Foreign Minister Timcho Mucunski held multiple bilateral meetings with counterparts at the Antalya Diplomatic Forum, focusing on European perspective and regional connectivity. He called Corridors 8 and 10, which pass through Macedonia, "key to regional development and economic resilience."

Sounds ambitious. But while Mucunski talks about corridors, Macedonia still has no highway to Ohrid, and rail transport looks like a museum exhibit. Investing in youth is "a direct investment in the region's future," the minister said - a sentence that would mean much more if 30,000 young people weren't leaving the country every year.

The forum, held April 17-19, drew delegations from over 150 countries. Mucunski also participated in the Balkans Peace Platform - an initiative for regional security and stability. For Macedonia, being present at such a forum is good for visibility. The question is whether the photos from Antalya will be followed by concrete projects - or remain another chapter in the Balkans' book of promises.