Turkey's ties with N. Macedonia set example for Balkans

BELGRADE, Serbia

Turkey's relations with North Macedonia set an example for the rest of Balkans and the whole world, said Turkish Parliament Speaker Mustafa Sentop on Sunday.

Sentop attended an Iftar (fast-breaking dinner) at International Balkan University (IBU) in North Macedonia's capital Skopje.

The newly elected president of the Balkan nation, Stevo Pendarovski, also joined the event along with other high-ranking government officials.

In his speech at the event, Sentop emphasized that Turkey like to develop bilateral relations during the term of President Pendarovski, underlining the ongoing warm relations between Ankara and Skopje.

"The friendship of Turkey and North Macedonia is an example for the entire Balkans and the entire world," said Sentop, underlining that the relations would get momentum under the rule of the new president.

Pendarovski, for his part, said his country had always been a multi-religious and multicultural society and would continue to do so.

"Unfortunately, xenophobia and Islamophobia are becoming widespread in the world today..... In spite of our different religions and world perspectives, things that connect us are universal values and principles such as justice, peace, equality, and dignity," he added.

Former Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov and Turkey's Ambassador to Skopje Tulin Erkal Kara was among more than 1,200 participants at the iftar.