Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sent a video message to the Ukraine-South East Europe Summit, expressing his regret for not being able to attend the event in person due to preparations for local administrative elections.

In his message,Erdogan emphasized Türkiye's staunch support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, along with efforts to protect the rights of Crimean Tatars. He reiterated Türkiye's readiness to contribute to Ukraine's rapid recovery and reconstruction.

Addressing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Erdogan stressed the importance of diplomacy and dialogue for achieving a fair and lasting peace. He expressed support for Ukrainian President Zelensky's ten-point Peace Plan and emphasized Türkiye's leadership role in food security initiatives under the plan.

"In order to bring about a fair and long-lasting peace, diplomacy and dialogue should be given a chance," Erdogan asserted. "Utilizing all available diplomatic channels at the highest level is crucial for achieving this goal. I believe that a joint effort should be initiated to establish at least the general parameters of peace."

Highlighting the need for both sides to come together for successful peace initiatives, Erdogan mentioned the Black Sea Grain Initiative and ongoing efforts to ensure safety for commercial vessels in the Black Sea. He announced Türkiye's readiness to re-establish a negotiation table for peacebuilding, previously set up in Istanbul.

"On this occasion, I express my wish that the spirit of solidarity that sprung to life in our shared geography, the Balkans, with the South-East European Cooperation Process will also extend to our neighboring regions," Erdogan concluded.

Erdogan's direct statements in the message underscore Türkiye's commitment to fostering peace and stability in the region, amidst ongoing geopolitical challenges. (ILKHA)