Skopje, 12 January 2024 (MIA) - Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj welcomed Friday Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who is on official visit to North Macedonia.

"Today I welcomed the Prime Minister of Ireland Leo Varadkar to Skopje. PM Varadkar is on a visit to North Macedonia as part of his plan to visit three EU candidate-countries from the region. His visit to the Western Balkans comes at a time as we are continuing EU enlargement negotiations," Marichikj said, assessing the visit as a positive signal for the European perspective of the region and country.

The Secretariat for European Affairs said in a press release that interlocutors will discuss "local and regional security issues", as well as the ongoing EU membership process.

"Interlocutors will share experience and knowledge on how to join EU faster, and discuss the reforms needed to join EU, "the challenges of the Western Balkans," the war in Ukraine and Gaza, etc." the press release adds.

In addition to Deputy PM Marichikj, PM Varadkar will also meet with President Stevo Pendarovski, and PM Dimitar Kovachevski, after which a joint press conference is planned. ssh/sk

Photo: The Secretariat for European Affairs