Turkish foreign minister visits Serbia

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Turkish foreign minister visits Serbia

BELGRADE -- Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Tuesday the Balkan nations were "as one family" and could settle all their differences "in a brotherly way."

His host, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić, pointed out after their meeting that "some actions and statements should no be an obstacle to good relations."

"Turkey and Serbia view some parts of history and the present in different ways, which is understandable, " Dačić told a joint news conference after a meeting with Davutoglu.

That is why it is necessary for the two countries to seek common interest in the future, he noted.

According to Dačić, Serbia and Turkey wish to reduce any tension in their relations, bring them to normal and strenthen them.

The two countries have a lot in common, Davutoglu stated.

"Turkey is willing to work with Serbia towards a better future of both Serbia and the Balkans, because it knows Serbia is the backbone of the Balkans," he remarked.

When asked if his visit meant the end of the dispute caused by Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's statement from last year that "Kosovo was Turkey and Turkey was Kosovo," Davutoglu avoided a direct response.

He said Belgrade was "a friendly city that he liked to visit often."

A common goal of the two countries is to develop their mutual relations in economy, sport, culture, science, security, defense and crisis response, the two officials agreed, adding that a Serbian-Turkish business forum should be held in Turkey in the fall.

Trade between Serbia and Turkey in 2013 was EUR 760 million, Dačić stated, adding that 170,000 Serbian tourists visited Turkey...

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