Ansamed

(ANSAmed) - SARAJEVO, SEPTEMBER 2 - ''We must act quickly and with courage to speed up the association and integration process in the Euro-Atlantic structures, because many problems can be resolved more easily under the umbrella of these institutions''.

This remark was made today in Sarajevo by the President of Turkey, Abdullah Gul, during his two-day visit to Bosnia, in the company of a large group of businessmen, after his meeting with the Bosnian three-party presidency.

''Turkey has friendly feelings towards all ethnic groups, minorities and religious communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina'' said Gul. The Turkish President announced that Ankara will continue to organise meetings with the leaders of Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia for ''peace, stability and prosperity in the Balkan region'', adding that ''nobody will be able to keep us'' from working together on these goals.

In the past months, Turkey has organised several meetings between Foreign Ministers of the Balkan countries. In April, the country hosted a meeting between Gul, Serbia's President Boris Tadic and the President of the Bosnian and Herzegovina, Haris Silajdzic.

These meetings and the increased Turkish commitment to the Balkans have been criticised by the Bosnian Serbs led by the Premier of the Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, who accuse Ankara of interference and of supporting only the interests of Bosnian Muslims. ''Turkey',' Dodik said, ''has an important role in international relations, but that doesn't mean that the Republika Srpska must applaud their hidden political agenda''.

(ANSAmed).