Gashi Welcomes Indian President, Highlights Importance of Mother Teresa’s Legacy

President of the Republic of India Draupadi Murmu paid an official visit to the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia. This marks the first visit by an Indian president to the country and represents an important moment in advancing relations and expanding bilateral cooperation.

At the Assembly, Murmu was welcomed by its speaker, Afrim Gashi, with whom she held a one-on-one meeting. The president then signed the guest book, expressing her appreciation for the hospitality and praising the historic, cultural and friendly ties between the two peoples, the Assembly’s press service said.

During a plenary session, Draupadi Murmu also addressed lawmakers and citizens. She described democracy as the shared value linking India and North Macedonia, while portraying parliaments as guarantors of civil liberties and an expression of the national conscience.

Addressing relations between the two countries, Murmu said: “We do not regard North Macedonia as a distant country, but as an important pillar in building a sustainable, multipolar and prosperous global future.”

In her speech, the Indian president also discussed the historical and cultural heritage that brings the two peoples closer together. In this context, she singled out Mother Teresa, whom she called “Skopje’s most famous daughter,” and recalled that India was the country she considered her home.

Murmu announced that she would pay tribute to Mother Teresa during her stay. She also said she would present the people of North Macedonia with a bust of Mahatma Gandhi, stressing that his ideals represent values that unite everyone.

The president emphasized the role of parliamentary diplomacy, the need to intensify contacts between the two countries and increase women’s representation in democratic life.

Invoking the ancient Indian philosophy that “The whole world is one family,” Murmu called for building bridges of understanding and cooperation, particularly at a time when the world is facing numerous challenges and divisions.