Oct 11, 2024 – Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met at the Presidential Palace on Thursday, emphasizing the need for peace and stability in the Balkans amid rising tensions between Serbia and Kosovo. In a joint press conference following their meeting, Erdogan highlighted the importance of a measured approach to recent disputes, stating, “It is clear the importance of common sense in the approach to the recent tensions between Serbia and Kosovo.”
During the meeting, the two leaders signed 11 cooperation agreements covering various sectors, including energy, trade, technology, sports, social security, disaster management, and media. Erdo?an stated, “We signed 11 agreements, which will strengthen the contractual basis of our relations.”
The Turkish president noted that trade between Turkey and Serbia has surpassed $2 billion for the second consecutive year, aiming to achieve a target of $5 billion. Erdo?an revealed that Turkish investments in Serbia have grown significantly over the past 12 years, increasing from $1 million to $405 million.
Erdo?an reiterated the significance of a constructive Serbian role in addressing political challenges in Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasizing, “We underlined once again the importance of peace and stability in the Balkans.”
In addition to regional issues, Erdo?an also addressed the ongoing situation in Palestine, calling for global recognition of the state of Palestine. He stated, “After October 7, nine countries have recognized the state of Palestine. I remind the countries that have not recognized Palestine to take such a step.”
Prior to his trip to Serbia, Erdo?an visited Albania, where he inaugurated the Namazgja Mosque, built with the support of Turkey’s Religious Affairs Presidency and the Turkish Diyanet Foundation.
