Türkiye sees the Balkans not only as a strategic priority but also as a region closely linked through shared cultural and human ties, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday.
Speaking at a press conference following the inaugural Balkan Peace Platform meeting in Istanbul, Fidan underscored the region’s critical importance for both Europe and the broader neighbourhood. “The stability of the Balkans is essential not only for Europe but also for the peace and security of surrounding regions,” he said.
The platform, launched at the initiative of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, brought together representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, and Kosovo. According to Fidan, the strong interest shown by regional leaders reflects shared concerns and aspirations for lasting peace and cooperation.
Fidan described the Balkans as a strategic crossroads connecting Europe, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea, noting its long-standing significance in political, economic, and security matters. He emphasised that Türkiye’s bilateral ties with regional countries continue to deepen across various sectors, and that dialogue and cooperation must be led by regional actors themselves.
“The Balkan Peace Platform is a step forward in regional ownership,” he said. “It is designed to facilitate honest dialogue and sustained engagement among all parties.”
The initiative aims to foster a regional environment where the Balkans are associated with cooperation and solidarity, rather than conflict and division. Fidan stated that the platform is meant to complement, not replace, existing mechanisms such as the EU-facilitated Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue.
He stressed that key issues discussed included political developments, energy security, regional connectivity, economic cooperation, and capacity building. Participants agreed to meet regularly and work on concrete projects to advance peace and prosperity across the Balkans.
Supporting EU aspirations and collective action
Noting that six of the seven participating countries are EU candidates, Fidan said one of the priorities discussed was how to share experiences from Türkiye’s own EU process and build greater regional awareness in Brussels. The platform, he said, provides an opportunity to exchange views on EU visa policies, Customs Union alignment, and broader accession challenges.
He also pointed out that joint cooperation on EU defence initiatives, such as SAFE and Rearm Europe, could help bridge the gap between member states and candidate countries. Defense industry collaboration was also on the agenda, given the region’s varying capacities.
Cultural and tourism ties growing stronger
Fidan highlighted the growing interest of Turkish tourists in the Balkans—especially among young people—as a positive sign of deepening people-to-people ties. He noted that Turkish nationals rank first among foreign visitors to six Balkan countries, while cities such as Belgrade, Skopje, Tirana, and Pristina are now popular travel destinations.
He added that Balkan countries welcome this engagement, while Türkiye remains a major destination for both tourism and business from the region.
Diplomacy over division
The foreign minister underlined that participants reached a broad consensus on the need to resolve regional disputes through diplomacy and dialogue. While acknowledging tensions between some countries, Fidan said there is a shared commitment to avoid conflict and focus on cooperation.
“We agreed that regional problems should be solved by regional actors. It is our responsibility to act when we have the means to do so,” he stated. The platform, he added, will continue to convene every six months, with Istanbul as its initial hub.
Russia-Ukraine diplomacy and Türkiye’s mediation efforts
Fidan also spoke about Türkiye’s ongoing efforts to mediate between Russia and Ukraine. He confirmed that both countries have expressed willingness to hold a leaders’ summit in Istanbul under Ankara’s facilitation.
However, the parties have yet to agree on the timing, conditions, and agenda for such a meeting. Fidan said that President Erdogan firmly believes in the power of leader-level diplomacy to overcome deadlocks that often hinder delegation-level negotiations.
He welcomed the progress made in areas such as humanitarian issues and prisoner exchanges, stressing Türkiye’s readiness to support further dialogue.
“If the groundwork is laid, we hope to host a trilateral meeting in Istanbul soon,” Fidan said.
A large fire at the import cargo complex of Dhaka airport has caused significant damage to goods and materials belonging to key garment exporters, wit...
The Orenburg gas processing plant, the world's largest facility of its kind, has been forced to halt its intake of gas from Kazakhstan following a Ukr...
Israel launched air strikes and artillery fire on Gaza on Sunday, in what officials called a response to militant attacks, as the U.S.-mediated ceasef...
The Louvre Museum in Paris was closed on Sunday after thieves broke in and stole “priceless” jewellery from the Napoleon collection, the French go...
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy said he is not afraid of going to prison, days before beginning a five-year sentence over his 2007 campaign fi...
A large fire at the import cargo complex of Dhaka airport has caused significant damage to goods and materials belonging to key garment exporters, with losses and impacts on trade potentially amounting to millions of dollars, according to industry leaders on Sunday.
The Orenburg gas processing plant, the world's largest facility of its kind, has been forced to halt its intake of gas from Kazakhstan following a Ukrainian drone strike, according to Kazakhstan's energy ministry.
Israel launched air strikes and artillery fire on Gaza on Sunday, in what officials called a response to militant attacks, as the U.S.-mediated ceasefire came under renewed strain.
This September, I had a chance to visit Yerevan for the 108th edition of the Rose-Roth seminar, traditionally held by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly since 1990 and intended for post-socialist countries.
At least 69 people have died and almost 150 injured following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Cebu City in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, officials said, making it one of the country’s deadliest disasters this year.
A tsunami threat was issued in Chile after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Drake Passage on Friday. The epicenter was located 135 miles south of Puerto Williams on the north coast of Navarino Island.
The war in Ukraine has reached a strategic impasse, and it seems that the conflict will not be solved by military means. This creates a path toward one of two alternatives: either a “frozen” phase that can last indefinitely or a quest for a durable political regulation.
A shooting in Nice, southeastern France, left two people dead and five injured on Friday, authorities said.
Snapchat will start charging users who store more than 5GB of photos and videos in its Memories feature, prompting backlash from long-time users.
A large fire at the import cargo complex of Dhaka airport has caused significant damage to goods and materials belonging to key garment exporters, with losses and impacts on trade potentially amounting to millions of dollars, according to industry leaders on Sunday.
The Orenburg gas processing plant, the world's largest facility of its kind, has been forced to halt its intake of gas from Kazakhstan following a Ukrainian drone strike, according to Kazakhstan's energy ministry.
The Louvre Museum in Paris was closed on Sunday after thieves broke in and stole “priceless” jewellery from the Napoleon collection, the French government said.
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy said he is not afraid of going to prison, days before beginning a five-year sentence over his 2007 campaign financing case linked to Libya.
Millions of Americans took to the streets for “No Kings” rallies across all 50 states, denouncing what they called the corruption and authoritarianism of President Donald Trump.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment