Turkey hails formation of Macedonian government

By Zuhal Demirci

ANKARA (AA) – Turkey on Thursday welcomed the formation of the new Macedonian government, which is expected to steer the Balkan country out of a two-year political crisis.

“We welcome the formation of the new government after the general elections held on Dec.11, 2016 in the Republic of Macedonia with which we have had friendly relations since the day it was founded,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Macedonian parliamentarians endorsed a new government on Wednesday, more than five months after presidential elections were held in the country.

The new prime minister, Zoran Zaev of the Social Democrat Union of Macedonia party, has vowed to improve the economy and assure the country's inclusion in the NATO and EU.

"It is our sincere hope that the new government, formed after a longstanding political crisis in Macedonia, will bring peace to the people of Macedonia and ensure unity and solidarity, thus bringing stability to the country," the statement added.

The country had been without a government since 2015, following a scandal where the state was accused of tapping the phones of 20,000 citizens.

Macedonia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, and since 2005 has been an EU candidate country.