Thursday, 13 October 2011
OPENING EMBASSIES AND INCREASED ECONOMIC COOPERATION - IMPORTANT GOALS FOR THE RELATIONS BETWEEN MACEDONIA AND KUWAIT
Macedonia and Kuwait are friendly countries that should work on intensification of the economic cooperation because they this would be in the interest of both countries. In order to increase the cooperation various obstacles have to be overcome, such as the visa regime, the absence of direct air-flights, embassies etc. This were the main points during in the discussion between the members of the Parliamentary Group of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia for Cooperation with the countries from the Middle East and the Delegation of the Parliamentary Friendship Group of the National Assembly of Kuwait for with the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia.
The meeting was chaired by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Group of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia for Cooperation with the countries from the Middle East Mr. Gazmend Aliji. The members of the Parliamentary Group Ms. Beti Kuzmanovska, Mr. Dime Madzovski, Ms. Elena Pavlova, Ms. Hajrije Misimi, and Mr. Erdogan Sarac took part in the discussion. The Delegation from Kuwait was headed by Mr. Valid M. Al-Tabtabae, Chairman of the Friendship Group, and Mr. Jaman Al-Harbash, Deputy Chairman of the Group.
At the beginning of the meeting Mr. Gazmend Aliji expressed appreciation for the visit and for the recognition of the constitutional name of the Republic of Macedonia by Kuwait. The Macedonian side informed the guests with the work of the Parliament and about the economic policy of the Government, the current projects and possibilities for investments in the countries, emphasizing that the relevant international institutions consider that Macedonia has very fabourable conditions for doing business.
The members of the Delegation from Kuwait expressed gratitude for the hospitality and warm welcome that made them feel at home.
Opening of embassies in both countries was pointed out as the main point that should be initiated as soon as possible because this would contribute to the increase of the cooperation on higher level and it would be in mutual interest. Visa liberalization would also facilitate the traveling between the two countries, and the MPs from Kuwait said that they plan to raise this issue in their Parliament.
Both sides agreed that Macedonia and Kuwait are small countries, but while unemployment is a big problem in Macedonia, the rate of unemployment in Kuwait is very low. Valid M. Al-Tabtabae explained that this low level of unemployment is due to the fact that Kuwait is a democratic country of the Kuwait people with high degree of protection and priority regarding employment, despite the great number of foreign workers in the country.
The guests from Kuwait pointed out that the Republic of Macedonia is rich in its own way; it has plenty of water and well trained professionals that could be of use to their country.
A the end of the meeting both sides expressed hope that similar meetings between high ranking officials of the two countries will continue to be held in future with increased intensity, to the satisfaction of both countries.