The Opening For Projects In Serbia Was Conducted By Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ

Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ and the delegation accompanying him, who arrived in Serbia for a number of different contacts, conducted the opening of several different Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency Directorate projects.

Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ and the delegation accompanying him, who arrived in Serbia for a number of different contacts, conducted the opening of several different TİKA projects. During the joint press meeting, organized after the meeting with Prime Minister İvitsa Daciç in the Prime Ministry building within the scope of contacts in Serbia, Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ emphasized that Turkey and Serbia are allied nations. Bozdağ, who stated that they consider the development of relations between Turkey and Serbia in all fields, especially political, economic and cultural relations, to be in the interest of both countries added “We as Turkey are decisive about carrying our relations with Serbia in every field further forward. We also believe that making the senior level visits between the countries a tradition will be beneficial for both”. While stating that he will be conducting the openings of a number of different facilities in this country built by TİKA within the scope of his Serbia visit, Deputy Prime Minister Bozdağ pointed out that TİKA had been providing significant development support since the year 2012 in Serbia.

Serbian Prime Minister Daçiç expressed his gratitude for the projects brought to life in Serbia by Turkey through TİKA and added “The Muslims living in Serbia must be encouraging towards our relations with the Bosnian community in particular. The Bosnian Moslem community is a soul bridge between Turkey and Serbia. Our relations with Bosnia Herzegovina are very important. A tripartite mechanism is of great importance. We think that a tripartite summit will benefit Turkey, Serbia and Bosnia Herzegovina. We will organize an additional summit with Bosnia Herzegovina in our country towards the end of November”.

Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ met with Serbian Minister of Health Slavica Djukic Dejanoviç, Minister in Charge of the Development of Underdeveloped Serbian Municipalities Sulejman Uglijanin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal and External Trade and Telecommunication Rasim Ljajiç and First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vuciç within the scope of his visit to Serbia. After completing Friday prayers at the historical Bayraklı Mosque with TİKA Chairman Dr. Serdar Çam and Minister in Charge of the Development of Underdeveloped Serbian Municipalities Bosnian national Sulejman Uglijanin, Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ attended the opening of the Şeyh Mustafa Mausoleum restored by TİKA. The ceremony was also attended by Turkey’s ambassador to Belgrade Mehmet Kemal Bozay, the Belgrade Mufti Muhammed Yusuf Sipahiç, parliamentarians and TİKA officials.

In the opening ceremony speech made by Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ he pointed out that Şeyh Mustafa lived in Belgrade until the end of the 1700s and the mausoleum which was built after his death was a work that has stood the test of time. Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ explained that despite many threats of destruction in the past the mausoleum had been able to stand on its own and TİKA’s efforts restored the work in accordance with its original form.

Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ and his delegation completed the first day of the Serbian visit with a variety of contacts. On the second of their visit to Serbia, Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ and his delegation opened the Novi Pazar Elementary School which was completed by TİKA in Serbia’s city of Novi Pazar. The opening ceremony of the Novi Pazar Elementary School was attended by Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Rasim Ljajiç, Serbian Minister in Charge of the Development of Underdeveloped Serbian Municipalities, Sulejman Uglijanin, Serbian Ministry of Education Undersecretary Muhiddin Fiyulyanin, Novi Pazar Mayor Dr. Meho Mahmutoviç, Turkey’s ambassador to Belgrade Mehmet Kemal Bozay, TİKA Chairman Dr. Serdar Çam, some parliament members and Tika officials and a number of citizens. Students performed folk dances and a chorus concert at the ceremony.

In the speech made by Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ at the ceremony, he said that despite the distance between Turkey and the Sandjak region of Serbia, there is a bond of affection between the Turkish people and the Bosnians living in the Sandjak region. Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ pointed out that TİKA had conducted some important work in the region. Emphasizing that one of the most important parts of the work being conducted by TİKA in the Sandjak region is support for education, Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ added “The opening of this school is the fulfillment of our Esteemed Prime Minister’s promise. This school will enable the transition from trilateral education to bilateral education in Novi Pazar, where there are shortages in terms of education resources”.

Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ and his delegation, who proceeded to Tutin after the opening of the Novi Pazar Elementary School, visited the carpet weaving workshop which was established through TİKA’s contributions. After inspecting the facilities here Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ and his delegation visited one of the three schools which were built by TİKA in Tutin, located in the village of Naboye. During the visit the Tutin community greeted Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ and his delegation with great enthusiasm. Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ and his delegation met with students here at distributed gifts.

On the third day of Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ and his delegation’s contacts in Serbia they visited the castle of Ram built by the Sultan II. Beyazıt within the borders of the Veliko Gradişte Municipality. Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ, who toured the remains of the castle built in 1492 on the banks of the Tuna River, said that the structure would be restored by TİKA in accordance with its original form. In the statement made by Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ to press members it was said that “Having undertaken the lighting of this castle as TİKA, we will also take over its restoration in accordance with the original form and the financial portion for this project and by doing so will enable this ancestral heritage to continue serving mankind".

After completing the inspections at the Castle Ram, the delegation proceeded to Smederevo. Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ and his delegation visited the Smederevo Castle in Smederevo and toured the site here. In the statement made by Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ, he promised that the Turkish Baths and the Turkish Tower in the Smederevo Castle would be restored and other areas which were deteriorating would be taken under advisement. After completing contacts in Serbia Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ and his delegation enjoyed a tour of Belgrade before returning to Turkey.