The I. International Balkan Symposium was held

The I. International Balkan Symposium, hosted by the Governorship of Edirne and the Balkan Cities Cooperation Edirne Platform, was held with the participation of  Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director for EU Affairs Ambassador Mehmet Kemal Bozay as well as Symposium Chair Prof. Dr. Mustafa Hatipler, Trakya University Rector Erhan Tabakoğlu, Former Prime Minister of North Macedonia Vlado Buçkovski, Former President of the Republic of Kosovo Fatmir Sejdui, Ministry of Regional Development of the Republic of Kosovo Fikrim Damka and Governor of Edirne Yunus Sezer, on 7 March 2024, at the Balkan Congress Center of Trakya University.

Following the symposium, the Deputy Minister and Director for EU Affairs visited the Governorship of Edirne and the Edirne Representation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Following those visits, the Ambassador Bozay paid visits to the Joint Secretariat Antenna Office of the Bulgaria-Türkiye Cross-border Cooperation Programme, for which our Directorate is the National Authority, and two projects implemented under this Programme.

The Joint Secretariat Antenna Office in Edirne, established by our Directorate in 2013 to support the implementation of the Bulgaria-Türkiye Cross-border Cooperation Programme, operates under the Joint Secretariat Office in Haskovo, Bulgaria. The Deputy Minister and Director for EU was briefed about the office’s works from the staff who are employed under the full-time work contract with our Directorate.

After the office visit, the Ambassador toured the Ekmekçizade Caravanserai, which was restored in 2007 thanks to the EU project with a budget of 3,135,000 euros (2,350,000 euros is the EU grant) under the 2004-2006 period of the Bulgaria-Türkiye Cross-border Cooperation Programme. Built in 1609 by Sedefkâr Mehmed Ağa and Architect Hacı Şaban Ağa, the caravanserai serves as a museum in one part and as a theater in another part.

The Deputy Minister and Director for EU Affairs concluded his cross-border cooperation visits with Edirne Provincial Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD). Duıring his visit, the Ambassador was briefed by Edirne AFAD staff about the project “Cross-Border Cooperation for Preparedness and Response in Floods” financed under the 2014-2020 Bulgaria-Türkiye Cross-border Cooperation Programme as well as the special equipments and vehicles purchased through this project.