Balkans | Foreign Minister Cavusoglu: We have historical and cultural relations (with North Macedonia)

Regarding relations between North Macedonia and Turkey, Turkish Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu said: “We have historical and cultural ties. We have a strong partnership relationship. Turks living in North Macedonia are also an important element that connects North Macedonia and us.” He said.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu spoke with Bojar Osmani, North Macedonia’s Foreign Minister and Chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and Helga Schmid, OSCE Secretary General, at the joint press conference held after their meeting. Meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Çavuşoğlu expressed his thanks to the government and people of Macedonia for being with Turkey since the first days after the earthquake, and stated that North Macedonia declared mourning on February 13 and sent a search and rescue team of 190 people.

Cavusoglu said that this team worked with Turkish teams in Adiyaman and Kahramanmaraş and pulled two citizens alive from under the rubble.

Noting that the earthquakes in Turkey were discussed as a special agenda item in the OSCE Permanent Council, Cavusoglu stated that the OSCE member states and the Secretary-General had conveyed their condolences and support at the meeting.

Cavusoglu pointed out that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which extends from the Euro-Atlantic to Eurasia, includes 57 countries, and drew attention to the fact that this organization and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation are the largest organizations in terms of the number of members after the United Nations. .

Pointing out that the OSCE is based on a comprehensive understanding of security, Çavuşoğlu stated that within this framework, the organization can be a platform for developing cooperation among member states in cases of natural disasters.

In this context, Cavusoglu said that reforming the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe would be of great benefit, noting that this was not only due to the earthquakes in Turkey, but rather that it would contribute to the steps that will be taken in this direction from now on, and that it will be. Able to take initiatives.

Noting that North Macedonia’s theme for the OSCE presidency is “everything revolves around people,” Çavuşoğlu said, “This actually coincides with our country’s pioneering and humane foreign policy.” He said.

“We have a strong historical, cultural and partnership relationship”

Noting that they will continue to work closely with North Macedonia during the OSCE presidency, Çavuşoğlu stated that they discussed issues on the OSCE agenda at today’s tripartite meeting.

They also assessed the war in Ukraine, Çavuşoğlu stated, “The OSCE had a special monitoring mission in Ukraine. We had to evacuate after the war. There were two Turkish diplomats at the head of this mission.” Use phrases.

Expressing the discussion of some issues facing the OSCE, budget and reform, Çavuşoğlu said that they are in constant contact with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, Osmani, regarding the bilateral relations between Turkey and North Macedonia.

Çavuşoğlu emphasized that there are strong ties between the two countries, and said, “We have historical and cultural ties. We have a strong partnership relationship. The Turks who live in North Macedonia are also an important element that connects North Macedonia and us.” He said.

Cavusoglu stressed that the OSCE and its member states will not forget their solidarity with Turkey during this difficult period, and thanked Osmani and Schmid for their visit.