By Dzihat Aliju
SKOPJE, Macedonia (AA) – Turkey’s deputy prime minister said Thursday that Turkey remains committed to protecting the Turkish language across the world.
Hakan Cavusoglu was in Macedonia’s capital, Skopje, to mark Turkish Language Day, observed on Dec. 21.
Speaking at the ceremony, he said: “Turkey will continue its activities to protect the Turkish language not only in the Balkans, but also across the world.
He said without protecting the language, neither Turkish culture nor traditions can be preserved.
Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev congratulated the Turkish community in Macedonia on Turkish Language Day and said the ceremony was a sign of friendship between Turkey and Macedonia.
Macedonia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and since 2005 has been an EU candidate country.
Shortly after Macedonia declared its independence, Turkey was one of the first countries to recognize its sovereignty.
