site.btaNorth Macedonian President Siljanovska-Davkova Recalls Nine Ambassadors, Including One in Bulgaria

The President of the Republic of North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, signed decrees for the recall of nine ambassadors, her office said on Monday. Among those recalled is the Ambassador of the Republic of North Macedonia to Bulgaria, Agneza Rusi Popovska.

According to the law, appointed ambassadors are required to present their views on relations with the host country or international organization to the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee before their appointment, and eight out of the nine recalled ambassadors did not do so yet.

Talks about changes in the leadership of the country's diplomatic missions began shortly after the government of VMRO-DPMNE took office in 2024. In this context, a request was made for clarification on whether the President can issue a decree to appoint ambassadors if they have not presented their priorities to the Foreign Affairs Committee, while the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade announced that a new law on the diplomatic service is being drafted.

Among the ambassadors of the Republic of North Macedonia recalled by Siljanovska-Davkova are Yakup Redzepi, the Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina; Metodija Belevski, the Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg; Emil Krsteski, the Ambassador to the Czech Republic; Pajo Avirovich, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador and Head of the Permanent Mission to international organizations; Zecir Ramcilovic, the Ambassador to Montenegro; and Katarina Stavreska, the Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

The Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of North Macedonia to the Council of Europe, Svetlana Geleva, has also been recalled due to the end of her mandate.

Following a decree of Gordana Siljanovska, in November 2024, seven ambassadors from North Macedonia have already returned to their home country. However, the government in Skopje has already appointed ambassadors to Japan, Croatia, Ukraine, and France.