Britain assembles in Belfast on 15 foreign ministers -- Balkan theme

So reported the British Foreign Ministry, which stressed that the government is placing lasting reconciliation among neighbours in the Western Balkan region at the centre of discussions, while the region faces increasing threats from instability, corruption and criminal gangs compromising security and boosting the United Kingdom.

Foreign Secretary David Lami will welcome over 15 European ministers in Belfast from October 8th to lead talks to promote peace, stability and co-operation in the Western Balkans, strengthen Europe's collective security and fight organised crime and human smuggling gangs.

“With unresolved disputes and growing ethnic tensions in the Western Balkans challenging European aspirations and leaving the region vulnerable to bad influence, the foreign secretary will rely on the experiences of the peace process and practical examples of intercommunist cohesion present in Northern Ireland today”, Klanosovatv reported.

“Hillsborough Castle is a touching reminder of diplomacy's power to transform conflict and division into peace and long-term co-operation”.

Using the experience of Northern Ireland, we hope to support partners in the Western Balkans to overcome the challenges of the past through meaningful reconciliation and to help build a secure and prosperous future”.

“As part of the Plan for Change, this government is committed to strengthening partnerships with Europe, providing solid foundations of economic stability, safe borders and national security”, Foreign Secretary David Lamie said.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hillary Benn said that Northern Ireland's experience in ensuring peace through the Big Friday Agreement after decades of conflict has set a powerful example of reconciliation for the world.

This offers a legacy of hope, as well as practical experience, which I believe will be invaluable to our Western Balkan partners as they travel a similar path to peace and prosperity”.

“as an early forum for building peace and politics, it is appropriate that Castle Hillsborough has been chosen to host this important international event”, Benn said.

Laura McCorry, director of Hillsborough Castle, said for centuries, Castle Hillsborough has been a place where people unite to shape a common future.

The castle stands as a living testimony to the power of dialogue and reconciliation in a country where peace has been won with difficulty. We hope it will provide an inspiring environment for the meeting and we are eager to welcome the ministers this autumn”, McCorry said.

The British MPJ says the UK has a long role and an important legacy in promoting security in the region, including in Kosovo, where it has maintained a presence through KFOR mission since 1999.

Furthermore, this communiqué says that since last year's elections, the United Kingdom has stepped up its commitment with Western Balkan countries to implement the Plan for Change, including the destruction of smuggling networks of people exploiting the region as a gateway to Europe.

In 2024 alone, more than 55,000 people were trafficked to other countries along roads across the Western Balkans. This government is taking practical steps to make changes, including a joint agreement on organised immigration crime signed with Serbia during the foreign secretary's visit to the region in April, when he also visited Kosovo”.

The report also says that in May of this year, British Foreign Minister David Lamie visited Bosnia and Herzegovina amid political instability in the country, part of the UK's growing activity and engagement in the Western Balkans.

Meanwhile this year, according to the announcement, the prime minister has also expanded the Joint Force for Migration with Albania and Kosovo to include northern Macedonia. Task force unites specialists from countries involved in drafting and executing operations to detect, prevent and manage illegal migration”.

Moreover, MPJ said that last month, the government launched the first regime of sanctions in the world targeting criminals of unfair migration and trafficking, including those from the Western Balkans, directly following the evil networks that benefit from human misery.

“The meeting of foreign ministers is part of the chairmanship of the United Kingdom of the Berlin Process in 2025: The key international forum initiated by Germany uniting all six Western Balkan countries together with European partner countries to promote regional and economic co-operation in the Western Balkans”, the British MPJ said.

Also in October, the British Interior Secretary will organise a meeting of interior ministers focused on migration, and Prime Minister Starmer will organise a Sam of Leaders in London.

The area where Castle Hillsborough is located at County Down has been the site of significant moments in British and Irish politics, including intensive negotiations that saved peace negotiations from failure, resolving decades of division between Northern Ireland's communities and paving the way for Belfast's Good Friday Agreement, signed in 1998 during the last lab government. /Periscopi