Balkan countries media forum begins in Bursa

A Balkan Countries Media Forum started in northwestern Turkish province of Bursa under the auspices of State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç on Monday. Arınç said security for everybody was Turkey's policy in the Balkans. "Political dialogue and mutual economic relations are also policies of Turkey in the Balkans," the minister said. Arınç started his address by welcoming the media representatives and politicians from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Greece. "We are the members of a common geography and history. Furthermore, we have written the history of the Balkans by living together for centuries. We have built the fate of the Balkans together," he said. "The Balkans has reached democracy. We are in a new period and process. The Balkans has left the turbulence of the cold war period in the past and searches for tranquility and stability." The forum is jointly organized by Directorate General of Press and Information of Prime Ministry and Strategic Researches Center of Foreign Ministry. Professor Yasin Aktay of Turkey, Nur Batur of daily Sabah, journalist Nikos Megrelis, a member of Greek International Journalists Federation, journalist Georgi Milkov of Bulgaria's 24 Chasa newspaper and Gabriele Bogdan, Editor in Chief of Romania's Nine O'Clock delivered speeches in the first session. Hilmi Bengi, Director General and Executive Board President of Turkey's Anatolia News Agency, Luko Brailo of Croati's Novi List newspaper, Bosko Jaksic, foreign policy interpreter of Serbian Policy newspaper, as well as Srjjan Kusovac, the Editor in Chief of Montenegro's Probjeda newspaper addressed "Democratization Process, Multi-Culturalism and Media" which was the second part of the first session.