President Stevo Pendarovski met today in Antalya, with the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as part of his working visit to Turkey, on the occasion of his participation in the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the South East European Cooperation Process and participation in the Antalya Diplomatic Forum.
Presidents Pendarovski and Erdogan expressed satisfaction at the meeting with the long-standing partnership between the two countries and the positive trend in the development of bilateral relations and cooperation in several areas of mutual interest.
President Pendarovski pointed out that even in conditions of a pandemic, holding a regular political dialogue shows that the relations between the two countries are friendly and strong. He expressed gratitude for the overall Turkish medical assistance that arrived in our country from the first moments after the declaration of the pandemic. In that context, President Pendarovski also thanked for the 30,000 vaccines that were delivered recently.
At the meeting, President Pendarovski stressed that the Macedonian interest in developing relations and cooperation with Turkey is constant, and the closeness of the two peoples contributes to that end.
In this context, President Pendarovski stressed that Turkey is one of the most important economic partners for North Macedonia and that we are ready to fully raise the level of cooperation, both in trade and in terms of Turkish investments in our country.
At the same time, President Pendarovski expressed expectation that in the coming period the two countries will focus as much as possible on economic cooperation, as an important segment not only to improve overall relations, but also easier overcoming the economic consequences caused by Covid-19.
It was concluded at the meeting that, as NATO allies, which have an obligation to promote the values of the Alliance, North Macedonia and Turkey share common views on the need to preserve peace and stability in the region, by building good neighborly relations and promoting regional cooperation. In addition, President Pendarovski pointed out that we have common views on the need to avoid conflicts and give priority to dialogue as a means of resolving open issues.
The interlocutors also discussed the challenges related to migration from the Middle East and North Africa, with President Pendarovski emphasizing the important role of Turkey, adding that with its contribution in combating this phenomenon, Turkey is an important factor that maintains the stability of all Balkan countries on the migration route.
