Skopje, 28 January 2025 (MIA) - Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi met Tuesday with a delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, led by Fuat Oktay, chair of the Committee and former Turkish vice president.   

Participants in the meeting expressed satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations between the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Türkiye in all areas, particularly at a parliamentary level, the Parliament said in a press release. 

"Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi expressed confidence that the parliamentary dimension of bilateral relations plays a key role in strengthening mutual cooperation. He mentioned the need for regular meetings between the committees and parliamentary groups for friendship and cooperation of the two parliaments. Regarding multilateral cooperation, Gashi said that close cooperation and coordination within the parliamentary assemblies of the Council of Europe, the OSCE, NATO and the South-East European Cooperation Process is very important for achieving the common interests of the two countries," reads the press release. 

Chair of the Committee in the Turkish Parliament, Fuat Oktay, pointed out that the purpose of the visit is to develop concrete cooperation between the committees and deepen cooperation on a multilateral level.

"He voiced commitment to further deepening bilateral relations in all areas, especially in the economic sphere," the press release adds. 

MPs Beycan Ilyas, chair of the Parliamentary Group for Cooperation with the Parliament of the Republic of Türkiye, Fatmir Bytyqi and Merita Kolchi-Kodzadziku, members of the group, as well as Secretary General Marina Dimovska, also attended the meeting. 

"MP Beycan Ilyas highlighted the importance of the friendship and cooperation groups of the two parliaments, and briefed interlocutors on planned future activities. He pointed out that the Turkish community in the country contributes to promoting mutual relations, both in private and public life," the press release reads. 

Photo: Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia