Athens hosts B40 Balkan Cities Network Mayors summit

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Athens is hosting the B40 Balkan Cities Network meeting, the Athens Mayors Summit, with 69 mayors and officials from 10 Balkan countries attending.

Mayor of Athens Kostas Bakoyannis welcomed the guests on Sunday and stressed the importance of the B40 Network for stability of the region.

He noted that “69 cities from 10 countries… all standing next to each other” show there is unity in the Balkans. “We seek and breed solidarity, we lead together towards peace and prosperity,” Bakoyannis stressed and added “this is how we stay afloat and on course in these turbulent, challenging times.”

He reminded that B40 was formed roughly one year ago and noted that it is growing, which will help the group to cooperate towards “our sustainable, common future” by exchanging knowledge, expertise, best practices and solutions for challenges.

At the summit, Athens took over the presidency of the B40 Network from Istanbul.

“Athens is honoured to assume the Presidency of the Balkan Cities Network,” Bakoyannis stressed and added “we hold high the vision of cooperation, the curiosity of knowledge, the need to share, the pride of being Balkan… we will move forward together, we will bolster our bonds, we will succeed.”

New members are expected to join the group at the summit and attending mayors are to hold speeches and exchange experiences.

(Photo credit: Twitter)