Skopje, 18 January 2025 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski is traveling to the United States on Saturday to attend the inauguration of the new U.S. President, Donald Trump, on January 20.  

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Timcho Mucunski, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment and Physical Planning, Izet Mexhiti, and Deputy Minister of European Affairs, Viktorija Trajkov, will also attend the inauguration as part of the delegation led by PM Mickoski, the Government said in a press release. 

The delegation will also attend an event organized by Trump Media and Rumble after the inauguration. 

"During the trip, Mickoski is to hold several bilateral and other meetings with officials from the incoming U.S. administration. Mickoski will also meet with businesspeople of Macedonian origin, to discuss economic cooperation and possible investments at home," reads the press release.  

PM Mickoski announced his visit to the United States in a New Year’s interview with MIA. He told MIA he is traveling to the United States on January 18, two days before the inauguration of President-elect Trump. 

“In addition to Brussels, Washington is extremely important for us as a country and for us as a Government. From what has been agreed so far, I will indeed have quality meetings with officials from the Washington administration and I expect to attract their attention and have them look at the Balkans with a different lens. We must first attract attention regionally, i.e. the lens of Washington should look at us as a region, not as a unit in that region. Yes, an important unit, a natural crossroads, the heart of the Balkans, but still if we look at the Balkans as a whole, as a region, then through the lens of Washington we can see things more clearly and I want to present all of that there, what are the advantages that we as a small, beautiful country in the heart of the Balkans offer, but also what are the challenges for the region,” Mickoski said in the interview.

Asked to comment on U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary in the next U.S. administration, the PM said he expects positive developments in the country’s cooperation with the United States. 

"You recall when Mr. Howard Lutnick was here in Skopje at a meeting in the Government. We discussed many topics, and we are friends. I expect only positive developments in our future cooperation as strategic partners. I am convinced that he will provide added value not only to the U.S. economy but also to the global economy, which will be positive for the Macedonian economy as well. Of course, I congratulated him and I only expect added value… It is good that as a Government we have friends in the world’s most powerful economy, the U.S. economy, and I am convinced this will only mean good things for Macedonian businessmen as well as the Macedonian citizens,” the PM said at the time. 

He also underscored the high number of U.S. businesses which are already present in the country. 

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski told Telma TV on Tuesday that he will attend the inauguration of United States President Donald Trump as part of the delegation led by Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, noting that it represents an important event for the country.

"The incoming U.S. administration represents an important event for the country. We will attend many formal and informal activities, as well as the inauguration itself. Let's affirm our positions with the incoming administration, let's continue to foster personal relations, let's reaffirm the continuity we expect from the U.S. foreign policy in the region, commitment to European integration and the NATO alliance, as well as issues that are of crucial importance to us," FM Mucunski told Telma.

He said bilateral trade ties with the U.S. must strengthen, not only in the aspect of investments but also the export-import portfolio, adding that the close relationship of PM Mickoski with the Commerce Secretary pick Howard Lutnick, who recently paid a visit to the country, could lead to a breakthrough.

"Regarding the political-security aspect, we need an added incentive from the U.S. concerning the challenges the region is facing. Not that the focus was lacking until now, but I expect this focus to enhance, having in mind the Government's relations with individuals who are expected to take up high-level positions in the Department of State. We have to use this advantage to our benefit and the deserved attention must be earned," said Mucunski.

This will be the second inauguration of Donald Trump, who will be the 47th President of the United States. The inauguration is expected to be attended by numerous presidents and prime ministers, as well as heads of international organizations.  

Photo: MIA archive