The President of the Republic of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, met today with the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on the margins of the Summit of the South-East European Cooperation Process.
The meeting expressed satisfaction with the strong partnership between the two countries, as well as with the positive trend in the development of bilateral relations, both politically and economically. The trade exchange between the countries is in constant growth and amounted to USD 505 million in 2018, but, as both presidents pointed out, economic cooperation can further increase, in the interest of the citizens of both countries.
The interlocutors exchanged opinions and information on the situation in both countries and the region. In the context of the aspirations of North Macedonia for NATO membership, President Pendarovski expressed the expectation that the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Turkey will soon ratify the Accession Protocol for membership in the Alliance, after it was approved by the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Assembly.
President Erdogan said that our country has full support from Turkey for membership in the EU and NATO and that the Accession Protocol for NATO membership will be soon ratified in the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Turkey.
At the meeting, President Pendarovski extended an invited for an official visit of the Turkish President to the Republic of North Macedonia, which was accepted by President Erdogan.
The Turkish President Erdogan congratulated President Pendarovski on the occasion of his assuming of office and wished him success in his work.
