Ankara – Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Mr. Amer Kapetanović, paid an official visit to Ankara, where he met with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director for EU Affairs, Mr. Mehmet Kemal Bozay, reaffirming the strong partnership between the RCC and Türkiye as its Board Participant in advancing regional cooperation, economic connectivity, and European integration in South East Europe (SEE).

The two officials discussed deepening cooperation between the RCC and Türkiye within the framework of South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) and the implementation of SEE2030 Strategy, including also initiatives like the Common Regional Market (CRM) and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans (GAWB).

“Türkiye is a vital and constructive player in our region, and a strong partner to the RCC,” said Secretary General Kapetanović. “We deeply value its continued support, both political and financial, in driving forward regional cooperation and helping ensure that no part of South East Europe is left behind. Our conversation today reaffirmed the importance of aligning our efforts and harnessing Türkiye’s leadership role across a range of sectors, from economic integration to disaster resilience and know-how sharing.”

Deputy Minister Bozay welcomed RCC’s efforts in fostering inclusive and practical regional cooperation, noting Türkiye’s commitment to supporting SEE’s long-term stability and economic growth. He underlined Türkiye’s readiness to further engage in RCC-led initiatives.

As part of his Ankara visit, Secretary General Kapetanović also met with Mr. M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB). The meeting focused on unlocking the potential of Türkiye’s private sector to contribute to regional development. TOBB, as the united voice of Türkiye’s 1.5 million businesses, plays a critical role in promoting economic growth, and its closer engagement with RCC initiatives—particularly under SEE2030 and Common Regional Market—was warmly welcomed.

Following his visit to Ankara, the RCC Secretary General will travel to Istanbul, where he is scheduled to meet with Ms. Ivana Živković, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) at UNDP, as well as Mr. Lazăr Comănescu, Secretary General of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC). These meetings will continue the RCC’s dialogue with key partners on aligning regional development agendas and enhancing cross-institutional cooperation for the benefit of all SEE economies.