ISTANBUL - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer sent a message to the Fourth International Conference of the Balkans Political Club and said that cultural diversity and rich common cultural inheritance of the Balkan countries constituted a sound potential in regard to settlement of a lasting peace and development of cooperation in every field.
The Fourth International Conference of the Balkans Political Club, which was founded by former President Zhelyu Zhelev of Bulgaria in 1999, started at Istanbul's Ceylan Inter-Continental Hotel on Saturday.
Former President Suleyman Demirel is presiding the conference.
President Sezer's message was read out during opening session of the conference.
In his message, President Sezer highlighted importance of organization of the Fourth International Conference of the Balkans Political Club, which brought together distinguished politicians, scientists and leaders of non-governmental organizations of the Balkan countries, in Istanbul where cultures and civilizations meet with each other.
Recalling that the conference would focus on importance of potential of the Balkan countries in development, President Sezer said, ''cultural diversity and rich common cultural inheritance of the Balkan countries constitute a sound potential in regard to settlement of a lasting peace and development of cooperation in every field.''
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan also sent a message to the conference.
In his message, Prime Minister Erdogan said that he could not attend the meeting due to his intense program.
Earlier, the theme of the conference was announced as ''Cultural Potential of the Balkan Countries as a Factor of Development''.
(UK-MS) 31.05.2003