TURKEY: Turkey says it will support Macedonia at upcoming NATO summit, Macedonian president says on visit to Ankara

Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski met his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Necdet Sezer at the presidential palace in Ankara on Tuesday (November 14). The two leaders discussed their nations' co-operation and Turkey's support for Macedonia's bid to join NATO. Sezer welcomed Crvenkovski with full military honours at Cankaya Presidential palace, before they retreated to hold talks. Following their meeting, the two presidents held a joint news conference and Crvenkovski expressed his gratitude for Turkey's support of a future NATO membership. "It is very important for us to strengthen the existing co-operation between Turkey and Macedonia. I am also very pleased to hear from Mr. Sezer that Turkey assures its support for Macedonia at the next NATO summit in Riga. To have this support from Turkey as an active and strong member of NATO is very important to us," Crvenkovski said. Crvenkovski will also meet with parliament speaker Bulent Arinc, Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister, Abdullah Gul during his visit to Turkey.

ITN Source | November 15, 2006

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