Skopje, 24 October 2023 (MIA) — During the Parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee's hearing of seven newly appointed ambassadors on Tuesday, former Justice Minister Nikola Tupanchevski, the country's new ambassador to Serbia, said relations between North Macedonia and Serbia "experienced a rennaisance" in the last two years, considering cooperation in all sectors, which should deepen even more, he noted.

"By closing the church issue, a great deal of our open questions has been put aside," Tupanchevski said. "This does not mean that they will not be reopened, as in the example of what happened between the Republic of Serbia and the northern part of Kosovo. This is an issue regarding which we cannot say if it would reflect on our country."

"We will have to be careful and respect all decisions we have made as a state. Good neighborly relations," Tupanchevski said.

He highlighted that Serbia was the country's fourth biggest trade partner, and that Serbian tourists were especially interested in visiting North Macedonia.

"This should go in the 'Believe It or Not!' newspaper column. This year, 500 times more Serbian tourists visited our country than last year. It is a welcome trend that should be maintained," Tupanchevski said, adding that "the etymology of this" should be looked into.

Although Serbia is not a NATO member, he said, there should be room for cooperation in the security sector as well as within the Open Balkan initiative and the Berlin Process.

As his first priorities in office, the new Macedonian ambassador pointed out the opening of a cultural and information center and a Macedonian language department in Belgrade; signing an agreement for the protection of cultural heritage; and opening a border crossing near Lojane.

The newly appointed ambassadors will fill North Macedonia's vacant ambassador posts in Belgrade, Tel Aviv, Beijing, and Brasilia, and replace current ambassadors in Warsaw, Berlin and Bucharest.

Former Deputy Foreign Minister Andrej Zhernovski has been appointed ambassador to Romania. Shpend Sadiki has been appointed ambassador to Israel. Jasmin Kjahil has been appointed ambassador to Poland. Sashko Nasev has been appointed ambassador to the People’s Republic of China. Igor Popov has been appointed ambassador to Brazil. Ilber Sela has been appointed ambassador to Germany. mr/