Skopje, 28 February 2025 (MIA) - North Macedonia and Türkiye will deepen and intensify cooperation in all areas at bilateral, regional and global levels, said Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Istanbul on Friday after signing a joint political declaration on the establishment of a High-Level Cooperation Council between the governments of the two countries.

The declaration was signed during Mickoski's first official visit to Türkiye.

"This is a significant step in the relations between the two countries, and its foundations are contained in the strategy on strengthening bilateral relations between Macedonia and Türkiye signed back in 2008. In order to develop the strategic partnership, we have made a decision to establish a High-Level Council aimed at deepening and intensifying cooperation in all areas of mutual interest at bilateral, regional and global levels," Mickoski told a joint press conference after the signing of the declaration. 

Mickoski said he and Erdoğan had an exceptionally important and constructive meeting, which, he noted, reaffirms the traditional friendship, strong partnership and strategic cooperation between the two countries.

He announced deepening of cooperation in several areas with a particular emphasis on trade, adding that the two also discussed cooperation in security, education, culture and healthcare.

"The two countries are NATO allies, and our common priority is stability and security in the region. We are committed as a country to building a strong partnership and reaffirming the Macedonian-Turkish friendship in economic, political and cultural terms," said Mickoski. 

Erdoğan said he hopes to attend the first session of the Council, to be held in Skopje. He announced that future activities will boost economic and trade exchange to an even higher level, noting that relations between the two countries are as strong as the Stone Bridge in Skopje.

"Last year we had a trade exchange of one billion dollars, which we should double at the first opportunity," Erdoğan said, pointing out that a revision of the Free Trade Agreement will be necessary.

President Erdoğan also said that the Balkans should not be seen as a place for competition between nations, but as a field for joint cooperation and development.

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