Turkey's TİKA changes strategy in favor of development projects

Memories are fresh of the Second World War in multi-ethnic Bosnia where Turkey's cooperation agency takes sides with fellow Bosniacs and makes remarkable projects for development of the country, including preservation of massive heritage of Ottoman Empire in the region. 

TİKA has been changing it policy on humanitarian aid and tends to focus on development projects, Deputy Prime Minister Kaynak told Hürriyet Daily News.

Extensive restoration and development projects by the Turkish Cooperation and
Coordination Agency (TİKA) bring tourism gain for all citizens of the country, therefore Christian communities display less and less doubtful approach for the agency's works, according to Mahmut Çevik, head of the Balkans and Central Europe department of TİKA. 

A 16th-century Ottoman mosque in Bosnia which was damaged during the country's 1992-1995 war was re-opened for prayers on May 12 after restored with help from the TİKA. First erected in 1501 by the Ottoman Sultan Bayezıd II, the mosque was destroyed by Serb forces in 1992. It was one of 12 mosques damaged or destroyed during the brutal conflict.   

The restoration of Emperor's "Hünkar Mosque" in Foca of Republika Srpska entity was not initially much welcomed by the local Serbs of the town, even some said the restoration will not succeed, according to TİKA officials. 

A silent consent after flows of tourists

But as they observed these historical restoration projects will benefit all as tourism revenue of the town, Christian locals have given a silent consent, the officials say. The agency does not hesitate to make the restoration although the town had only 52 remaining Bosniak families, while Muslim community was more than half of the town's...

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