Czech Embassy hosts conference on enlargement possibilities
Skopje, 20 October 2022 (MIA) – The Czech Embassy in North Macedonia is organizing on Thursday a conference on enlargement possibilities, as part of a series of events co-organized with the Czech Embassy in Bulgaria and aimed at improving good neighborly relations and dialogue between Skopje and Sofia, as well as opportunities for strengthening economic cooperation.
Czech Ambassador Jaroslav Ludva, EU Ambassador David Geer, Swedish Ambassador Ami Larsson-Jain, Spanish Ambassador Jose Luis Lozano Garcia, and Slovak Ambassador Henrik Markuš are set to address the conference.
In addition, Japanese Ambassador Hironori Sawada, Chief Economist at Czech Trinity Bank Lukáš Kovanda, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to North Macedonia Steffen Hudolin, as well as Director of the Economic Programme of the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) Rslan Stefanov will participate in two panel discussions as part of the conference.
Czech Ambassador to the country, Jaroslav Ludva, whose country currently holds the EU Presidency, told reporters on Friday that the Czech Republic has always been a strong supporter of North Macedonia on its European path, pointing out that EU negotiations are a long and difficult process, with reforms being the basis of this process, and no progress can be made on the EU path if the country doesn’t implement them.
Ludva said the Czech Embassy will organize several conferences on North Macedonia and good neighborly relations, particularly to improve the dialogue with Bulgaria, together with the Czech Embassy in Sofia.
“We will hold several conferences, one in Skopje, one in Sofia, and one in the border towns of Petrich and Strumica, focused on improving the dialogue, better neighborly relations, exchange of experience with Bulgaria, the advantages of the common market between the two neighboring countries, particularly in the field of trade and investment,” said Ludva.
The first conference was held in Sofia on Monday, the second one is taking place in Skopje today, and the next two conferences will be held in Petrich on October 31 and Strumica on November 1.
Ludva said he expects the conferences to bring better mutual understanding, good neighborly relations, and particularly exchange of experience in several areas. The focus will be put on mutual cooperation between non-governmental institutions. Asked what would he say of the current relations between Skopje and Sofia, Ludva said nothing in the world is perfect, but everything can always be better, adding that he sees room for cooperation, and attempts will be made to improve it even further.
