SARAJEVO
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that he believed that Bosnia-Herzegovina would be a member of the EU before Turkey.
Erdogan and Bosnia-Herzegovina's Council of Ministers Chairman Vjekoslav Bevanda held a joint press conference in Sarajevo.
Turkey has been waiting at the door of the EU for 50 years, he said.
Erdogan said that he discussed military, political, economic, commercial and cultural issues with Bevanda.
NATO was of great importance for Bosnia-Herzegovina, he said, adding that there could some who opposed Bosnia's membership to NATO, but as a member of NATO, the country would advance on its path in a more powerful way.
The trade volume between the two countries which had been 297 million U.S. dollars in 2010 rose to 357 million USD in 2011, he noted, saying that it was very low.
Trade volume between Turkey and Bosnia-Herzegovina should be boosted, he said.
Turkish entrepreneurs have taken important steps in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the premier said.
Erdogan said that he hoped that Turkish and Bosnian businessmen would hold a summit in Istanbul soon in order to speed up investment process.
Bosnia-Herzegovina's Council of Ministers Chairman Vjekoslav Bevanda also underlined close relations between his country and Turkey.
