NATO important platform to boost ties with Türkiye: North Macedonia's top diplomat

By Abdula Berisha

SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AA) - Praising ties with Türkiye, North Macedonian’s foreign minister said their partnership as part of the NATO alliance is a very important platform to enhance relations between the two countries.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency as the 30th anniversary of the establishment of North Macedonia-Turkish ties on Aug. 26 draws near, Bujar Osmani pointed to the countries’ traditional partnership and stable relations.

"Relations between North Macedonia and Türkiye have always been stable in these 30 years, and I would like to remind you that it has become even stronger. It is a unique situation," he noted.

Osmani stated that the Turkish community in North Macedonia and the people of North Macedonian origin living in Türkiye serve as a bridge between the two countries.

Telling how Türkiye is among the first countries that recognized his country's independence, he said Türkiye was also the first country to open an embassy in North Macedonia.

"There has never been any doubt on the future of the country and the support that this country will receive from Ankara. Türkiye has always supported our efforts to join international organizations," Osmani underlined.

He said Türkiye’s supportive attitude encouraged the nation’s political elite and the public during the period of state building and involvement in international organizations.

- €1B trade target

On various strategic partnership agreements reached with Türkey since 2008, Osmani said they add a different dimension to cooperation and help make it a much stronger and multidimensional one between people, institutions, and states.

Osmani said when he visited Türkiye twice this year, the countries agreed to set a new target for commercial cooperation between the two countries to exceed €1 billion ($993,000).

"In 2020, Türkiye was North Macedonia’s eighth-largest partner country in terms of trade volume, and seventh last year, and sixth in the first half of 2022. This shows that there is a positive trend in the rising trade volume."

Stressing his satisfaction with the positive trend in ties with Türkiye, he underlined that the partnership gained momentum with his country joining NATO in 2020,

"We are NATO partners, which is very important. Türkiye supported North Macedonia during its NATO membership bid, and this partnership definitely increases mutual trust and joint efforts," he noted.

Osmani went on to say that he thinks the NATO partnership gives a new quality to ties and worldviews of developments in the region and the world, adding that they see this partnership as a very important platform for developing cooperation between the two countries.

On North Macedonia’s EU accession, he said after 17 years of candidate status, they finally started membership negotiations with the EU.

"I believe that in a very short time, in a few years, we will be the next member of the European Union," Osmani added.