TİKA chief Abdullah Eren highlights Türkiye’s ties with the Balkans

Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) President Abdullah Eren has highlighted Türkiye’s longstanding ties with the Balkans and outlined the agency’s ongoing work in the region during a meeting with Balkan-origin citizens in Türkiye.

Eren met members of the community at the Türkiye Bosna Sancak Association, where discussions focused on Türkiye-Balkans relations, shared historical ties and TİKA’s activities across the region.

Eren: Balkans are more than a geographical region
Eren said the Balkans represent more than a geographical area for Türkiye, describing the region as a place where shared history, memories and ties of solidarity continue to shape relations.

“For us, the Balkans are not merely a geography; they are a land of the heart where our shared history, memories and brotherhood live on,” Eren said.

During the meeting, Eren referred to participants as “Evlad-ı Fatihân,” a historical expression associated with Ottoman-era settlers and communities in the Balkans.

He said the gathering provided an opportunity to discuss the region’s shared history, the social and cultural ties connecting Türkiye and the Balkans, and TİKA’s projects and activities in Balkan countries.

TİKA to continue work in the region
Eren said Türkiye would continue its efforts in the Balkans, linking the agency’s regional activities to broader goals of development, prosperity and stability.

“In the Türkiye Century, we will continue our work with determination so that not only our country but also the Balkans can become a century of development, prosperity and peace,” he said.

TİKA has undertaken development cooperation, restoration, education, cultural heritage and social infrastructure projects in various Balkan countries as part of Türkiye’s international cooperation activities.