Dacic urges Turkey to use its leverage on Pristina

ANKARA - Serbia would like to see Turkey as a major stability factor in our region, Serbian First Deputy PM and FM Ivica Dacic said on Thursday in Ankara after a meeting with Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, appealing to Turkey to use its leverage on Pristina in terms of implementation of the Brussels Agreement.

At a press conference with Cavusoglu, Dacic said they had also discussed the current situation in the Balkans.

"We would like Turkey to be an important factor of regional stability in our region, which means that our plea is that Turkey use its leverage when it comes to Pristina so that we can have a constructive attitude by Pristina in terms of implementation of the Brussels Agreement and other previously signed agreements so that we can discuss any permanent political solutions at all," Dacic said.

Despite our differing opinions on some issues, we need to act together and develop an atmosphere of mutual trust, he said.

"That is why I am happy to confirm that (Serbian) President (Aleksandar) Vucic and I will take part in all forums organised here. We expect visits to our region by Turkish ministers and the president of Turkey. We will have a successful continuation of cooperation in the period to come as well. Our relations are on a very high level and I thank all those who have contributed to that," Dacic said, highlighting the contributions of Vucic and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.