Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem Sept. 5. Photo: Haim Zach / GPO.

JNS.org – A visiting delegation from Macedonia met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Economy and Industry Minister Eli Cohen and Deputy Public Diplomacy Minister Michael Oren in Jerusalem on Monday.

The Macedonian delegation, headed by Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, also included Deputy Prime Minister Kocho Angjushev, Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski, Economic Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi and Agriculture Minister Ljupco Nikolovski.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, “The delegations discussed deepening economic and political cooperation between Israel and Macedonia, especially in the fields of energy, agriculture, startups and technology.”

Netanyahu welcomed Zaev to Israel, calling his visit “a great moment in our relations.”
“We’re eager both to see a better future, we are here to talk about a range of fields where we can cooperate for the betterment of our peoples and our countries,” the prime minister said.

Zaev told Netanyahu he hopes to cooperate with Israel “for security and for world peace.” Zaev said should his country be accepted as a NATO member, Macedonia would continue to cooperate with Israel on these issues from within the organization “because the threat of radicalism and extremism is really present here in this region against Israel, but also against my small country Macedonia” and the entire Western Balkans.