Turkish Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock Mehdi Eker and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water of Macedonia Ljupcho Dimovski have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on agricultural cooperation between the two countries.
In a speech in his office, Eker stated, the Balkans had a great importance for them as a door opening to the West. He expressed that historical, cultural and humanitarian events occurring in the Balkans interested Turkey closely, accepting all countries there as neighbors even if they had no borders with Turkey.
Stating that his government had enhanced relations with Macedonia in all fields, Eker said, “As a sign of it, the commercial volume between the two countries in 2012 reached 378 million dollars. Our bilateral agricultural trade volume is about 27 million dollars. I wish to propound my colleague this information. With the agricultural cooperation deal that will be signed, we desire to enhance our relations in every sub-sector in agriculture and constitute an environment where agriculture contributes more economically, including trade. In this context, new aid will be added to agenda besides the aid we made to Macedonia before, in particular technical aid. We are going to form an executive commission of agriculture by the agreement we will sign. Agricultural executive commission and a committee composing of top managers of the two countries will regularly gather, select the issues to be dealt and apply.”
-“Turkey is an important instance”, says Ljupcho Dimovski
Ljupcho Dimovski thanked Eker for his contributions to the memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries.
Stating the two countries had a common past which connected them, Dimovski said, that’s why, Turkey and Macedonia were very close states. Turkey was an important instance showing issue of how a country could develop economically, said Dimovski.
Thanking Eker for the aid given so far, Dimovski added the MoU to be signed would prove a better work environment.
The two ministers have signed the agreement of agricultural cooperation after their speeches.
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