SKOPJE - Turkish Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan attended the "National Festival of Turkish Education Day" activities in Skopje together with Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski in Skopje on Sunday.
Toptan said, "Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, great leader and founder of the Republic of Turkey, considered education one of basic elements uniting Turkish nation and contributing to its development."
"We attach great importance and give priority to welfare and prosperity of kinsmen who form a bridge between our countries as well as improvement of their education opportunities, economic condition and their representation in state institutions," he said.
Toptan is currently paying an official visit to Macedonia upon invitation of his Macedonian counterpart Trajko Veljanoski.
On December 22, Toptan and Veljanoski will co-preside the meetings between Turkish and Macedonian delegations. Toptan will also be received by Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski the same day.
Toptan will address Macedonian Parliamentary General Assembly, and then he will hold a joint press conference with Veljanoski later in the day.
Toptan will hold meetings in several cities in Macedonia on December 23, and then proceed to Albania as the guest of Albanian Parliament Speaker Josefina Topalli.
On December 24, Toptan and Topalli will hold a joint press conference after their tete-a-tete meeting.
Toptan will hold meetings with Albanian President Bamir Topi and Prime Minister Sali Berisha.
Parliament Speaker Toptan will return to Turkey on December 25.
(UK-MS)
(DIP)