A joint conference on Black Sea and European regional integration took place in Samsun on Friday, organized by the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and the Samsun Municipality. State Minister Mehmet Aydin represented Türkiye at the gathering.
Aydin highlighted the importance of strengthening ties among local and regional authorities across the Black Sea area, arguing that closer cooperation could advance democracy, human rights, and market-based economies while boosting trade and mobility in border communities.
Noting that Türkiye has been a Council of Europe member since 1950, Aydin expressed full support for the organization's Black Sea initiatives and called the proposed euroregional structure essential for local authority cohesion.
Yavuz Mildon, president of the Chamber of Regions, described the conference as vital to establishing a Black Sea euroregion, calling it significant both economically and politically and urging all governments to back the project.
Roger Kaliff, who leads the EU Commission for External Relations of the Committee of the Regions, acknowledged varying challenges across different areas and expressed confidence that solutions could be built on international friendship and stability.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in November 2006, in its own words.