Ivica Dacic as FDPM and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the interlocutors agreed that the visit constituted a very important step in the promotion of Serbian-Turkish relations.
According to FDPM and MFA Dacic, the two countries were committed to work together towards the relaxation, normalization and the greatest possible strengthening of their bilateral relations.
"Turkey and Serbia have different perceptions of some segments of history, as well as divergent views and perceptions of the present, which can be understood," said Minister Dacic at a joint press conference after his meeting with Davutoglu, adding that particularly for that reason it was necessary to seek common interests in their further bilateral relations.
They also underlined that enhancement of economic cooperation would be among the priorities in the period ahead, since last year's trade amounted to 760 million dollars.
Davutoglu stated that Turkey considered Serbia as its "next-door neighbour" and that the two countries shared very much in common. "We are ready and wish to stand "shoulder to shoulder" with Serbia working towards a better future for both Serbia and the Balkans, aware that Serbia is the backbone of the Balkans, said the Turkish Foreign Minister.