President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova received today a journalist delegation from the Republic of Turkiye, members of the Global Council of Journalists, who are staying in the country on the occasion of December 21, the Day of Turkish Language Teaching.
At the meeting, the interlocutors exchanged views on the overall bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, the status of the Turkish community, as well as the importance of journalism – one of the key pillars of democracy and social development.
President Siljanovska-Davkova said in the talks that she respects the role of journalists in the fight against patriarchal and parochial political culture, emphasizing that they are an X-ray, a microscope and a guardian of democracy. In this regard, she reaffirmed her commitments, which she had as a member of parliament, to decriminalize the acts of defamation and insult to journalists.
Discussing multiculturalism in the country, the President said that the concept of a binational state is not a good solution and that the so-called smaller communities, including the Turkish community, should have a greater role, because they are the key to mutual understanding.
“The facts are that the Turkish community is proof that it is a continuous part of the Macedonian multiethnic society and that it had, has and should have an important place in the community, such as it had in 1944”, President Siljanovska-Davkova said.
Stressing that Turkiye was, is, and will remain a friend and ally of our country, the President said that in a multipolar world, Eurocentrism should be overcome, Turkish republicanism should be respected, and the influence that can be realized through Turkiye in the Asian world should be realized.
The representatives from the Turkish media expressed great satisfaction with the opportunity to meet with the President, as well as satisfaction with the overall treatment of the Turkish community and the rights it enjoys in the country. They expressed their gratitude for the cooperation they have with the Macedonian media and the national service, which represents a bridge for the exchange of information, cultural values, positive stories and promotion of mutual understanding.
