Establishment of a Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation between the Republic of Macedonia and the State of Qatar and opening of an Embassy in Skopje as soon as possible, is the outcome of today’s meeting in Doha between the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, and the Emir of the State of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. At the meeting, they also exchanged views and information on the existing bilateral relations and the opportunities for deepening the cooperation between the two countries in all spheres of mutual interest. Special emphasis was placed on the opportunities for developing economic cooperation. President Ivanov informed that the Charge d’ Affairs, Mohammed bin Rashid Hamad Sabih, is already in Skopje and is working on the opening of the Qatari Embassy in the shortest time. Three years ago, there was not a single bilateral agreement signed with Qatar. After the intensive bilateral contacts, the legal framework between the two countries was established, and, in that regard, a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of tourism was signed today, President Ivanov said after the meeting with the Emir al-Thani.

The President and the Emir of the State of Qatar discussed about the Qatari investments in the Republic of Macedonia, whereas the President Ivanov stressed that there is interest in establishing cooperation in the field of higher education and in culture, due to the recent visit of the Ensemble Tanec to Doha. This visit aims at maintaining political dialogue at the highest level and I hope that the economic cooperation that we encourage will soon give its results, President Ivanov said. In order to enhance further the contractual framework between the two countries, despite the Memorandum of Understanding on tourism, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Chambers of Commerce of the Republic of Macedonia and the State of Qatar. The Minister of Economy, Valon Sarachini, was in the official delegation led by President Ivanov.

During the official visit, President Ivanov met with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani. Key discussion topic at the meeting with the Qatari Prime Minister was the possibilities for the development of economic cooperation. Opinions were exchanged on specific potential projects that they can invest in the field of infrastructure and energy, tourism and agriculture. Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar reiterated the readiness to invest in the Republic of Macedonia in these areas and stressed the desire to visit the Republic of Macedonia in the future. President Ivanov stressed that good political relations in the coming period should be valorized and formalize with concrete economic projects. At the same time, the Macedonian President expressed his expectation that the contacts between the two countries in this area will continue.

During their stay in the State of Qatar, President Ivanov will visit Georgetown University, where he will deliver a lecture entitled “The Balkans and the Gulf: the crossroads of civilizations”. This is the first official visit of President Ivanov to Qatar, at the invitation of the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, which is realized after the two-day official visit of the Emir of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Macedonia, on 17 and 18 October 2011.