Neziri: "The Balkans, and particularly Macedonia, are turkey's gateway to Europe"

The Balkans, and particularly Macedonia, are a gateway to Europe for Turkey, said Macedonian State Minister Hadi Neziri yesterday. Speaking to reporters, Neziri told of Turkey's military, economic and political contributions to Macedonia. Neziri added that Turks living in Macedonia got additional rights to representation in last year's parliamentary elections, stating that they are trying to boost relations between Turkey and Macedonia. He also said investments by Turkish businessmen in Macedonia were discussed at a three-day meeting in May in Ohri. "We want to boost Turkish capital in Macedonia," he added. "Unemployment is one of the biggest problems of Turks in Macedonia. Twenty percent of our people live and work in other countries."