Lasting peace and stability in the Western Balkans will depend less on political declarations and more on concrete cooperation, economic integration and sustained dialogue among regional actors, Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General Amer Kapetanović said on Saturday.
Speaking at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2026, Kapetanović stressed that regional stability must be anchored in tangible projects that directly affect citizens’ lives, from infrastructure and trade to digital and energy connectivity.
“Peace in the Balkans cannot be sustained by declarations alone,” he said while moderating a high-level panel titled “Harvesting Peace in the Balkans: Dialogue, Business, and Connectivity.”
“It must be built through roads that connect us, markets that create opportunity, institutions that cooperate, and dialogue that continues even when it is difficult.”
The panel, held as part of the three-day forum in Antalya from April 17 to 19, brought together foreign ministers and senior officials from across Southeast Europe and Türkiye, reflecting a renewed push to reinforce regional ownership of political and economic processes amid growing global uncertainty.
Participants included Montenegro’s Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimović, Kosovo’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Foreign Minister Elmedin Konaković, Serbia’s Foreign Minister Marko Đurić, North Macedonia’s Foreign Minister Timčo Mucunski, Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha, Türkiye’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mehmet Kemal Bozay, and Croatia’s State Secretary Frano Matušić.
FOCUS ON PRACTICAL COOPERATION
Discussions centred on expanding cooperation in key sectors including transport corridors, regional trade integration, energy security, digital infrastructure and labour mobility—areas seen as critical for boosting economic resilience and reducing political tensions.
Officials emphasised that stronger economic interdependence and improved connectivity can help mitigate longstanding divisions in the region by creating shared interests and mutual benefits.
The panel also highlighted several ongoing regional initiatives, including the Balkans Peace Platform, the RCC-coordinated Common Regional Market and the South East Europe 2030 Strategy, which aim to align the region more closely with European Union standards while delivering measurable outcomes for citizens.
The Common Regional Market, in particular, has been presented by RCC as a stepping stone toward EU integration, seeking to remove barriers to trade, investment and mobility across the Western Balkans.
DIALOGUE AMID GEOPOLITICAL UNCERTAINTY
The discussions took place against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical instability, including ongoing conflicts, energy insecurity and shifting global alliances, which participants said underscore the need for closer regional coordination.
Kapetanović said maintaining open channels of dialogue—both at political and technical levels—remains essential, particularly at times when bilateral tensions risk slowing reform and cooperation processes.
“Regional cooperation is not abstract diplomacy,” he said. “It is how stability becomes visible in the daily lives of our citizens.”
Participants broadly agreed that inclusive regional initiatives and sustained political engagement are key to preventing fragmentation and ensuring that the Western Balkans remain on a path toward integration and development.
BILATERAL TALKS ON SIDELINES
On the margins of the forum, Kapetanović held a series of bilateral meetings with senior officials, including Albania’s Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha, Serbia’s Foreign Minister Marko Đurić, and Emanuele Giaufret from the European External Action Service.
The talks focused on advancing regional cooperation agendas, addressing current political and economic challenges, and maintaining momentum on shared initiatives despite broader international uncertainties.
He is also expected to meet Türkiye’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mehmet Kemal Bozay to further discuss regional cooperation and connectivity projects.
FORUM ON GLOBAL UNCERTAINTIES
The fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum, held under the theme “Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties,” gathered global leaders, policymakers, diplomats, academics, business representatives and civil society actors.
Discussions focused on navigating geopolitical volatility, shifting balances of power and rising trade barriers, while exploring ways to strengthen multilateral cooperation and resilience.
For Western Balkan participants, the forum provided an opportunity to reaffirm commitments to regional cooperation and to position the region within broader global discussions on stability, connectivity and economic integration.