Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has gathered the foreign ministers of Western Balkan countries in Istanbul. Kosovo’s acting Foreign Minister, Donika Gërvalla, was absent, and the country was instead represented by Kosovo’s ambassador to Turkey, Agon Vrenezi.
Launch of “Balkan Peace Platform”
Fidan stated that he convened the representatives of the Western Balkan countries for the first meeting of a new “Balkan Peace Platform.” “In order to contribute to peace and stability in the Balkans, under the guidance of our honorable President, we held the first meeting of the ‘Balkan Peace Platform’ at the level of foreign ministers today in Istanbul,” Fidan wrote on X.
He added that the platform’s goal is to create a sincere and objective-focused ground for informal dialogue at the political level. The initiative aims to institutionalize dialogue and cooperation based on the principles of regional ownership and inclusivity, foster constructive consultations, and promote projects focused on shared prosperity.
Future Cooperation and Next Steps
The Turkish Foreign Minister noted that the participants agreed to exchange information on their EU membership processes and to hold meetings every six months. “We also agreed that future meetings will be held in Istanbul and that the platform will convene regularly every six months,” Fidan said.
Fidan clarified that this new initiative is not an alternative to existing mechanisms but will, on the contrary, support these processes. He concluded by reiterating that Turkey gives strategic importance to peace and stability in the Balkans and will continue to contribute constructively in this direction across various platforms.
