Türkiye's Justice Minister Cemil Cicek opened the 7th International Friendship and Cooperation Conference of Major Balkan Cities in Ankara on Saturday, calling on the region to move beyond its troubled past and build a future centered on cooperation.
Cicek told delegates that Balkan nations had endured enough hardship and should draw lessons from shared suffering. He emphasized that regional cooperation between countries, including coordination among local governments, was essential going forward.
Also addressing the conference, Anadolu Agency Executive Board Chairman and Director General Hilmi Bengi highlighted the Balkans' deep historical and cultural roots. He noted that the Association of Balkan News Agencies was established 12 years ago in Sofia to facilitate news exchange across the region.
Bengi announced that the organization had recently voted, at a meeting in Marmaris, to rename itself the Association of Southeast Europe News Agencies. He expressed hope that the Balkan Cities Network (BALCINET) would partner with the renamed agency, saying such collaboration could strengthen communication among Balkan cities and raise their profiles.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in November 2006, in its own words.