Skopje, 30 November 2023 (MIA) – At a working meeting Thursday, Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi and Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó, agreed a joint coordination between the two countries over concrete activities aimed at ensuring energy security, said the Ministry of Economy in a press release.

The meeting, which was also attended by the Executive Director of Nomagas Bajram Rexhepi, and the President of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), Marko Bislimoski, focused on the tax on Russian gas imposed by Bulgaria.

According to the press release, the two ministers discussed the next steps to be taken in order to remove the transit tax on Russian gas imposed by Bulgaria, which they agreed is an “illegal and hostile move”.

“We are fully committed to solving the issue imposed by Bulgaria with the introduction of the tax on Russian gas, and to finding a joint solution through coordinated activities between all affected parties. North Macedonia supports all initiatives for the solution of the issue,” said Bekteshi at the meeting.

Minister Bekteshi and Minister Szijjártó agreed that the diversification of gas supply is the goal towards which the two countries should work together in the coming period.

In the press release the Ministry noted that Hungary is among the ten largest trade partners of North Macedonia, as well as a significant political and economic partner and a foreign investor in the country.

Photo: Ministry of Economy