UPDATE - Turkish foreign minister meets business community, politicians in North Macedonia

UPDATES WITH MORE MEETINGS, ADDS FIDAN'S REMARKS

By Serdar Dincel and Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) – Türkiye’s foreign minister met Thursday with members of the business community and politicians during a visit to North Macedonia.

Hakan Fidan also met with representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the Turkish community in the capital Skopje, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on X.

"Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan met with members of the VLEN Coalition, Izet Meciti, First Deputy Prime Minister, Bilal Kasami, Mayor of Tetovo & Leader of BESA Movement, Zekeriya Ibrahimi, Leader of Alternativa & Alliance for Albanians MP, Halil Snopce, in Skopje," the ministry said in a separate post on X.

Fidan also hosted Salih Murat, a member of the North Macedonia Assembly, at the Turkish Embassy in Skopje.

He also welcomed Beycan Ilyas, president of the Democratic Party of Turks of North Macedonia, and Erdogan Sarac, president of the Movement for National Unity of the Turks, at the embassy.

Fidan, in remarks regarding his recent trip, highlighted the profound historical, cultural and political connections between Türkiye and North Macedonia.

"We conducted numerous high-level discussions in North Macedonia, a friendly and allied nation with which we share a deep-rooted history and robust humanitarian ties," he said on his X account.

Fidan emphasized the "unshakeable" relationship between the two countries, noting that Türkiye will persist in its efforts to promote peace and stability in the Balkans.

Türkiye was the first country to recognize North Macedonia by its constitutional name and the first country to appoint an ambassador to Skopje.

Also during his visit to Skopje, Fidan met with North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, Foreign Minister Timco Mucunski and Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi, said the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

Fidan’s visit follows his attendance at the South-East European Cooperation Process Summit in June, where he met with Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, North Macedonia’s president.