Turkey's Gul says supports efforts for Kosovo recognition

"Turkey will continue to support Kosovo in its resolute path. Turkey has led the way by becoming one of the first countries to recognize Kosovo and I hope that certain Islam countries are waiting for the right time to follow suit," Abdullah Gul told a joint press meeting on Tuesday with his Kosovar counterpart Fatmir Sejdiu in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

Gul said independence of each country in the Balkans should receive due respect while efforts should be paid to develop neighborly relations with an eye to strengthen friendship and peace.

"The history of the Balkans is our common history and we share great many values which gives us strong ties between our two countries. Turkey attaches great importance to stability and security in the Balkans, which is being reconstructed to align with a new Europe and a new world," Gul said.

The Turkish president said Kosovars considered Turkey as a brother nation, adding that Turks living in Kosovo constituted a strong bridge between the two countries.

Gul said Kosovo was restructuring its state bodies as a democratic rule of law in a bid to become a part of the European-Atlantic institutions and the number of countries to recognize Kosovo was increasing.

Gul said economic relations between the two countries were developing strongly and rapidly, adding that the Turkish government encouraged Turkish businesspeople to make investments in Kosovo

"We believe that when the day comes, Kosovo will take its seat in the European-Atlantic institutions, in the NATO as well as in the European Union. I wish Kosovo a bright future," Gul said.

/World Bulletin/