Wednesday, 11 January 2012
MACEDONIA AND TURKEY HAVE EXCELLENT COOPERATION AND HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL TIES
The Parliamentary Group for Cooperation with the Parliament of Turkey and the Committee on Foreign Policy of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia today had a meeting with the Delegation of the Turkey-Macedonia Friendship Group of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Turkey.
Mr. Kenan Hasipi, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Group for Cooperation with the Parliament of Turkey, expressed his satisfaction from the meeting and the high level of cooperation, understanding and friendship between the two countries that have no open issues.
He pointed out that Macedonia appreciates highly the support from Turkey, especially having in mind the fact that Turkey was the first country that recognized the Republic of Macedonia under its constitutional name and the first country to open its Embassy in Macedonia.
Macedonia and Turkey have fruitful cooperation on bilateral and multilateral level in many fields such as the economy, trade, industry, defence, education and culture. He especially emphasized the presence of many Turkish companies in Macedonia, the cooperation among the universities of both countries, the importance of the International Balkan University, and the historical and cultural connections.
The Chairman of the Friendship Group of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Hüseyin Bürge, expressed appreciation for the hospitality and informed the hosts that all the Friendship Group of the Turkish Parliament for cooperation with the countries in South East Europe have initiated the establishing of the Parliamentary Assembly of South Eastern Europe.
Mr. Bürge said that Turkey has been supporting Macedonia since its independence and that Turkey will use the ruling of the Hague Tribunal regarding the dispute over the constitutional name with Greece for increased support for Macedonia in the Euro-Atlantic structures. He also said that Macedonia has fulfilled all the criteria necessary for joining NATO, and that Turkey will do everything in it power to help Macedonia on its path towards full membership. Furthermore, Mr. Bürge emphasized the importance of the Ohrid Framework Agreement as foundation for peaceful inter-ethnic coexistence. He added that the Turkish community in Macedonia acts as a bridge for the friendship between the two countries.
Mr. Aleksandar Nikoloski, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Policy, and the members of the Committee emphasized the good and friendly relations between the two countries and the intensive cooperation on political and economic level, as well as the cooperation in the field of education.
The Macedonian parliamentarians pointed out that the main priorities of the country continue to be membership in the European family and NATO, and expressed gratitude for the support that Turkey is giving to the country on bilateral and international level.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Bürge reiterated the good and friendly relations between the two countries, as well as the historical and cultural ties that bind us.