Skopje, 12 May 2026 (MIA) — Amid a global crisis, energy is not merely a matter of economics any more; it is a matter of national security and strategic resilience, Minister of Energy, Mining and Minerals Sanja Bozhinovska said Tuesday in her remarks during the 29th Eurasian Economic Summit in Istanbul. 

Speaking on a panel titled "Energy and Economy in the Post-War World with War, Terror, Conflict and Forced Migration," Bozhinovska joined leaders, diplomats and international representatives to discuss energy security, the green transition and regional cooperation.

According to the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Minerals in a press release, Bozhinovska told participants that countries cannot afford to work alone. 

"Isolation is not a strategy. Cooperation is," she said.

She noted that the country was actively working on diversifying energy sources, promoting regional connectivity and modernizing the energy infrastructure through renewable investments.

The minister said energy connectivity across the Balkans was no longer just a matter of infrastructure, but a "geopolitical necessity." 

She warned that the global shift toward clean energy had to be handled with care. She added that the transition must be socially responsible to ensure it does not create new economic hardships for developing countries or nations in transition.

"The green transition cannot succeed if it creates energy poverty and deepens inequalities," Bozhinovska said. "We need a transition that is both sustainable and fair."

The energy minister also said small states should not be passive observers of global changes but active participants in decision making.

Held under the motto "Global Responsibility," this year’s summit in Istanbul focused on global energy security, new geopolitical relations, climate challenges, water scarcity and the socioeconomic consequences of global conflicts and migration. 

The event aimed to foster dialogue between political and business leaders from Europe, Asia and the Middle East to build a more sustainable, stable and cooperative future. mr/