Thoughts for UK and Macedonia cooperation 2015

Just past the eight-month marker as the no-longer-quite-so-new Ambassador, and having come through my first western-Christmas-New-Year-Orthodox-Christmas holiday season, I have been talking with colleagues and partners about the year ahead.

Don’t worry, this blog is not about our business plan. It’s more about the UK-Macedonia bilateral relationship. Our two countries don’t enjoy the kind of shared history that is so central to the relationship between the UK and, say, Germany or Ireland or Australia.  The relationship is much more about a shared future. That, of course, is what we’re working with the Macedonian government and other allies to build, particularly through our collaborative efforts to move Macedonia towards membership of NATO and the EU.

I have great confidence in that shared future. Why? Three things:

Shared Interests Part I. In the last two months alone, our joint work with Macedonia has covered:

• work to protect our societies from the threats posed by foreign fighters returning home
• work to tackle cybercrime
• initiatives to end sexual violence in conflict
• work to fight cross-border organised crime affecting both Macedonia and the UK.

And a lot more. These are all examples of global issues. Each country is affected. But progress depends on all countries pulling together.

Shared Interests Part II. The more I see of Macedonia, the more I am struck by its diversity and by the potential for learning from each other. The UK’s diversity is in many ways a modern diversity, a result of people movements since the mid-1900s. Macedonia’s is different, rooted in much older historical and political currents. This difference means our two countries can learn much from each other. I am particularly interested in Macedonia’s historic respect between cultures.

Our networks. Our group of Macedonian Chevening alumni is key here. 140 brilliant ex-students from UK universities now working across public life in Macedonia. Add to that other Macedonians with experience of British education, plus smaller but growing groups like the Macedonian Army officers who have attended London’s Royal College of Defence Studies, and we have a network rich in experience and capability.

This all puts us in a great position. Why wouldn’t I be confident?

 Charles Garrett, British Ambassador to Macedonia