Skopje, 18 April 2026 (MIA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski, at the invitation of his Turkish host Hakan Fidan, participated Saturday in the third ministerial meeting of the Balkan Peace Platform, held in Antalya, Türkiye, on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

At the meeting, which brought together the foreign ministers of all Western Balkan countries and Türkiye, current global developments and regional dynamics were discussed.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade said special emphasis was placed on issues of direct relevance to citizens, including coordination in EU integration processes, dealing with natural disasters, regional connectivity as well as youth and education. Ministers exchanged views on possible solutions and shared best practices.

In his speech, Minister Mucunski reaffirmed North Macedonia’s strong support for initiatives aimed at strengthening regional stability and resilience. He welcomed cooperation in responding to natural disasters, as well as projects targeting youth, education, and innovation, including the idea of a regional technology festival, emphasizing that investing in young people is a direct investment in the region’s future.

Referring to the region’s European perspective, Mucunski underscored the importance of reforms, alignment with European standards, as well as the development of initiatives in transport, infrastructure, healthcare and the digitalization of education.

Mucunski concluded that the Balkan Peace Platform should continue as a forum that fosters concrete cooperation and brings tangible benefits to citizens.

The Balkan Peace Platform is an initiative launched by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in July 2025, aimed at promoting regional peace, stability, and prosperity through a joint approach to addressing regional issues. Two ministerial meetings have so far been held in Istanbul.

Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade