Baku, 11 March 2025 (MIA) - North Macedonia and Azerbaijan are to promote cooperation through a declaration of strategic partnership and friendship, primarily focusing on energy and the economy, while abolition of visas for diplomats and officials is also being initiated. Azerbaijan is ready to increase the level of distribution on the Macedonian market, concluded among other Tuesday's meeting in Baku between President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova and her host Ilham Aliyev.

"The President has already mentioned the EU's interest in a strategic partnership. Azerbaijan not only has an interesting location on the international geopolitical stage today, but is also becoming relevant due to its gas wealth, and all of us transitioning to renewable sources need help of course. I will reiterate what I told the President, that I expect us to take a step towards signing a declaration that will lead to the establishment or signing of a cooperation agreement. This does not only mean Azerbaijani assistance in terms of gas, but will also open up space for economic cooperation," said Siljanovska Davkova, who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan.  

She pointed out that scrapping of visas will contribute to bringing the peoples of the two countries closer.

"We will immediately put an end to that strange situation with the visa policy for diplomatic and official passports. I believe neither the Macedonian state nor Azerbaijan is satisfied with this," said the President, noting also possibilities for establishing cooperation between universities, in science, and tourism.

As regards the economy, she said the country has not made any major steps for now, noting however that what makes it attractive in the Balkans is that it is located at the heart of Europe, as well as in a place where roads cross.

"I believe this is also important for every country that opens up to Europe and the world. We have a lot to exchange and this is the beginning of a deep friendship. Not only the agreement with SOCAR, but also subsequent agreements will enable better acquaintance," the President stressed.

She pointed out that today, in the 21st century, there is again talk about theories of the heart of the world, as she said, about theories in which this region, together with Ukraine, will be at the centre of world events, adding that everyone wants to have an influence in this region.

"Europe is opening up again, your success in every respect is a guarantee that further cooperation will be possible. I expect much stronger cooperation will be established as part of next steps, I mean the agreement on strategic cooperation. Such agreement already exists in the region and there is no reason for us not to join," said Siljanovska Davkova, who also met with Aliyev at the most recent COP29 summit in November 2024.

Aliyev also noted that opportunities for economic and trade cooperation should be explored, where, he added, there is no achievement.

"We are doing everything we can to improve our bilateral relations. I am pleased that the political part between our two countries is dynamic, our first meeting with the President testifies to what I am saying. Political relations require additional measures that should be developed by the relevant services, and in the meantime, investments should be explored in the area of economy. Unfortunately, so far economic cooperation and trade are not sufficiently developed, and there is no achievement. But I hope that after this visit and the meeting between the delegations, we will make up for that," Aliyev said.

A positive sign in recent months, he noted, is that the two countries have launched cooperation in the energy sector. Azerbaijan's natural gas is being supplied to North Macedonia. This happened at the end of last year. This year, Azerbaijan will provide natural gas, and we are ready to strengthen the level of distribution on your market, because as new gas distribution fields appear in Azerbaijan, we are actively working on this issue, said President Aliyev. 

Azerbaijan supplies gas to 12 countries, and among the clients covering the Eurasian part, 10 out of 12 countries are European. We plan, he pointed out, to increase deliveries and expand markets, Europe needs our natural gas. Three years ago, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the EU and Azerbaijan, a strategic declaration, and this was a testimony to the fact that today Azerbaijani gas contributes to the energy stability of European countries. We pay great attention to cooperation with our European partners. In the field of energy, bilateral cooperation is very important for us and I hope that these practical measures will also cover other areas, Aliyev said.

President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova was welcomed earlier on Tuesday with the highest state and military honours at the Zuğulba Presidential Palace in Baku. Following a tête-à-tête meeting between the two presidents, a plenary session with both delegations is underway. The Macedonian state delegation also includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Timcho Mucunski. 

In line with the agenda, Siljanovska Davkova is also scheduled to deliver a lecture to the academic community and students at ADA University in Baku on Tuesday afternoon. She will also meet with the Speaker of Parliament, Sahiba Gafarova, and Prime Minister Ali Asadov on Wednesday. In addition, Siljanovska Davkova will attend the 12th Global Baku Forum titled “Rethinking World Order: Turning Challenges into Opportunities.” The event, organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Centre, will be held on March 13-15. She will address the forum’s opening ceremony and will give a speech on the topic “The UN Pact for the Future: Building a New Global Consensus Path to Peace.”

The forum is expected to gather around 400 participants, including current and former heads of state and government, representatives of international organizations, and civil society.

Photo: The President's Office