Balkan Express in Bulgaria

Seeking to foster peace through a project centered on film and a nostalgic train journey, Turkey’s “Balkan Express” has arrived in its first station, Plovdiv.

Yıldırım Eskici, the manager for the Balkan Express Project, said the endeavor aims to improve relations between Turkey and the Balkan countries through a film that will recount the journey.

 “After finishing the broadcast in the northwestern Turkish city of Edirne, we moved to Bulgaria, the first stop of the project. We started shootings and following the traces of Turkey in the place where we shoot,” he said. “We specially choose these places, and the choice involves many factors. We highlight historical and cultural values in our shootings, because these places should evoke a feeling in people.”

Film team pursues Turkish traces in Balkans

Speaking to Anatolia news agency, Turkish Consul General to Plovdiv Cüneyt Yavuzcan said Bulgaria and Turkey have important historical relations and that the Balkan Express would contribute to the improvement of their current relations.

“This project will help establish a bridge of friendship between Turkey and the Balkan countries. Turkey has a long history in this region. We attach special importance to developing our relations with the Balkan countries in foreign policy. This project will make a contribution to our efforts and strengthen our cultural relations and historical ties in the region,” he said, adding that nearly 90,000 ethnic Turks live in Plovdiv.

Eskici said they had departed for the Balkan tour with a team of 25 people and that they had prepared the shots for the television program on the train.

Turkish citizens living in the Hisar neighborhood in Plovdiv showed great interest in the Balkan Express team, supporting the project by joining the broadcast.

“We are very happy to see Turkish citizens here,” they said, thanking the team.

50-day trip

Initiated jointly by Turkey's state-run broadcaster TRT and by Turkish State Railways, a special train, the Balkan Express, departed from Ankara last week for a 50-day trip to 22 cities in nine Balkan countries.

Following Bulgaria, the train will make stops in Romania, Serbia, Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia and Greece. Around 40 people, including a TRT television crew, are traveling on board. The TRT crew produces live broadcasts from the destinations for TRT shows.

Turkish Transportation Minister Binali Yıldırım described the Balkan Express as a cultural envoy and said it had set off to reveal the hidden beauties and riches of the Balkans.

“This train has been launched to ease the pain of separation and unearth our common cultural values with Balkan nations,” Yıldırım said.

The journey of Balkan Express is aired everyday on TRT, TRT Avaz and TRT Haber channels. Also, a book featuring Turkish architecture in the Balkans was prepared with the help of two scientists, and it will be distributed to embassies and many other institutions.

The Balkan Express will return to Turkey on Aug. 19.