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Macedonia is more interested in nourishing the economic cooperation with Kosovo than vice-verca, considering its large surplus from the trade exchange between the two parties, concluded participants in a debate on Macedonia-Kosovo Economic Ties.
The debate took place Thursday in Skopje in organization of the Forum Centre for Strategic Research and Documentation in cooperation with the Swiss Embassy in the country.
Besim Beqaj, Chairman of Kosovo’s Chamber of Commerce, expressed satisfaction with the economic cooperation between Macedonia and Kosovo, saying that it should not be based only on exchange of goods, but also offer opportunities for joint presentation at third markets.
– The solid economic cooperation is not followed by the political one and therefore it has been facing numerous institutional obstacles in spite of the fact that both countries are signatories of the regional free trade agreements. Macedonia should soon accept the new political reality and recognize Kosovo independence, thus eliminating unnecessary barriers and boosting the economic cooperation, Beqaj said.
Last year Macedonia-Kosovo trade exchange was at Euro 180 million, i.e. Macedonia’s export was at Euro 170 and import form Kosovo at 10 million, Beqaj said.
Macedonia-Kosovo trade exchange has been based on the Interim and the Free Trade Agreement with former Serbia and Montenegro, former economy minister Stevco Jakimovski said.
The trade exchange with Kosovo is among the few that brings surplus to Macedonia, which will be altered in the future as the number of countries that are going to recognize it will go up, Jakimovski said.
The European Union and US have pledged Euro one billion at the last Kosovo Donors’ Conference, which demonstrates the interest of the West in Kosovo, Jakimovski said.
Macedonia should work in favor of its economic interests and accordingly recognize Kosovo he added.
Asked about possible Kosovo sanctions if Macedonia fails to recognize its independence soon, Beqaj said Kosovo business community was not considering such a development.
– We are expecting for Macedonia to have a different approach to good neighborly relations. We will do our best to avoid boycotting of Macedonian products, but also expect for the country to act promptly, which refers to both political, business elite, Beqaj said.
MINA