Xhaferi: Excellent relations with UAE to intensify through cooperation at all levels
Abu Dhabi, 16 November 2021 (MIA) – Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi met on Tuesday with his host in the UAE, Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC) of the United Arab Emirates, Saqr Ghobash, and stressed excellent friendly relations and stable policies between North Macedonia and the UAE, adding that bilateral cooperation should intensify at all levels, including parliamentary level.
At the meeting, Xhaferi expressed hopes that excellent dialogue, cooperation, mutual respect and understanding will resume and result in cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, in line with common goals for peace and stability at regional and global level.
North Macedonia, he added, has joined NATO and is awaiting the start of EU accession negotiations.
In that regard, Xhaferi expects bilateral relations, and especially parliamentary cooperation, to intensify.
Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC) of the UAE, Saqr Ghobash, expressed satisfaction over Xhaferi’s historic visit and underlined hopes that initial cooperation will grow. Ghobash noted that the UAE fully supports North Macedonia’s EU accession.
Xhaferi said that North Macedonia appreciates the UAE’s presence in the Western Balkans, stressing that Abu Dhabi has had a positive influence on the economic growth and wellbeing of countries in the region through direct humanitarian and development assistance.
North Macedonia and the UAE, the Parliament Speaker noted, have prosperous ethnic diversity and share the same policy of tolerance in building societies that cherish ethnic and religious diversity. He underlined the fact that North Macedonia recently welcomed hundreds of Afghan refugees, an ongoing process which has helped promote high norms in humanitarian law and ensured every person is taken care of. North Macedonia has been praised for its efforts by the US, as well as other NATO allies, the EU and other peace-loving countries.
Xhaferi also pointed out that North Macedonia appreciates the UAE’s constructive position in efforts aimed at stabilization of the Near East in order to achieve permanent peace and stability in the region. In that regard, he said, we support the Abraham Accords signed between the UAE and Israel in Washington in September 2020, a turning point in normalization of relations in the Near East. According to him, the positive impact of the Abraham Accords presents opportunities for further cooperation between the UAE and Israel.
Ghobash stressed that he believes in peace and tolerance between religions. In regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he said that wars don’t send a good message and urged dialogue.
North Macedonia, the Parliament Speaker added, condemns all forms of terrorism and is an active member of the global counter-terrorism coalition.
“We welcome the expertise of Hedayah, the UAE’s International Center of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism, as a way for resocialization of ISIS members, but also a method for preventing violent extremism and Islamic fundamentalism,” Xhaferi said.
In regard to COVID-19, he noted that the pandemic left a mark on society and thanked the UAE for providing assistance to North Macedonia’s Ministry of Health.
Moreover, he expressed gratitude for the help North Macedonia got at the Expo Dubai 2020.
Xhaferi stressed the importance of the event for North Macedonia, as an outlet for presenting the economic and tourism potential of the country and increasing cooperation opportunities.
Speaker Xhaferi leads a parliamentary delegation in a first official visit to the United Arab Emirates, which includes the Chairman of the Parliamentary Group for Cooperation with the Parliaments of the Middle East countries, MP Husni Ismaili, and MPs Darko Kaevski and Bedri Fazli.
The UAE’s Federal National Council was founded in 1971 and consists of 40 members, half of whom are women.
On Wednesday, Speaker Xhaferi is to meet with Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan. In addition, the parliamentary delegation led by Xhaferi is scheduled to visit North Macedonia’s Pavilion at Expo Dubai 2020.
https://youtu.be/zBWHKdE1jsw
In that regard, Xhaferi expects bilateral relations, and especially parliamentary cooperation, to intensify.
Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC) of the UAE, Saqr Ghobash, expressed satisfaction over Xhaferi’s historic visit and underlined hopes that initial cooperation will grow. Ghobash noted that the UAE fully supports North Macedonia’s EU accession.
Xhaferi said that North Macedonia appreciates the UAE’s presence in the Western Balkans, stressing that Abu Dhabi has had a positive influence on the economic growth and wellbeing of countries in the region through direct humanitarian and development assistance.
North Macedonia and the UAE, the Parliament Speaker noted, have prosperous ethnic diversity and share the same policy of tolerance in building societies that cherish ethnic and religious diversity. He underlined the fact that North Macedonia recently welcomed hundreds of Afghan refugees, an ongoing process which has helped promote high norms in humanitarian law and ensured every person is taken care of. North Macedonia has been praised for its efforts by the US, as well as other NATO allies, the EU and other peace-loving countries.
Xhaferi also pointed out that North Macedonia appreciates the UAE’s constructive position in efforts aimed at stabilization of the Near East in order to achieve permanent peace and stability in the region. In that regard, he said, we support the Abraham Accords signed between the UAE and Israel in Washington in September 2020, a turning point in normalization of relations in the Near East. According to him, the positive impact of the Abraham Accords presents opportunities for further cooperation between the UAE and Israel.
Ghobash stressed that he believes in peace and tolerance between religions. In regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he said that wars don’t send a good message and urged dialogue.
North Macedonia, the Parliament Speaker added, condemns all forms of terrorism and is an active member of the global counter-terrorism coalition.
“We welcome the expertise of Hedayah, the UAE’s International Center of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism, as a way for resocialization of ISIS members, but also a method for preventing violent extremism and Islamic fundamentalism,” Xhaferi said.
In regard to COVID-19, he noted that the pandemic left a mark on society and thanked the UAE for providing assistance to North Macedonia’s Ministry of Health.
Moreover, he expressed gratitude for the help North Macedonia got at the Expo Dubai 2020.
Xhaferi stressed the importance of the event for North Macedonia, as an outlet for presenting the economic and tourism potential of the country and increasing cooperation opportunities.
Speaker Xhaferi leads a parliamentary delegation in a first official visit to the United Arab Emirates, which includes the Chairman of the Parliamentary Group for Cooperation with the Parliaments of the Middle East countries, MP Husni Ismaili, and MPs Darko Kaevski and Bedri Fazli.
The UAE’s Federal National Council was founded in 1971 and consists of 40 members, half of whom are women.
On Wednesday, Speaker Xhaferi is to meet with Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan. In addition, the parliamentary delegation led by Xhaferi is scheduled to visit North Macedonia’s Pavilion at Expo Dubai 2020.
https://youtu.be/zBWHKdE1jsw 
