UPDATE - Turkey to open consulate general in Serbia's Novi Pazar

UPDATES WITH THE AGREEMENTS SIGNED BETWEEN TURKEY AND SERBIA, UPDATES DECK

By Diyar Guldogan and Talha Ozturk

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey will open a consulate general in Serbia's Novi Pazar city, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Monday.

"Today, we are taking another historic step within the context of our bilateral relations. Serbia responded positively to Turkey's demand of opening a consulate general in Novi Pazar," Erdogan said at a news conference along with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic after co-chairing a Turkey-Serbia High-Level Cooperation Council meeting in Serbia.

Erdogan said his meeting with Vucic was "very fruitful" and the leaders set "new goals" in their bilateral relations, on the first day of a two-day official visit to Serbia's capital Belgrade.

He also said the bilateral relations between Turkey and Serbia have reached a "perfect" level.

Bilateral trade volume between Ankara and Belgrade reaches $1.2 billion, Erdogan noted and urged Turkish firms to increase investments in Serbia.

- New agreements

Prior to the news conference, the two countries signed nine new agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoU) in the presence of Erdogan and Vucic.

They include the Security Cooperation Agreement, MoU on Cooperation in the Areas of Family and Social Protection, MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Industry and Technology, MoU on the Application of Joint Patrol Police Services, Military Framework Agreement, MoU on Reconstruction of Kasapcic Bridge, Cooperation Protocol on Science and Technology, MoU between Turkey's Small and Medium Industry Development Organization (KOSGEB) and Development Agency of the Serbia (RAS) and Mou on Postal Services were signed.