Dutch PM Rutte arrives in Skopje
Skopje, 10 November 2021 (MIA) – Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has arrived in Skopje for talks with his counterpart Zoran Zaev, where he was welcomed with highest state honors.
Rutte, who is the first Dutch prime minister that is paying a visit to North Macedonia, was greeted at the Skopje airport by Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Nikola Dimitrov.
The visit takes place in the spirit of good bilateral ties between the Netherlands and North Macedonia and in the context of the Netherlands’ commitment to unconditional start of EU negotiations, reaffirmed at the EU-Western Balkans summit in Slovenia, the Secretariat for European Affairs said.
“As a country with strict approach to objective evaluation of accession criteria, especially rule of law, the Netherlands’ support, demonstrated through today’s visit, is a confirmation that North Macedonia by remaining committed to the European reform agenda is fully prepared to open negotiations,” said the press release.