Turkish - Serbian Economic Relations Must Be Enhanced, Oktem

BELGRADE - Economic relations between Turkey and Serbia should be boosted, Hasan Servet Oktem, Turkey's Ambassador in Belgrade, said on Wednesday.
The annual trade volume between Turkey and Serbia is 300 million USD, Oktem noted in an exclusive interview with Serbian "Vecernje Novosti" newspaper.
According to Oktem, Serbia's trade volume with Romania is 5 billion USD and it is 3.2 billion USD with Bulgaria.
Bureaucratic hurdles before Turkish businessmen should be eliminated, Oktem also stated.
Oktem said that Turkey and Serbia can sign a free trade agreement, and recalled that Ankara submitted a draft to Belgrade government in 2002.
The ambassador hoped that bilateral relations will be speeded up and boosted following the general elections to be held in Turkey in July.
Oktem stated that Serbian President Boris Tadic will be invited to visit Turkey, and expressed his hope that Tadic will be accompanied by a large delegation of businessmen.
Turkey's policy is parallel to that of EU regarding Kosovo, the Turkish ambassador added.