Erdogan's Spokesperson Says Turkey Wants 'Stability' in Bosnia

"No one, in Europe, in the region and in the country, should try to open a Pandora's Box in Bosnia," the spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ambassador Ibrahim Kalin, said in an address during his visit to Bosnia. 

He was referring in part to the recent escalation of tensions caused by the appearance of what some claimed to be a Bosnian Serb paramilitary group - as well as to the Bosnian Croat drive for greater autonomy.

Kalin, a close aide of President Erdogan's, visited Bosnia amidst these tensions on Thursday. 

For more than two decades, Turkey has nurtured close relations with Bosniak [Bosnian Muslim] leaders), including Bosnia's late president, Alija Izetbegovic, and his son, Bakir. 

In recent years, it has expanded its influence in the region further, using a combination of political, business and cultural tools.

Recently, Erdogan has also paid special attention to improving Ankara's ties with Serbia.

"We have good relations with the Bosnian leadership, as with other Balkan countries, Serbia in particular," the envoy said. 

"Turkish investments are growing in the region and President Erdogan's last visit to Belgrade and the Sandzak [a mainly Bosniak region of Serbia] was a sign of our good relations. We are also planning to connect Sarajevo, Belgrade and Novi Pazar [in Sandzak] with a motorway project," Kalin said.

"This situation can only help the peace and stability of the region and of Bosnia," he added.

A few weeks ago, Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic travelled to Ankara to meet Erdogan for a visit that seemed mainly to focus on the political crisis in Bosnia, and especially on the failure of Bosnia's politicians to agree on changes to the country's election law. 

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