prijava
SARAJEVO, May 22 (FENA) - A handover of a donation of 15 buses took place today at the complex of the Sarajevo Public Transportation Company (GRAS), which was donated by the City of Istanbul to this public utility company.
The donation is a result of the successful cooperation between the Sarajevo Canton, the City of Sarajevo, the City of Istanbul and the Turkish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (TIKA).
Since 2014, GRAS has donated a total of 60 buses to GRAS, said acting manager of GRAS, Avdo Vatrić. These15 buses will be put into operation after their registration and administrative procedures are completed. Donated vehicles are used, but they are well preserved and have a platform for persons with disabilities.
Vatrić thanked for the donation and emphasized that donated vehicles will greatly improve the public transport in Sarajevo, adding that from now on all lines will be well covered.
The presentation of donated vehicles was attended by a large number of officials, including Turkish Ambassador to BiH Haldun Koç, who assessed today's event as an important step in mutual cooperation.
"We always say that we are a guarantor of peace, development, well-being and prosperity here in BiH and our ideas and goals go precisely in this direction," stressed Koç.
Turkish Ambassador expressed gratitude to all institutions and organizations in BiH that provided support during the recent visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Sarajevo.
“You are aware that President Erdogan was in a working visit to Sarajevo two days ago where he held meetings at the highest level to discuss various economic and social issues. Even though it was a one-day visit, it gave us great results. We talked about important issues, from the economic and social aspects, especially the issue of the construction of the Belgrade-Sarajevo motorway,” added Koç.
Ismail Hakki Turunç, a member of the Istanbul City Assembly, reminded that the City of Istanbul, in addition to public transportation, helped other projects in Sarajevo and throughout BiH, especially when it comes to water supply system.
“This relationship will continue at the highest level in the coming period. Last year I stayed in Sarajevo at the opening of a water pump plant in the public water supply system in Ilidža. Also, I was in BiH when there were major floods when we also tried to help in Brčko, Bijeljina, Sanski Most and Maglaj,” added Turunç.
TIKA's Assistant Director for the region, Biral Çetin, said that many projects have been implemented so far.
“With these 15 buses delivered today, we have donated a total of 60 buses. Also, they are donated with all the spare parts. We are pleased to be here again today because we have been present in this region for 22 years and we have implemented more than 850 projects. We intend to work together on various projects in the future,” said Çetin.
(FENA) S. R.
