First Turkish-Croatian-Bosnian meeting takes place in Zagreb

Davutoğlu said stability in Bosnia means stability in the region.

The three countries’ foreign ministers came together for the first time in the framework of a new trilateral consultation mechanism. Trilateral cooperation will increase stability, security and welfare in the Balkans, Davutoğlu said, adding that they have decided to continue with the meetings.

He said they decided to follow common positions on how Bosnia’s political unity could be maintained and how reforms in the country could be strengthened, adding that this support would be made on an international level.

The minister also said the countries viewed Bosnia’s bid for NATO membership favorably, adding that there would be close cooperation on the military reforms necessary for accession to the alliance.

The talks in Zagreb came following the establishment of a similar mechanism between Turkey, Bosnia and Serbia, whose foreign ministers have met three times since last October. Davutoğlu will travel to Belgrade on Friday to participate in the fourth meeting.

Bosnian Foreign Minister Sven Alkalaj said they also talked about economic issues, while his Croatian counterpart, Gordan Jandromović, said Turkey helped in the 1990s to establish peace in the region.

In 1993 Turkey launched an initiative with Croatia to reconcile Bosnian Croats and Bosnian Muslims, who were then engaged in a deadly conflict.

The Turkish government has been extremely concerned by developments in Bosnia. The Dayton Accords, which ended the four-year Bosnian War in 1995, produced a hastily written constitution that ended the war but did not produce a functioning country.

The Bosnian constitution must be changed if the country is to attain true sovereignty and be released from the protection of the international community.

The year 2010 is also critical for the crucial elections that will be held.

/Hurriyet Daily News/