By News Center
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted a joint press conference
with North Macedonia’s Prime Minister, Hristijan Mickoski,
following the signing of a Joint Political Statement at the
Presidential Dolmabahçe Office.
In his speech, President Erdoğan emphasized the high level of
cooperation established through the joint statement, stating, “We
have established a high-level cooperation mechanism with this joint
declaration. I also want to visit Skopje. The steps to be taken for
economic relations were a significant part of today’s discussions.
Our companies are continuing their operations with investments
nearing 2 billion dollars in various fields. We are working to
double the trade volume, which currently stands at nearly 1 billion
dollars. The free trade initiative will contribute to this
effort.”
President Erdoğan also touched on the ongoing defense industry
projects, mentioning that Turkiye was one of the first countries to
recognize North Macedonia’s independence. “We are two friendly
nations contributing directly to peace in the Balkans. Our
relations have become as solid as the Stone Bridge in Skopje. One
of the most important ties is the Turkish community in North
Macedonia. Our brothers who migrated to Anatolia in the past have
made significant contributions to our country and have strengthened
the bond between us and North Macedonia,” Erdoğan said.
He further highlighted the ongoing fight against FETÖ (Gülenist
Terrorist Organization) and emphasized the shared commitment to
tackling the organization. The two leaders also exchanged views on
global issues, particularly focusing on Ukraine and Gaza. Erdoğan
reaffirmed Turkiye’s support for Ukraine’s negotiations and
expressed shared will for a two-state solution for Palestine.
Prime Minister Mickoski, speaking at the press conference,
expressed his pleasure at visiting Turkiye for the first time. “We
have many common ties. There is a cooperation between the
Macedonian and Turkish nations. Our meeting with Mr. Erdoğan was
very important. This meeting serves as an endorsement of the
cooperation. We especially emphasize the economic aspect,” Mickoski
said.
He went on to praise Turkiye’s strength and influence in the
region. “Turkiye is an economic and commercial friend for us. It is
a very powerful country with a significant impact in this region.
We must mobilize all our knowledge to encourage Turkish firms to
invest in North Macedonia. We have strong cooperation in the energy
sector, especially regarding gas. In terms of education and
culture, and security, given that we are both members of NATO, our
cooperation is robust. We addressed these matters and signed
agreements with Mr. Erdoğan. The establishment of the cooperation
council is an important step. This step is crucial as we aim to
establish strategic cooperation at the highest level.”
Mickoski emphasized that the strategic cooperation with Turkiye
was of great importance for North Macedonia, particularly in the
defense industry, energy, and infrastructure sectors. He noted that
strengthening these ties on economic, political, and cultural
fronts was key to their mutual success. “Our relations are very
good. The Turkish community in North Macedonia is very important to
us. Mr. Erdoğan is my friend, and his past, Turkiye’s past, is
closely tied to my country. He is always welcome to visit us, and I
believe he will come to Skopje in the near future,” Mickoski
concluded.