Ibrahimović attends Balkans Peace Platform in Istanbul: Dialogue and cooperation are the foundation of regional stability; Türkiye an important and constructive partner for the Western Balkan

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ervin Ibrahimović participated in the Second Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Western Balkan countries and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, held in Istanbul within the framework of the Balkans Peace Platform, under the auspices of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye Hakan Fidan.

In a separate meeting between the two foreign ministers, the importance of the Balkans Peace Platform and Türkiye’s contribution to regional stability and security was underscored. The meeting provided an opportunity to once again reaffirm the significance of the friendly ties and constructive cooperation between Montenegro and Türkiye.

During his participation in the Balkan Peace Platform, Ibrahimović also met with President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, which represents further confirmation of the strong relations between the two countries.

The second ministerial meeting focused on strengthening regional stability through open political dialogue, enhancing mutual cooperation, building trust among countries of the region, and defining joint projects in areas of common interest.

Ibrahimović emphasized that the value of the Balkans Peace Platform lies in its ability to connect countries of the region through inclusive dialogue and concrete forms of cooperation, stressing that initiatives promoting peace, understanding, and partnership are of crucial importance for a region marked by a complex historical legacy.

He underlined that Montenegro attaches particular importance to regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations, which constitute the foundation of its European path. He recalled that Montenegro closed six negotiating chapters with the European Union during 2025 and will close another chapter in the coming days, assessing this achievement not only as a technical success but also as confirmation of the country’s political maturity and institutional credibility.

In his address, Ibrahimović reiterated that Montenegro remains firmly committed to the goal of becoming the next member of the European Union in 2026, convinced that regional stability and cooperation are indispensable preconditions for this process. He also emphasized Montenegro’s readiness, in a spirit of solidarity, to share its experiences with other candidate countries, so that the entire Western Balkans region may advance towards the EU in the foreseeable future.

He highlighted that Montenegro places great importance on relations with the Republic of Türkiye, which are deeply rooted in historical ties, people-to-people contacts, economic cooperation, and shared responsibility for the stability of Southeast Europe. He stressed that Montenegro recognizes Türkiye as a constructive and respected partner in the Western Balkans region.

In conclusion, Ibrahimović stated that the Balkans Peace Platform provides an opportunity to ensure that dialogue always comes first, and that Montenegro will continue to act as a constructive, reliable, and responsible partner, committed to peace, cooperation, European values, strong relations with the Republic of Türkiye, and the building of a region defined by shared trust in the future rather than divisions from the past.