Turkish foreign minister recalls Bosnian War

The Dayton Peace Agreement brought "much-needed peace" to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina after years of bitter fighting, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said in a video message on Dec. 12.

Participating in a virtual event organized by the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords, he said that the agreement ended the war and genocide in the country.

The peace agreement reached at Dayton city of US, on Nov. 21 1995 was formally signed in Paris, on Dec. 14. These accord ended the more than three-year-long Bosnian War.

"The achievements of Dayton have been remarkable. That said many things have changed in the last quarter-century. Therefore, we need to adapt to new realities. We need to have a better functioning system that will increase the welfare of all citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina," said Çavuşoğlu.

He underlined that Turkey has a "strong commitment" to the territorial integrity and fundamental structure of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a single, sovereign state, comprising two entities and the Brcko District in the northern part of the country.

"The integrity, unity, and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina are crucial for Turkey. It is also a key element for maintaining peace and stability in the Balkans and beyond," said the Turkish foreign minister, adding that Turkey also supports efforts to improve regional cooperation for prosperity in the region.

Çavuşoğlu also stressed the support of Turkey in Bosnia-Herzegovina's progress towards Euro-Atlantic integration.

Urging the participants to look into the future, while not forgetting the past, the Turkish minister said that the suffering of innocent people during the...