A CHRONICLE OF EVOLVING TURKISH-SERBIAN RELATIONS A CENTURY AFTER THE BALKAN WARS.

Relations between Turkey and Yugoslavia, which were cordial until the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina', were shaped by three factors: Yugoslavia's location on Turkey's trade routes to Europe, the long history shared with the peoples of Yugoslavia, and the friendly relations that existed thus far. Diplomatic relations took a new turn for the worse with the war, whereby economic relations also ended up being victim of the war, as well as the ensuing Kosovo crisis. However, the pattern of diplomatic relations and behavior since then has been different from what takes place, which made relations a complex reality: despite the rhetoric employed by both sides, sometimes verging on the inimical, and withdrawal of or denying agreement to ambassadors, relations survived. Prospects as regards an enhanced future rapprochement point to the importance of building and maintaining mutual political willingness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]