Ankara – Wednesday , 31st July, 2024

 

His Excellency Lt. Gen. Dr. William Maipambe Sikazwe, presented his Letters of Credence to Her Excellency Ms. Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, the President of the Republic of North Macedonia, accrediting him as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Zambia to the Republic of North Macedonia with residence in Ankara.

 

The ceremony took place at Villa Vodno, the Presidential Palace in Skopje, North Macedonia on Thursday 25 July, 2024.

In his speech during the ceremony, Lt. Gen. Dr. Sikazwe expressed gratitude to President Siljanovska-Davkova for accepting him as Ambassador of the Republic of Zambia to the Republic of North Macedonia.

He conveyed the warm congratulations of the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, the Government, and the people of Zambia to President Siljanovska-Davkova on her election. The Ambassador said her overwhelming victory was a clear demonstration of the trust and confidence the people of North Macedonia have placed in her leadership.

Lt. Gen Dr. Sikazwe stated that President Hichilema looks forward to working closely with President Siljanovska-Davkova and her administration to further strengthen the existing warm bilateral relations between Zambia and North Macedonia.

He said Zambia recognises North Macedonia’s positive contributions to promoting global peace and good governance, as evidenced by the country’s continued commitment to periodic democratic elections.

 

The Ambassador expressed his sincere desire to see enhanced bilateral cooperation between the two nations, taking advantage of the common democratic governance principles they share. He said Zambia is eager to learn from North Macedonia’s experiences in various sectors, including technology, health, manufacturing, tourism, and education.

Lt. Gen. Dr Sikazwe also mentioned Zambia’s keen interest to explore opportunities for collaboration in areas such as mining, agriculture, and renewable energy development.

 

In this regard, he reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to fostering enduring foreign relations based on mutual respect and benefit.

He stated that Zambia has created an attractive investment climate for the private sector and encouraged investors from North Macedonia to take advantage of the conducive environment in Zambia.

 

Additionally, Lt. Gen. Dr. Sikazwe requested the consideration of a waiver on visa requirements for holders of diplomatic passports, as well as a gradual relaxation of restrictions on visa requirements for other passport holders wishing to visit the respective countries for trade, investment, or tourism purposes.

The Ambassador pledged to work with the relevant authorities in North Macedonia to increase import and export volumes between the two countries, as well as promote cooperation in other sectors of mutual interest.

 

In her remarks, President Siljanovska-Davkova stated that the presence of Lt. Gen. Dr. Sikazwe marked the beginning of an important phase in the bilateral relations between the two countries. She said that this phase aims to foster continued growth and collaboration in various fields, including education, health, environmental conservation, biodiversity preservation, and the pursuit of sustainable development and well-being for present and future generations.

The President reaffirmed her commitment to further enhancing these bilateral ties and enriching them with new content. She also conveyed her regards to President Hakainde Hichilema and wished the Ambassador success during his tenure.

 

Issued by: Rebecca Chileshe

SECOND SECRETARY – COMMUNICATION ANKARA, TÜRKIYE