Skopje, 23 December 2024 (MIA) – Parliamentary diplomacy is very important. Cooperation between Türkiye and North Macedonia will continue with talks between the friendship groups, the first one in Skopje followed by talks in Istanbul and Ankara. We’ll try to use to the maximum all the opportunities offered by parliamentary diplomacy in the future, Numan Kurtulmuş, the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Türkiye, says in an interview with MIA. 

Calling the relations between North Macedonia and Türkiye friendly and close, he says that these relations will be also reflected between the two assemblies.   

“Right after being elected and sworn in, the honourable president of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, Afrim Gashi, paid his first official visit to Ankara, which we considered it as very important. Then, I pledged I’d pay a return visit as soon as possible. His visit took place in October and we managed to organize a return visit now, in December. The close relations between the two governments will be reflected between the two assemblies in the best possible way. We believe parliamentary diplomacy is very important and, in the future, starting from the meetings of the bilateral friendship groups between the two parliaments, the first visit will be to Skopje, before hosting them in Istanbul and Ankara. We believe it is of utmost importance. We’ll try to use to the maximum all the opportunities offered by parliamentary diplomacy in the future,” states Kurtulmuş.

As regards the country’s EU integration process, hindered by a veto, the Turkish Speaker says his country is against the double standard principle and malicious approaches and fully supports the EU integration process of North Macedonia. 

“We oppose prejudice in the EU integration process and in the EU membership negotiations in general for all countries. As for the North Macedonia case, I believe it deserves as many other countries, even member countries, to be part of the European Union. In the accession process, we are against double standards, against malicious approaches and we fully support the EU integration process of North Macedonia and we hope Macedonia will join the EU as a full-fledged member as soon as possible,” notes the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. 

Trade between Türkiye and North Macedonia is close to one billion dollars, mostly due to the Turkish investments in the country. According to Kurtulmuş, the real goal is North Macedonia and Türkiye to record two billion dollars in trade.  

“As you said, the two countries foster close relations that are reflected also in economic cooperation. Speaking about bilateral trade volume between our two countries, trade volume is estimated at nearly one billion dollars, which we believe is not enough. We think bilateral trade of two billion dollars is a real objective that can be achieved and I know the two sides are willing to develop bilateral trade. We know there are a lot of Turkish investors in the country, which according to my knowledge and information, offer jobs for over 10,000 citizens of this country,” says Kurtulmuş.

Turkish companies, he adds, are present also in infrastructural projects and in October, Aselsan, a Turkish arms manufacturer company, opened a regional office in the country.  

“On this occasion, I’d like to note the fact that our bilateral cooperation in the defense industry is developing after the Turkish state defense industry company ‘Aselsan’ opened a Skopje office, which covers not only North Macedonia, but also the whole Balkan region. I believe it is crucial to deepen our cooperation,” said the Turkish Speaker. 

Regarding tourism development, he adds, North Macedonia offers exceptional locations for Turkish tourists in many cities and towns, most notably the capital Skopje, which are similar to ancient Ottoman cities, including Bursa, Manisa and Amasya.

“The country and the city offer numerous historical and cultural heritages, making them a tourist attraction. I think bilateral economic cooperation will continue to flourish in the future,” said Numan Kurtulmuş, the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Türkiye. 

Regarding global developments, Kurtulmuş says, the world even without the conflicts, wars and turmoil has been facing a difficult period especially having in mind climate change causing hunger, drought and natural disasters in different parts of the planet. On the other hand, he notes, we also feel the consequences from attempts to form a new multipolar world, which will create fresh tensions.

“I believe it will have an impact on creating fresh tensions that will cause difficult processes, which will not be easily managed. From the perspective of Türkiye, I can say that we are in a region where almost all the problems that I mentioned earlier are present and, of course, I think that here we should underline the fact - the genocide that Israel is committing against the population of Gaza, of Palestine. Therefore, when we take into account all these global developments, as Türkiye we believe that a new approach is needed, which must of course be human-centric, which will consider the human being as equal and will consider all people as equal without making any distinction. Of course, the sovereignty of all states should be equally respected. There should be no privileged, or some less privileged, some at a higher level, while others at a lower level,” Kurtulmuş said.

The Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Türkiye, Numan Kurtulmuş, is in an official three-day visit to North Macedonia, as part of which on Monday he is visiting Tetovo. On Saturday, Kurtulmuş was welcomed by Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi and met with Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova. He also attended an event celebrating December 21 – Turkish Language Day. On Sunday, Kurtulmuş addressed a conference at the International Balkan University in Skopje and visited the Old Bazaar. 

In the interview with MIA, the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Türkiye said the meetings with the state leadership were very fruitful and constructive. 

Elizabeta Veljanovska Najdeska

Translated by Bisera Altiparmakova - Marusic 

Photo: Darko Popov

Video and editing: Asllan Vishko and Boris Kunoski