Macedonia, Qatar to boost bilateral cooperation

Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov on Monday met with visiting Qatar's emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, with both sides vowing to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries. "I am convinced that our joint efforts will produce a fresh impulse to the cooperation established between the two countries and that our friendship founded on joint visions will be further developed and advanced," Ivanov said during talks with Al-Thani. The two leaders signed several deals aimed to intensify cooperation in the sectors of energy, finances, tourism and construction. The Emir also announced that Qatar was to open an embassy in Macedonia to enhance bilateral ties. Al-Thani is the first ruler from the Arab world to visit Macedonia since the country declared independence from former Yugoslavia in 1991. He is scheduled to meet with Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski on Tuesday. The Qatar's delegation is made up of 100 members, including two members of the royal family and 12 ministers. Macedonia is the first leg of their four-nation European tour which would also take them to Albania, Poland and Ukraine.