Djuric in Antalya: There is no other path to the region’s success except through cooperation

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marko Djuric stated today that the objective of Serbia’s participation in the Antalya Diplomatic Forum is to present the region in its full light as a region of opportunity, cooperation, and success, at a time when Europe and the world are facing multiple crises.

Djuric, who is part of the delegation led at the forum in Antalya by Serbian Prime Minister Djuro Macut, emphasized that efforts are also being made—through the Balkan Peace Initiative, to be held tomorrow in Turkey—to create stability and a different regional environment compared to previous decades.

“It will not be easy, given the challenges we face, which are inherited and largely political in nature—interethnic relations and various political tensions. However, there is no other path to success for our region except through openness and the creation of conditions for the free movement of goods, capital, services, and people. This is what, over the past ten years, through the vision of President Aleksandar Vucic, has enabled Serbia to achieve significant economic growth—expanding 2.5 times—and to emerge as a factor of stability and a country open to dialogue and cooperation,” Djuric stated.

He added that the message he is conveying from Antalya is the same as the one he recently delivered in United Nations—that Serbia is part of the solution, not the problem, in the Balkans.

Djuric announced a series of bilateral meetings during his stay in Antalya, including one with Amer Kapetanovic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council. He also noted that, together with Prime Minister Macut, he is scheduled to meet with representatives of Libya, whose foreign minister recently visited Belgrade, as well as with representatives of Kyrgyzstan.

“I will also have a very important meeting with the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania, precisely to build new bridges, always focused on Serbia’s national interest,” Djuric said, adding that meetings with partners from Africa are also planned.

“Minute by minute, what we are doing here is promoting Serbia and advocating for Serbian interests,” the minister underlined.

He stressed that Serbia’s message is simple, sincere, and perhaps the most substantive that can be conveyed—that it is part of the solution at a time when many others across different regions are creating problems.

In practical terms, he explained, this means an unwavering commitment to stability, economic development, and regional cooperation, a forward-looking orientation while safeguarding state and national interests, and, above all, an outstretched hand.

He added that upon arrival in Antalya, he had already met with Mehmet Kacir, noting that their discussions focused on the development of economic relations between Serbia and Turkey, which will also be central to preparations for future high-level visits.

He recalled that during President Vucic’s recent visit to Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that he would visit Serbia in the coming months, with the aim of preparing concrete economic outcomes from that visit that would benefit both societies.

Djuric also emphasized that Serbia consistently relies on principles, the United Nations Charter, and international law in global matters.

“This is the best protection for countries like Serbia. For us, it is the law. The UN Charter is not optional—it is binding. Just as we respect our own territorial integrity, we also respect the territorial integrity of all other actors in the world, and we are building a coalition of countries that share this approach,” Djuric concluded.