Mucunski names three strategic national priorities for the Ambassadors' Council

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski told members of the Ambassadors' Council that he will present three strategic national interests at the meeting being held in Skopje today and tomorrow. The gathering brings together the heads of North Macedonia's diplomatic and consular missions abroad; Mucunski and Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski are scheduled to set out state priorities during the first session.

At the top of the agenda, Mucunski said, are the protection of national interests, using the full potential of diplomatic and consular posts to advance economic diplomacy, and strengthening protection for citizens outside the country's borders.

“First is the protection of Macedonian national interests. Second is the use of the potential of our diplomatic-consular missions in economic diplomacy, and to stimulate trade — that is, the export component of our economy. Third is the protection of the interests of our citizens outside the country's borders — whether these are Macedonians who live outside our state or our citizens who travel for various reasons. In that sense we are primarily talking about consular services and the need to modernize them, better services for Macedonians outside the borders of the state,” Mucunski said.

Market priorities and new opportunities

Asked which markets hold the greatest potential, Mucunski left no doubt that the European Union remains the country's most important trading partner, while also highlighting growing efforts toward stronger ties with other markets.

“It is our most important trading partner — the member states of the European Union. But equally important recently is the momentum we are giving toward strengthened trade cooperation with the United States. The President of India was recently here on a visit. India is also an important market. The countries of the Arabian Gulf are also countries with which we see interest and expect strengthened cooperation in the coming period. So cooperation with traditional trading partners is primary for us, but we are opening opportunities for new markets and those are part of the priorities of our diplomatic-consular missions,” Mucunski said.

Mucunski also noted that this is the first time the government hosts the Ambassadors' Council since 2019, a moment he described as an opportunity to gather the entire diplomatic network under one roof.

“We are gathering the entire diplomatic network in one place,” he added.

Photo: Fejsbuk/Mucunski