Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan highlighted Turkey’s support for establishing stability in the Balkans during the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) leaders’ summit in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro.
“SEECP has an indispensable role in finding solutions to the region’s problems and Turkey fully supports initiatives aimed at ensuring peace, well-being and stability in the Balkans,” Fidan said during a meeting behind closed doors at the summit Tuesday, after participants posed for a group photo.
On behalf of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Fidan also held a series of bilateral meetings in Podgorica.
The SEECP brings together Turkey, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Greece, Croatia, Moldova and Montenegro.
It represents the common desire of countries in the region to strengthen intergovernmental cooperation and bring long-term stability to Southeast Europe.
Fidan held a bilateral meeting with Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic on the sidelines of the summit.
Furthermore, he spoke with Bajram Begaj, the president of Albania.
No further information was released about the meetings.
Individual interviews
On Monday, Fidan also attended the opening ceremony of the Turkish Chamber of Commerce in Montenegro.
During his speech, he said Turkey and Montenegro expect to reach a target of $250 million in trade volume by the end of 2023.
“Our economic strength is one of the most important elements of our national security and national well-being. As a government, we will always support you and our business people in all areas,” he said. he added.
Furthermore, Fidan met on Monday with Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Bosnian Party, Ervin Ibrahimovic.
The minister congratulated the Bosnian party on its electoral success and stressed that Turkey would continue to support Bosniaks in Montenegro.
He also attended an Eid al-Adha gathering organized by the Islamic community of Montenegro. He met with Rifat Fejzic, head of the Islamic Community of Montenegro, a Muslim religious organization in the Balkan country.
Milatovic was accompanied by the Speaker of Parliament, Danijela Djurov, and Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic during Monday’s event.
Türkiye-Montenegro ties
Turkey and Montenegro have been NATO allies since 2017, when the latter joined the alliance at a time of turbulence in the region, and have maintained diplomatic relations since 2006, once Ankara recognized Montenegro in as a state.
Besides diplomatic and cultural ties, exchange of television shows, high school students and tourists through visa-free travel, the two countries also cooperate in economic and military fields.
In 2018, Turkey became a major military partner of Montenegro when the two sides signed a defense industry agreement for arms manufacturing and trade.
They also supported each other’s candidacies in international organizations like the SEECP and the EU, which officials on both sides further encouraged.
Montenegrin Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic recently praised the potential for improving bilateral relations.
“Turkey plays a key role in the Western Balkans,” Abazovic told Daily Sabah last week, attributing the cordiality to Erdoğan’s good relations with regional leaders.
“Erdoğan is someone who can convince the parties to come to the table and find a lasting solution (to their problems),” Abazovic said in response to a question about Turkey’s potential role as mediator between Kosovo and Serbia amid growing tensions between the two countries.
“I hope (Erdoğan) will continue to focus on the Balkans and bring more peace and stability,” he said.
The prime minister praised his country’s political ties with Turkey and said they should “use the good energy that we have put forward for many decades to come up with more economic projects.”