Czech Republic–North Macedonia relations refers to the bilateral political relations between the
Czech Republic and the
Republic of North Macedonia. North Macedonia has an embassy in
Prague, whilst the Czech Republic has a consular agency in
Skopje. Both countries are members of the
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe (CoE; french: Conseil de l'Europe, ) is an international organisation founded in the wake of World War II to uphold European Convention on Human Rights, human rights, democracy and the Law in Europe, rule of law in Europe. ...
, and
NATO.
Also Czech Republic is an
EU member and North Macedonia is an
EU candidate
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...
.
Bilateral relations are excellent and besides the fact that North Macedonia became an independent country only in 1991, Czech Republic–North Macedonia relations have a long tradition.
[Macedonia, Czech Republic nourish excellent relations, bolster economic cooperation]
Macedonian Information Agency. ''25-01-2011''[Соработката со Чешка има долга традиција]
(in Macedonian). Dnevnik Dnevnik means "The Daily" or "Daily News" in South Slavic languages. It can also be translated as "Diary".
Closely related Slavic variants of the word are Deník (Czech) Dziennik (Polish) and Дневник (Russian).
It may refer to:
;In broadc ...
. ''Liljana Grdžo Damovska; 22-05-2009''
Historical relations
Before 1991, much of the relations occurred in the context between
Yugoslavia and
Czechoslovakia.
Between the two
world wars, from 1924 to 1938, the
Czechoslovak Republic had a
consulate in
Skopje, which in that period was (as was the whole of today's North Macedonia) a part of the
Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
The Czechoslovak consul in Skopje in 1928, Vladimír Znojemský, underlined in his reports the existence of a
Macedonian nation
Macedonians ( mk, Македонци, Makedonci) are a nation and a South Slavic ethnic group native to the region of Macedonia in Southeast Europe. They speak Macedonian, a South Slavic language. The large majority of Macedonians identi ...
in the region of Macedonia, which is "different from what the others are, whose people speak a different language and feel different".
["''The consciousness of the Slavonic Orthodox population in Pirin Macedonia and the identity of the population of Moravia and Moravian Slovakia''". Sprawy Narodowościowe. Page 183-197. Instytut Slawistyki Polskiej Akademii Nauk. ''J. Rychlík; issue: 31/2007'']
In the period between 1918 and World War II Czechoslovakia supported the several Macedonian initiatives on recognition of the Macedonian nation.[ At that time, the Macedonian nation was not recognized by the authorities of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Instead, the Macedonians were regarded as (Southern) Serbs.
In 1968, when the Warsaw Pact invaded Czechoslovakia, the ]Socialist Republic of Macedonia
The Socialist Republic of Macedonia ( mk, Социјалистичка Република Македонија, Socijalistička Republika Makedonija), or SR Macedonia, commonly referred to as Socialist Macedonia or Yugoslav Macedonia, was ...
(at that time a republic within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) supported Czechoslovakia.[ A lot of manifestations were held there in order to support Czechoslovakia and to protest against what was happening.][
]
Relations today
The Czech Republic offers continuous support to North Macedonia considering the country's accession to the European Union, which is among the top strategic priorities of North Macedonia.[
The cooperation in the field of economy between North Macedonia and the Czech Republic is good and improving. The level of trade exchange between the two countries shows a positive trend.][ Many companies from the Czech Republic have so far invested in North Macedonia.][
Other spheres of good cooperation between the two states are tourism and education.][
The Czech Republic is also a country that recognized North Macedonia under its former constitutional name ''Republic of Macedonia'',][Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia]
The President of the Senate of the Czech Republic, Mr. Premysl Sobotka on an official visit to the Republic of Macedonia upon an invitation by the President of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Trajko Veljanoski. ''19-06-2009''[„Збројовка" ќе учествува во модернизацијата на АРМ]
(in Macedonian). Utrinski vesnik
''Utrinski vesnik'' ( mk, Утрински весник; meaning ''The Morning'' in English) is a daily newspaper in the Republic of North Macedonia
North Macedonia, ; sq, Maqedonia e Veriut, (Macedonia before February 2019), officially ...
. ''Saško Dimevski; 13-11-2004'' before the Prespa Agreement.[Macedonian name positions are correct, says Czech President]
Macedonian Information Agency. ''10-02-2010'' The Czech Republic therefore was one of 131[Bolivia is 131. country to use Macedonia's constitutional name]
Ekonom:east Media Group. ''20-01-2011'' states in total, which had recognized North Macedonia by its former constitutional name.
During 2015 European migrant crisis
The 2015 European migrant crisis, also known internationally as the Syrian refugee crisis, was a period of significantly increased movement of refugees and migrants into Europe in 2015, when 1.3 million people came to the continent to request ...
Czech government supported Macedonian border protection and sent auxiliary Czech Police troops to the country. This was also subsequently stressed by President Miloš Zeman's visit in Skopje in June 2016.
Diplomatic representations
The embassy of the Czech Republic in Macedonia was opened in September 2006 and is located in Skopje.[Macedonian Diplomatic Bulletin]
Republic of Macedonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ''Igor Ilievski; No. 23, February 2009'' North Macedonia's embassy in the Czech Republic, which was opened in January 2008, is in the capital Prague.[
]
See also
* Foreign relations of the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a Central European country, a member of the European Union, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OSCE), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the United Nations (and all of its main special ...
* Foreign relations of North Macedonia
The foreign relations of North Macedonia since its independence in 1991 have been characterized by the country's efforts to gain membership in international organizations such as NATO and the European Union and to gain international recognition un ...
* Accession of North Macedonia to the European Union
The accession of North Macedonia to the European Union has been on the current agenda for future enlargement of the EU since 2005, when it became a candidate for accession. Macedonia submitted its membership application in 2004, thirteen years ...
* Czechoslovakia–Yugoslavia relations
Czechoslovakia–Yugoslavia relations were historical foreign relations between Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia both of which are now-defunct states. Czechoslovakia and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes were both created as union states of ...
Footnotes
External links
Embassy of the Czech Republic in Skopje
{{DEFAULTSORT:Czech Republic-North Macedonia Relations
North Macedonia
Bilateral relations of North Macedonia