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SARAJEVO, January 27 (FENA) - The Republic of Turkey is a sincere friend of Bosnia and Herzegovina and bilateral defense cooperation is at a high level, stated the BiH Defense Minister Sifet Podžić and Turkish Ambassador to Haldun Koç at today’s meeting.
Minister Podžić expressed his condolences to Ambassador Koç after the tragic earthquake that struck the eastern part of Turkey on Friday.
The two officials discussed bilateral defense cooperation, the Euro-Atlantic integration process of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and expressed mutual interest in expanding defense cooperation between the two countries.
The process of concluding military-financial assistance agreements between the BiH Council of Ministers and the Government of the Republic of Turkey was also discussed, and the two expressed expectation for the soon ratification and implementation of this agreement.
Minister Podžić thanked for the assistance provided by Turkey to the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the segment of operability with NATO, reflected through respectable material support in the development and modernization of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, support in the education and training process at military academies in Turkey.
Minister Podžić also thanked for the assistance provided by the Turkish Armed Forces through their participation in the EUFOR mission and through the overall cooperation that the BiH Ministry of Defense has with the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In the context of the NATO integration process, Minister Podžić stressed that the key priorities for BiH are to implement the reforms agreed by the BiH Presidency.
Ambassador Koç stressed that Turkey, as a NATO member, will provide full support to BiH on the Euro-Atlantic path, and reiterated its readiness for further expansion of mutual activities, assistance in BiH defense reform and overall cooperation in mutual benefit.
(FENA) S. R.
