INTERNATIONAL BALKAN SYMPOSIUM

Internatıonal Balkan Symposium started in Istanbul with the participation of Egemen Bagis, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator.

Minister Bagis made the opening speech and said that Turkey did not have an eye on the Balkans but its heart was set on the Balkans. Bagis indicated that the European Union was the most comprehensive peace project of the history of humanity and continued as follows: “All the Balkan countries should live in the EU, in a peaceful atmosphere with high living standards. We attach great importance to that. If we are to speak about peace in the Balkans in the 100th anniversary of Balkan Wars we should shout out from Istanbul, the city of civilizations which has been the base for the Balkans for centuries, that the EU member states should assure peace there permanently without making any discrimination among Balkan states. We keep on saying this on every occasion. Today Turkey and its Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan are the safeguards of peace in the Balkans.”

The Symposium organized jointly by Bagcilar Municipality, Kirklareli University and Bagcilar Rumeli Balkan Thracian Platform on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Balkan Wars will continue for three days. Within the framework of the Symposium, scientists and opinion leaders from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia, Romania, Greece, Israel, Japan and Turkey will make presentations. In the Symposium which will be held in 14 sessions different aspects of the Balkan Wars will be discussed in cause and effect relationship.

Source: AA, CHA, İHA