YTB hosts ‘Balkans Brotherhood Iftar’ in Skopje
Türkiye’s Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) organized a “Balkans Brotherhood Iftar” in North Macedonia’s capital, Skopje, bringing together political representatives, civil society leaders and members of the Turkish community from across the region.
Speaking at the event, Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the İlim Yayma Foundation, thanked YTB for hosting the program and expressed satisfaction over the strengthening ties between Türkiye and North Macedonia. He also welcomed the opening of a mosque in Skopje built by the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation at the start of Ramadan.
“As Türkiye, our bond and interest in the Balkans are unique,” Erdoğan said, adding that under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s leadership, Türkiye has deepened its engagement with the broader region.
Türkiye’s Ambassador to Skopje, Fatih Ulusoy, described the Balkans as a priority region for Ankara, citing deep historical, cultural and geographic ties. He stressed that Türkiye attaches great importance to the region’s security, stability and prosperity.
YTB Deputy Chairman Abdulhadi Turus said individuals raised in the Balkans have made significant contributions to Türkiye, pledging continued engagement in the region.
President of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), Abdullah Eren, said the agency would reach 600,000 people in 95 countries with Ramadan assistance programs, from Central Asia to Gaza, Colombia and Bangladesh.
Senior officials from Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development (AK Party), including Deputy Chairmen Hasan Basri Yalçın and Zafer Sırakaya, also attended the event. They conveyed President Erdoğan’s greetings and reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to maintaining a strong presence across the Balkans.
The iftar was attended by North Macedonian politicians, Turkish alumni and invited guests. Representatives of the Turkish minority from Western Thrace in Greece also participated and held separate meetings with Bilal Erdoğan and TİKA President Eren.
Participation from Western Thrace
A delegation from Western Thrace also attended the “Balkans Brotherhood Iftar” held in North Macedonia.
The delegation included Mustafa Trampa, Chairman of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority Advisory Board and Mufti of İskeçe; Ibrahim Serif, Mufti of Gümülcine; Kerem Abdurrahimoğlu, President of the İskeçe Turkish Union; Aydın Ahmet, President of the Western Thrace Turkish Teachers’ Association; and Sedat Hasan, President of the Gümülcine Turkish Youth Union.
The delegation met separately with TİKA President Abdullah Eren, who is originally from Western Thrace, and held talks for a period. They also met with the event’s guest of honor, Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan.
Panel on ‘Building the New World’ held in Skopje
Separately, a panel discussion titled “Building the New World” was held at the International Balkan University (IBU) with YTB support.
Addressing the event, Bilal Erdoğan emphasized the importance President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attaches to the university and underlined the historical ties between Türkiye and the Balkans. He said the region remains an integral part of Türkiye’s cultural and social landscape.
Erdoğan also criticized what he described as the moral erosion of modern times and said Türkiye, under President Erdoğan’s leadership over the past 23 years, has achieved significant progress while advocating for a more just global order.
In his opening remarks, YTB Deputy Chairman Turus said efforts to build a new world order should begin in the Balkans, describing the region as historically pioneering transformative ideas.
TİKA President Eren reaffirmed Türkiye’s continued support for North Macedonia and the wider Balkan region.
IBU Board Chairman Bilal Sucubaşı said the university aims not only for academic excellence but also to strengthen cultural ties between Türkiye and the Balkans. Rector Prof. Lütfi Sunar expressed pride in hosting discussions on such a significant topic in the heart of the Balkans.
As part of the program, an exhibition titled “Palestine Through the Language of the Brush,” featuring works by Palestinian artists and supported by YTB, was also inaugurated.
