Skopje, 5 September 2024 (MIA) – Turkey has firmly supported North Macedonia since its independence and will continue to do so, said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan who is paying an official visit to the country on Thursday.  

"We had an intense agenda. We greatly appreciate the cooperation, friendship and alliance with Macedonia. We discussed how we can improve this cooperation. As Turkey, we express our interest in signing a High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. Turkey aims to increase bilateral economic cooperation to two billion, and we will continue supporting Turkish companies to invest in the country. We continue with military cooperation, through participation in joint exercises," Fidan said after Thursday's meeting with Mucunski. 

North Macedonia has a special place for me, Fidan stressed, and I believe that the Ottoman heritage is a significant part of the country's cultural heritage, and we will continue cooperation in that area.

"The Turkish community in the country strongly connects us, like the Stone Bridge in the city's centre. We wish to have peace and stability in the entire Balkans and Turkey is actively involved in that. That is why we will actively increase cooperation with North Macedonia," Fidan pointed out.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski, who is hosting Turkish FM Fidan on Thursday, told a joint press conference that Turkey is North Macedonia's proven friend and NATO ally. Mucunski said today's visit was a significant point in bilateral relations, and being the first visit by a foreign minister since he took office, he added, it reaffirms the increasingly strong strategic partnership.

"Traditionally good relations have a positive effect on economic cooperation. We share common views with Turkey both on security and regional issues. I briefed him in particular with our European integration path, with special emphasis that predictability is very important," said Mucunski.

Since the independence, Mucunski noted, the country has been able to rely on Turkey as a friend and supporter in achieving the strategic goals.

Fidan will also visit North Macedonia's Parliament and hold a meeting with Speaker Afrim Gashi.

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