International Balkans Cooperation Congress Istanbul, 13-15 May 2026

IRCICA actively took part in the International Balkans Cooperation Congress, which was held in Istanbul on 13-15 May 2026, co-organized by Istanbul University, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Istanbul Ticaret University, Marmara University, Thrace University, International University of Sarajevo together with Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency and several other foundations. Sixty-five papers were presented by experts from different countries about multifarious sectors of international relations between Balkan countries, grouped in parallel sessions on cultural, trade, tourism, industry, employment, and education. IRCICA was represented by Prof. Dr. Sadık Ünay, Advisor to the Director General of IRCICA, who chaired the session on Cooperation Opportunities with Balkan Countries in the fields of Culture, Tourism and Education, and presented an outline of IRCICA’s cooperation with the governments, universities, historical libraries of Balkan countries. IRCICA’s research interest in the region resulted in numerous activities, such as the international congresses on “Islamic Civilization in the Balkans” which were held in Bulgaria, Albania, Romania, Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina under state patronage, the series of short-term schools on the preservation of Islamic architectural heritage in the Balkan countries, and various publications in the context of research projects based on historical archives in the region.