Turkey hosts Balkan youth to boost interaction

Prime Minister Erdogan posed for a selfie with young people from the Balkans during their visit to Ankara in May. [Prime Ministry Office of Public Diplomacy]

Turkey hosts Balkan youth to boost interaction

A new initiative would tell Turkey's story to future leaders of Balkan countries.

Thirty-seven young people from across the Balkans gathered in Turkey last month to participate in a youth conference in order to boost interaction between Turkey and the Balkan countries.

The new project, organised by the Prime Ministry's Office of Public Diplomacy, invited young people from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Bulgaria, Kosovo and Macedonia.

Cemalettin Hasimi, co-ordinator of the Office of Public Diplomacy, said the project aims to create awareness of Turkey's regional and global influence, as well as to provide a platform for discussion about the current international agenda.

"Considering our historical and cultural ties, the Balkan geography has a special significance for Turkey at all levels, and it is a priority place for our activities," Hasimi told SES Türkiye.

The young people that participated in the program were selected from a pool of promising young leaders. One criterion was to select future leaders with a special interest in Turkish affairs.

"Although there have been some negative memories coming from the past that influence bilateral relations, this project aims to tell Turkey's new narrative for stimulating positive perceptions between the Balkans and Turkey through wide-ranging public diplomacy efforts," Hasimi said.

The project is carried out under a wider programme named Youth Bridge that brings young people from countries like Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Palestine, Yemen, Gabon, Niger and Senegal to Turkey.

During their trip to Istanbul and Ankara, the Balkan youth delegation visited the Turkish parliament, met with Prime...

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