The Vice President of the Parliament of Montenegro Suljo Mustafić pointed out that the relations between Montenegro and Turkey are very good, in the political, social and economic fields, and thanked the Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for his personal contribution to strengthening those relations.
"In addition to the high level of political cooperation, and the intensive contacts of your businessmen and interest in investments, I especially emphasize the support for various projects that were realized through the Government agency TIKA, in different parts of Montenegro. Thanks to this, numerous historical buildings were restored, hospitals were equipped, health centers were renovated , school facilities. The most recent example is the opening of the multi-purpose Islamic cultural center in Bar, which was mostly realized with the support of your government agency," said Mustafić.
According to the announcement, Erdogan said that Turkey wants to strengthen friendly ties with Montenegro and all the countries of the Balkans, and that he expects that, in the coming period, economic relations will be strengthened even more and economic investments will increase.
During his visit to Turkey, Mustafić visited several associations that gather emigrants from the area of Montenegro.
As announced by his cabinet, he got acquainted with the state of emigrant groups in the area of Izmir, in several municipalities there, where, according to estimates, live close to a million descendants of emigrants from the Balkans, mostly Bosniaks and Albanians, of which tens of thousands are from Montenegro.
The host of the visit in Izmir was Abdulah Pepić, who introduced Mustafić to the activities of these associations, which strive to preserve the cultural and linguistic identity of emigrants for a very long period of time through mutual gatherings, manifestations, humanitarian activities and the renewal of ties with the homeland.
During his tour of the Aegean region, Mustafić met with expatriate associations in the towns of Ajvalik, Gomeč, Kučuk Koj and Tekirda, which are mostly inhabited by emigrants from Montenegro, who settled those areas at the beginning of the 20th century, immediately after the Balkan wars.
Mustafić with emigrants in the Istanbul municipality of Bajram Pasha
Mustafić also visited the emigrants in the Pendik and Ejup municipalities of Istanbul, and in the municipality of Bajrampaša, he visited the newly constructed building built by local emigrants, which includes a school, a congress hall, a gallery and exhibition proctor, an ethno museum and a restaurant.
Association president Zahid Bujukbajrak and management members Hilmo Murić and Erdžan Gul pointed out the importance of organization and better networking of expats, who are very numerous in Istanbul, where more than a million expats from the Balkans live.
Mustafić expressed respect for the very successful activities and organization of emigrants, with the aim of preserving their identity, customs and language.
"It is amazing how our emigrants, in very difficult circumstances, through several generations, managed to preserve their identity, and at the same time progressed in the social and economic environment, becoming respected citizens of advanced and prosperous Turkey. Your associations are a good basis for preserving your identity, and also time is the best way to communicate with the countries you come from. Montenegro is becoming more and more aware of the need and importance of improving cooperation with emigrants, the Law on Emigration and the strengthening of institutions dealing with these issues are also being prepared. We will try to affirm as much as possible from the parliamentary level and we encourage cooperation and the strengthening of mutual ties," said Mustafić.
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