Kosovo’s Minister of Youth and Sports Blerim Gashani and his accompanying delegation paid an official visit to the Mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, Dr. Cemil Tugay, underscoring growing ties between İzmir and Kosovo and prospects for future cooperation.
During the meeting, which was also attended by Kosovo’s Honorary Consul in İzmir, Muharrem Toprak, and the President of the Kosovo Rumeli Culture, Arts and Tourism Association, Uğur Şengöz, discussions focused on bilateral relations and the 2030 Mediterranean Games to be held in Kosovo’s capital, Pristina.

Mayor Tugay emphasized the importance of strengthening relations, noting that İzmir would make efforts to ensure strong representation at the 2030 Mediterranean Games. “We attach great importance to the development of our relations. We will work to ensure that İzmir is strongly represented at the Games. Over the past two years, we have been strengthening our municipal sports teams and increasing the number of disciplines,” he said. Tugay also recalled that İzmir hosted the Mediterranean Games in 1971, adding that the event still holds a lasting place in the city’s collective memory.

“We must support one another”
Highlighting İzmir’s deep-rooted ties with the Balkans, Tugay stated that a significant portion of the city’s population has Balkan origins and that this cultural heritage plays a key role in daily life. “Many people spend part of the year in İzmir and part in Balkan countries. That is why we feel very close to the Balkans. We should become even closer and support one another. People from İzmir do not feel like strangers in the Balkans—I have never felt that way myself,” he said.
Stressing that cooperation is vital for the development of both countries, Tugay described such collaboration as a matter beyond politics. Referring to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who was born in Thessaloniki, he noted the historical importance of fostering close relations with Balkan countries.

Emphasis on new partnerships

Mayor Tugay also highlighted the importance of closer interaction between young people in both countries. “Let us strengthen our relations through sports and cultural events and expand commercial cooperation. In this way, our societies will integrate further, and friendships will grow independently of politics,” he said.

Pointing to İzmir’s strengths, Tugay described the city as a major urban center with a population of 4.5 million, 10 universities, and around 200,000 students. He also emphasized its advanced agriculture and industry, as well as its historic port and rapidly growing trade volume, noting that İzmir is one of Turkey’s leading cities after Istanbul. “We are honored by this visit and believe it will open the door to new partnerships,” he added.

“We want to learn from experienced cities like yours”
Minister Gashani, visiting İzmir for the first time, described the city as the “pearl of Türkiye” and thanked officials for their warm welcome. He stressed the importance of strengthening relations at both local and national levels, adding that the 2030 Mediterranean Games in Pristina will be significant not only for sports but also for Kosovo’s international recognition.
Gashani noted that infrastructure investments will be crucial to successfully hosting the Games and expressed interest in benefiting from the experience of cities like İzmir. He also said they would be pleased to see athletes from İzmir participate in the event.
Emphasizing that strengthening ties with Turkey is a matter beyond politics, Gashani added, “We want to advance our cooperation with İzmir and work together in the fields of youth and sports.”
At the end of the visit, Mayor Tugay presented a gift to Minister Gashani, and the delegation posed for a commemorative photograph.

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