Skopje, 23 January 2026 (MIA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski participated Friday in the second ministerial meeting of the Balkan Peace Platform held in Istanbul, at the initiative of Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, in his address Mucunski highlighted the importance of a realistic and result-oriented approach to regional cooperation, stressing that stability isn’t acquired but is built through clear interests, practical cooperation, and concrete results that the citizens can feel in their daily lives. He stressed that in a situation of heightened global fragmentation, competition, and security challenges, the Western Balkan countries should turn their geography into an advantage, and their policies into measurable outcomes. 

Mucunski underscored Türkiye’s significant role as a neighbor, NATO ally, important economic partner, and a strategic bridge, assessing that the Balkan Peace Platform is a useful mechanism for transforming dialogue into concrete activities. In that context, he proposed a clear and feasible agenda for enhanced cooperation between Türkiye and the Western Balkan countries, with a focus on economic and investment connectivity, energy security, improved transport and trade infrastructure, as well as ensuring that young people and the qualified workforce remain in the region.

“A special emphasis was placed on strengthening regional security cooperation, including handling modern threats such as organized crime, cyber security, disinformation, and violent extremism. Furthermore, the need for greater coordination, joint training, and exchange of information was underscored,” the Ministry said in a press release.

Minister Mucunski noted that the Republic of North Macedonia is prepared to actively contribute to the agenda by investing in energy diversification, promoting regional connectivity, strengthening security partnerships, and a continued commitment to dialogue and goodneighborly relations. He stressed that the credibility of the Platform should be measured through concrete results and clearly defined activities, noting that in the current decade, trust will not be built on the basis of intentions, but on the basis of delivered results.

Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade