Skopje, 16 September 2021 (MIA) – Defense Minister Radmila Shekerinska started on Thursday her several-day working visit to the United States, which is a first visit by a representative of North Macedonia’s government since President Biden came to office. Shekerinska said that during the visit she will convey messages that are important for North Macedonia, and reaffirm the intensive, strategic partnership and alliance between the two countries, the Ministry of Defense said in a press release. “The first such message is that as a country we have shown, even after our NATO membership, we are an ally that both NATO and the United States can count on,” said Minister Shekerinska. She stressed that the cooperation is today entering a new phase, where the two countries as allies in the Alliance discuss topics that are important for the countries, as well as the region and the world. The Minister said that during the meetings with U.S. officials at the Pentagon and at the State Department she would call for the new U.S. administration led by President Biden to keep focus and interest in the Balkans, and seek strong support from the United States to intensify North Macedonia’s European path. “Only a complete Europe, only a united Europe, only Balkans integrated in Europe can guarantee security of the whole region, and that is also the goal of NATO and the European Union and of all of us who are part of the Euro-Atlantic family,” the Minister said in a video address.