NORTH MACEDONIA

The values we share and the bonds of love and respect between our peoples give Türkiye-North Macedonia relations a special characteristic. The relations between North Macedonia and Türkiye at the level of civil society, as well as the mutual visits we organize, are a strong indication of our friendship and closeness.

Although their own alphabet is Cyrillic, the use of the Latin alphabet for the Turks and Albanians living there is an exceptional indicator of the peaceful character of this country.

In this country, Muslims, Orthodox, Christians and Jews live together in the cultural diversity created by the multicultural structure. North Macedonia is a landmark of understanding and tolerance that has made a great sacrifice for comprehensive co-operation and peace in the Balkans and has been able to call itself the Republic of North Macedonia. The world needs the European Union to remove the obstacles in front of the Macedonian nation, taking into account this exceptional decision. Therefore, we believe that North Macedonia can no longer be stopped from taking its rightful place in the world. Marmara Group Foundation attaches great importance to relations with North Macedonia.

However, this importance we attach is not only for historical or emotional reasons. North Macedonia is like the heart of the Balkans. The stability and unity of this country, which has a great strategic importance, is important for Europe. Today, the most important issue for humanity is to live in peace. The people living peacefully under one flag in North Macedonia, a multi-religious, multi-lingual, multi-cultural and multi-identity community, are the children of a nation that has achieved a great success. The basis of this success is democracy. The democracy of North Macedonia, which protects human dignity, equality and freedom together, is a good example for many countries. Our relations, which started after independence, draw a rising graph from past to present. As Marmara Group Foundation, we believe that the friendship between Türkiye and North Macedonia is eternal. Our people give the biggest support to this friendship. And we, with our civil society identity, are proud to continue to cooperate with the Macedonian people for peace, stability, good days and a common future.

The Cyrillic alphabet is the line of civilization that Macedonia has put forward in the field of culture in its line extending from Alexander the Great to Kemal Atatürk and today, from Serbia to Russia, from Russia to Tajikistan.

North Macedonia is one of the countries that gives extraordinary value to the Marmara Group Foundation. Perhaps it is the first one.

The first Minister of Foreign Affairs to come to the Eurasian Economic Summits is from North Macedonia. North Macedonia has been represented at the Eurasian Economic Summits at the level of the President for years. Two distinguished sons of North Macedonia, President Gjorge Ivanov and diplomat Zerrin Abaz, are the recipients of the Marmara Group Foundation Medal of Honour.

Again, the State of North Macedonia presented Dr Akkan Suver with the Medal of Distinguished Service by the President in 2019.

Therefore, the Marmara Group Foundation is grateful for the generosity of the State of North Macedonia.