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Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will attend the summit of Heads of State and Government of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) in Albania on Monday (June 16), representing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish diplomatic sources said.

The summit, held under the Albanian presidency, is themed “Promoting Stability and Prosperity through Regional Cooperation and EU Integration.” It will bring together leaders and foreign ministers from the 13 SEECP participating countries, along with representatives from the European Union.

A final declaration is expected to highlight the importance of regional cooperation and ownership in promoting sustainable development, security, and prosperity. The declaration will also welcome Türkiye’s diplomatic efforts toward ending the Russia-Ukraine war.

Türkiye’s role in regional peace and stability

In his address, Fidan is expected to emphasize that Türkiye is an inseparable part of the Balkans and that preserving peace and stability in the region remains a top foreign policy priority for Ankara.

He will highlight Türkiye’s contributions to international mechanisms in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, including its participation in NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) and the EU’s EUFOR mission. Fidan is expected to announce that Türkiye will assume command of KFOR in October.

Fidan will stress that peace cannot be achieved by military means alone and will underscore the value of inclusive and constructive dialogue. In this regard, he is expected to reaffirm Ankara’s support for the EU-led Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and note Türkiye’s role in regional consultation mechanisms with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Croatia.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (L) meets Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (R) in Belgrade, Serbia on 19 May, 2025. (Photo via Instagram / @buducnostsrbijeav)

Economic ties and regional connectivity

Fidan is also expected to underline the region’s interconnected future and the importance of continued cooperation under the SEECP framework. He will point to Türkiye’s $20 billion in investments across the Balkans, with Turkish companies active in sectors such as construction, energy, infrastructure, tourism, and manufacturing.

He will also reference Türkiye’s development contributions through the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), including the construction of schools and hospitals, restoration of shared historical sites, and scholarship and exchange programs for students from the region.

Fidan will reiterate that the Russia-Ukraine war can only be resolved through diplomacy and comprehensive negotiations aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace.

President Erdogan meets with Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency Council Chair and Serb member Zeljka Cvijanovic, Croat member Zeljko Komsic, and Bosniak member Denis Becirovic, who were in Antalya for the 4th Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Türkiye on 12 April, 2025. (AA Photo)

He will also call for international support to establish a fair and lasting resolution to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and warn that Israel’s recent attacks on Iran pose a serious threat to both regional and global stability.

The SEECP is a regional platform for dialogue and cooperation among Southeast European countries. Its 13 participating states are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, and Türkiye.

June 16, 2025 01:57 AM GMT+03:00