Relations with North Macedonia
The Embassy of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to the Republic of North Macedonia continues to maintain long established excellent relations with the Government, in particular with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as with the Presidency of the Republic. The Embassy’s humanitarian and social role in North Macedonia is well known and greatly appreciated.
Bilateral relations were established in 1996.
Below a summary of the most important activities carried out by the Embassy along the years.
In 1999-2000 the Embassy of the Sovereign Order of Malta to North Macedonia was particularly involved in supporting refugees escaping from Kosovo and looking for refuge in North Macedonia.
On 23 May 2000, the Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Fra’ Andrew Bertie, received the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Boris Trajkovski, on a State visit to the Magistral Palace in Rome. On the agenda were the Order’s humanitarian actions during the crisis in the Balkans and those underway at that time to help people, and for reconstruction and economic recovery. During the visit, the Grand Master conferred on the President the decoration of the Order of Merit, reserved for Heads of State.
In 2001-2002 the Embassy of the Order of Malta provided humanitarian support during the conflict and turmoils in North Macedonia.
The Embassy has been the leading actor in the “Special Institution Demir Kapija project” until its closure; such a support consisted in providing equipment, financial help and staff training in specialized hospitals in the European Union.
The Embassy has provided financial assistance in favour of the Institute for Protection and Rehabilitation Banja Bansko.
On a continuing basis, the Embassy has been providing humanitarian support to families in “SOS children’s village” in Skopje
Other activities:
- Long-standing support to Mother Teresa Sisters’s activities in Skopje.
- Continuing cooperation and financial support to the Catholic Church in North Macedonia.
- Organization and financing of the Soup Kitchen “Public National Kitchen” in Skopje.
- Organization of Christmas celebrations for needy children assisted by various institutions.
- In 2021 the Embassy donated some medical equipment and devices to the Day Centre for people with cerebral palsy in Kapistec and for patients in the Public Health Institution University Clinic for Children’s Diseases.
- In 2023, the Embassy donated some medical equipment to the “Mother Teresa” University Clinical Centre in Skopje.