Balkan Countries Media Forum, held under the auspices of Turkish State Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, ended in the northwestern province of Bursa on Tuesday.

Participants discussed "media's role in establishing regional security and stability" as well as "international institutions, regional peace initiatives and the media" on the second and last day of the forum, which was jointly organized by the Directorate General of Press & Information of the Prime Ministry and Center for Strategic Research of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On the first day of the gathering, Hilmi Bengi, Director General of Turkey's leading news provider Anadolu Agency (AA), delivered a speech as well.

A final declaration was released at the closing of the forum which was attended by numerous journalists, editors, media executives, academicians and officials from Turkey and Balkan countries.

In the declaration, participants stated that they shared the ideal of a peaceful region which shaped the future with an understanding of democracy, embraced the atmosphere of multi-cultural tolerance, and integrated with Euro-Atlantic structures.

Participants said they hoped the media would use its power for the happiness and prosperity of the nations in the Balkans, on the way to establishing a joint future for the countries in the region.

Expressing the importance of freedom of press, the declaration also proposed that a joint study should be initiated in order to support the establishment of a joint platform by media representatives of the region in an effort to keep communication rights alive.

Delivering a speech at the closing of the forum, State Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Arinc noted that all the sessions of the two-day forum had been followed closely by participants and interesting ideas had been voiced during the gathering.

"As far as I have seen, the final declaration is a very positive document as well. I would like to emphasize that our ministry will monitor the implementation of the issues mentioned in the declaration," the minister also said.

AA