Istanbul: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan intends to host the first meeting of the Balkan Peace Platform, which was established at Turkey’s initiative with the participation of several Balkan countries.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Foreign Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia, as well as the Deputy Foreign Minister of Albania, are expected to participate in the meeting, which will be held tomorrow, Saturday, in Istanbul.

The platform aims to promote regional dialogue, build trust, and expand joint cooperation among Balkan countries, as well as find lasting solutions to regional issues.

During the meeting, which will be held in an informal consultation format, Fidan is scheduled to emphasize the importance of regional ownership in addressing challenges, in addition to discussing strengthening regional integration, maintaining stability, and addressing security risks.

The meeting will also discuss concrete cooperation projects in the fields of transportation, communications, and energy, emphasizing that the platform complements existing regional efforts and initiatives, rather than replacing them. Fidan will also hold bilateral meetings with several of his participating counterparts on the sidelines of the meeting.

The Balkan Peace Platform is an initiative developed within the framework of Turkey’s innovative diplomatic approach, with the aim of meeting the needs of the region.

In this context, Turkey continues to play an active role in multilateral regional initiatives, including trilateral consultation mechanisms, in addition to its regular participation in entities such as the Southeastern European Cooperation Process (SEECP), the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), and the Steering Committee of the Peace Implementation Council in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Turkey also contributes to regional stability through its presence in Kosovo, within the NATO KFOR mission, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina, within the EUFOR Althea mission.