ANKARA - National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said on Tuesday that seeing Macedonia as a NATO country was his biggest desire and added that Turkey would continue to do its best to this end.
Addressing journalists prior to his meeting with Macedonian Defense Minister Vlado Buckovski, Gonul said that relations of two countries had been continuing on the highest level since Republic of Macedonia was formed and he added that good relations were established especially in defense industry with this country which Turkey had historical and cultural ties.
Noting that they targeted to further develop mutual relations in defense industry, Gonul said that a successful cooperation in joint education activities was carried on by sending teacher and student mutually.
Gonul said that they targeted a further improved cooperation with Macedonia and added that seeing Macedonia as a NATO country was Turkey's biggest desire and Turkey would continue to do its best to this end.
Meanwhile, Buckovski said that he was pleased to be in Turkey which was one of the real friends of Macedonia and added that Turkey which had earlier supported Macedonia would also give an important support on the door of NATO.
Noting that Turkey had a big share in the training of Macedonian army, Buckovski said that they wished that this cooperation would continue in the same way in coming years.
When a Macedonian reporter asked Gonul whether Turkey supported 2+3 process in expansion of NATO, Gonul said that Turkey, together with Greece, supported NATO membership of Macedonia, Albania and Croatia.
Upon a question what kind of assistance Turkey would make for Macedonian army, Gonul said that assistance worth of 5.5 million U.S. dollars had been made to Macedonian army until now.
Meanwhile, Ministry of National Defense officials said that an assistance worth of 10 million U.S. dollars with the projects was planned to be sent to Macedonia.
(GC-UK) 15.04.2003