Skopje, 24 October 2023 (MIA) – The Macedonian authorities are trying to evacuate five Macedonian nationals from the Gaza Strip – a married couple and a father with two children. The mother of the children, who is a Palestinian national, has been issued a visa, said the new Macedonian Ambassador to Tel Aviv, Shpend Sadiki, during the Parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee's hearing of newly appointed ambassadors on Tuesday.

“We are working on this on a daily basis. Initially they were two – one married couple, and the latest number is five, including a father and two children. Part of the Crisis HQ [at the MFA] is now focused on Gaza in an attempt to evacuate the five nationals. It is impossible for us to affect the decision on when the border will be opened. That decision is up to Egypt and partially up to Israel as well. We are communicating on a daily basis with our Charge d’Affaires in Cairo, Elma, and with Machej in Tel Aviv, as well as with our nationals,” said Sadiki.

The new Ambassador, in response to a question by VMRO-DPMNE MP Blagica Lasovska over the work being done to evacuate Macedonian nationals from Gaza, also said that travel documents have been issued for the children who had no passports, and that a visa has been issued for their mother, who is a Palestinian national.

“It will depend on the Egyptian authorities, whether they will allow her to leave the country, and we will insist. The Embassy in Tel Aviv isn’t accredited for the Palestinian territories. Several countries have formal relations with them, but we don’t, and this is a political decision, but we offer consular protection for the West Bank through our Embassy in Tel Aviv, and for Gaza through our Embassy in Egypt,” said Sadiki.

The new Ambassador said North Macedonia has a small diaspora in Israel of around 200-300 people.

In his address, Sadiki mainly focused on the situation in Israel following the attack by Hamas on October 7. He said they are expecting to see how the situation develops after the announced ground offensive by Israel.

“North Macedonia is following the positions of Brussels, and we strive for a continuation of negotiations until a lasting and comprehensive solution is reached,” said Sadiki.

The new Ambassador said North Macedonia’s relations with Israel are excellent, but he noted the weak sectoral and economic cooperation. He said cooperation in tourism and the economy, i.e., investments, is being proposed, and that high level visits will depend on the security situation in the country.

Photo: MIA