Skopje, 3^rd of December

The Secretary General of AZAS, Mr. Kiril Gjozev, held an official meeting with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to North Macedonia, H.E. Rafael Soriano Ortiz, reinforcing the strong and growing cooperation between AZAS and the Spanish creative and cultural sector.

The meeting came shortly after the successful Regional Seminar “Authors First: Copyright as the Cornerstone of Creativity and Culture in the Audiovisual Sector”, organized in Skopje on 18–19 November by SAA, AIPA, ZAPA and AZAS. Ambassador Soriano Ortiz expressed his appreciation for the seminar’s quality and international participation, noting that it demonstrated how regional collaboration can elevate authors’ rights and strengthen cultural governance across the Western Balkans.

Mr. Gjozev presented to the Ambassador the already published AZAS Publication on Copyright and Collective Management, outlining the organization’s mission, legal framework and readiness to operate fully in accordance with European standards. The Ambassador welcomed the publication as a timely and valuable contribution to strengthening the understanding of authors’ rights in North Macedonia.

In their conversation, Mr. Gjozev highlighted the importance of the seminar’s concluding document – the Skopje Declaration – which brought together more than a dozen European CMOs, film institutions, authors and diplomats in a unified call for fair remuneration, legal certainty and European-aligned copyright practice in North Macedonia. The Ambassador welcomed the clear direction set by the declaration and emphasized Spain’s long-standing commitment to the protection of creators and cultural workers.

The discussion also reflected on the deepening cooperation between AZAS and its Spanish sister societies, DAMA and AISGE, both of which maintain strong reputations within Europe’s collective management landscape. The Ambassador noted with satisfaction that DAMA actively contributed to one of the panels during the Skopje Seminar, reaffirming Spain’s engagement in the regional conversation on authors’ rights.

Both sides underscored that copyright is not only a cultural issue but also a matter of rule of law, economic development and institutional credibility. Effective collective management, they agreed, enables transparent revenue flows, supports sustainable creative careers and forms an essential component of a modern and professional audiovisual sector. Mr. Gjozev reiterated that AZAS stands fully prepared to operate within this framework and is committed to continuing its alignment with European standards and best practices.

Reflecting on the meeting, Secretary General Kiril Gjozev stated:

“It is encouraging to see such clear support from the Spanish Embassy. Ambassador Soriano Ortiz understands the importance of strong institutions and the economic value that copyright brings to society. Our cooperation with Spain – with DAMA, AISGE and the Embassy – strengthens the wider movement toward fairness, legality and a sustainable creative industry in North Macedonia.”

Mr. Gjozev also drew attention to the longstanding procedural blockade that continues to prevent the approval of AZAS’s tariff – the final step needed for the organization to begin collecting and distributing royalties. He underlined that this unresolved issue not only affects Macedonian creators, but also directly impacts Spanish audiovisual authors, performers and producers, whose works are widely consumed in North Macedonia. In this context, he kindly asked for the Embassy’s support in encouraging progress toward resolving the matter.

AZAS expresses its sincere appreciation to Ambassador Rafael Soriano Ortiz for his openness, support and commitment to cultural cooperation. The organization looks forward to deepening its collaboration with Spain and continuing the shared mission of safeguarding authors’ rights and strengthening the audiovisual sector in North Macedonia and the region.