SAO delegation headed by Auditor General Maksim Acevski, Deputy Auditor General Orhan Ademi, Secretary General Aleksandar Popovski and a team of state auditors carried out bilateral visit to the SAI to the Republic of Türkiye.

During the bilateral visit, Auditor General Maksim Acevski and the President of the Turkish Court of Accounts (TCA) Mr. Metin Yener signed an Annex to the cooperation agreement between SAO and TCA from 2018. The Annex affirms the preparedness of both SAIs to strengthen and expand mutual cooperation, particularly in the field of audit of UN SDGs and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in audit.

Representatives of both SAIs held successful multi-day workshop for exchange of knowledge and experience on previously selected topics on several areas of the state audit:

• Implementation of UN SDGs;
• Planning, execution, reporting and monitoring of implementation of recommendations - audit of financial statements;
• Introduction of the new ISSAI on quality management in financial audit and formation of an audit opinion.

For this purpose, TCA made available the most experienced state auditors with appropriate knowledge to present and lead a technical (expert) discussion with SAO auditors.

During the official visit, SAO management held meetings with TCA President Mr. Yener. Mr. Acevski expressed gratitude for the invitation for the bilateral visit and confirmed the preparedness to start the process of joint preparation and creation of an Action Plan for assistance in building SAO capacities with support of TCA through joint audits, seminars, workshops and internships for SAO employees.

As it was indicated during the meetings, TCA, which belongs to the group of largest SAIs within INTOSAI community, remains the main supporter and protector of SAO interests in all international processes at INTOSAI level. In that context, SAO was offered and gratefully accepted to be included as an observer within the professional development activities of ASOSAI, where TCA has a major role in the management of this organization.

In addition, SAO management held a meeting with the President of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) Mr. Serkan Kayalard. Auditor General expressed sincere gratitude for the financial and logistical support of TIKA in the implementation of the bilateral visit to TCA and inquired about support for the implementation of the Action Plan for strengthening SAO capacities with TCA and for all other activities that will be jointly agreed upon in the upcoming period.

During July, the abovementioned Action Plan for strengthening SAO capacities with TCA will be finalized and then approved by both SAIs in coordination with TIKA.

Link to the Macedonian version of the Annex:
https://dzr.mk/sites/default/files/2023-06/Aneks_dogovor_sorabotka_DZR_…

Link to the Turkish version of the Annex:
https://dzr.mk/sites/default/files/2023-06/Aneks_dogovor_sorabotka_DZR_…

Link to the English version of the Annex:
https://dzr.mk/sites/default/files/2023-06/Aneks_dogovor_sorabotka_DZR_…