Baku (TDI): North Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova has assured Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev that the visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and service passports would soon be resolved.
Addressing a joint press conference following their meeting in Baku, Siljanovska-Davkova said she believed that this is a situation that is unsatisfactory for both North Macedonia and Azerbaijan, and taking this step will bring the two peoples closer together.
In addition to ending the visa regime for official passport holders, the two countries discussed increased cooperation in the energy sector.
In his official statement to the press on Tuesday, Aliyev noted that Azerbaijani gas had already been delivered to North Macedonia at the end of 2024 and that they plan to continue supplying the country throughout 2025.
“In the future, we can increase gas supplies to the necessary volume. Because today we are actively working to commission new gas fields”, Aliyev said.
Azerbaijan and the EU are working together more closely on gas supply. They have signed the Strategic Partnership in the Energy Sector Declaration in Baku in July 2022.
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“Today, Azerbaijani gas is essential for the energy security of many European countries. We have always prioritized the requests of our European partners. Bilateral cooperation in the energy sector is very important to us, and I hope this practical partnership will also extend to collaboration in other areas,” Aliyev said.
In turn, Siljanovska-Davkova noted that North Macedonia is “waiting for a step forward”, clarifying that they would sign a declaration or agreement on cooperation.
“This does not mean that we will receive assistance from Azerbaijan only in gas supplies, but also opportunities for economic cooperation will arise”, Siljanovska-Davkova said.
Additionally, North Macedonian Foreign Minister Timco Mucunski recently visited Baku, where he engaged in constructive talks with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Bayramov Jeyhun.
During their meeting, the ministers focused on strategies to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation, exploring various avenues for investment that could benefit both economies.
They discussed potential sectors for collaboration, emphasizing the importance of mutual growth and shared interests in fostering a prosperous partnership.
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They further expressed their interest in exploring opportunities to boost trade, energy, and tourism ties which will be focused on the need to strengthen political relations and deepen our partnership.
🇲🇰🤝🇦🇿 Great bilateral meeting with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister @Bayramov_Jeyhun in Baku!
🔸Discussed enhancing economic cooperation & investments
🔸 Explored opportunities to boost trade, energy, and tourism ties
🔸 Focused on the need to strengthen political relations and… pic.twitter.com/32v33LSerG— Timco Mucunski (@TimcoMucunski) March 12, 2025
Siljanovska-Davkova arrived in Azerbaijan as part of an official state visit on Monday, where she was welcomed by Azerbaijan’s First Deputy Prime Minister Yagub Eyyubov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Fariz Rzayev, and other representatives.
In addition to meeting with Aliyev, Siljanovska-Davkova visited Victory Park, where she laid a wreath at the Victory Monument.
The park was opened in November 2024 to commemorate Azerbaijan’s victory in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.
Siljanovska-Davkova also visited the Alley of Honour, where she commemorated former President and Ilham Aliyev’s father Heydar Aliyev.
Areeba Kanwal is a contributor at The Diplomatic Insight and has passion for International Relations and diplomacy.
