Yesterday, the handover of the presidency of the Balkan Cities Network from Istanbul to Athens was accompanied by strong political statements about the need to strengthen democracy, peace and cooperation. The mayors of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis and Constantinople, Ekrem Imamoglu, in light of the recent condemnation of the latter in Turkey and the international outcry it caused, spoke of the challenges in the wider region, the dangers and threats in a particularly difficult situation, and the strength of cooperation in addressing them.

Mr. Bakoyannis described the Balkan Cities Network as “the brainchild of the moment” and “a historical necessity”. “Because, dear colleagues, we are all experiencing the current historical reality. Centrifugal forces prevail in the region. We are moving away from each other and subjected to political trials, and our peoples are closer than ever. Simply put, anachronistic and revisionist methods, micropolitics and populist narratives are not expressed by the peoples of the Balkans, how much more they are not expressed by “hooliganism” and threats,” he stressed. He added that every time stereotypes, nationalism and patriotism prevailed in the Balkans, the results for the peoples were disastrous.

Imamoglu’s message during the ceremony of transferring the chairmanship of the Network of Balkan Cities from Istanbul to Athens.

Ekrem Imamoglu welcomed Athens’ accession to the Network’s chairmanship and highlighted the solid bridge of cooperation that the two cities have built in recent years. “Only if we stay together, in a spirit of solidarity, can we defend democratic gains. Because today the struggle for democracy is not national, but international. Because democracy was born in cities like Athens, and it is in these cities that the struggle for democracy is being fought today,” said the mayor of Istanbul and added: “When I look at the Balkans, I don’t see “yesterday”. “where kings, caesars and sultans rule, but I see an equal, rich, happy and democratic “tomorrow” built by creative people of all nationalities and religions.”

The Balkan Cities Network was founded in November 2021 in Istanbul with the aim of strengthening peace and democracy in the Balkan region. Athens accepted the presidency from Constantinople for one year.