Skopje, 7 May 2022 (MIA) – Given the excellent cooperation with the United States and the continued strong support, as well as the numerous initiatives in all social sectors, we believe the time is ripe to step up relations to a new level, which is to translate the statement of strategic partnership with the United States into a process of strategic dialogue, i.e. a focused process of implementation, prioritization, and monitoring, Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani told Saturday’s press conference. Osmani pointed out that on this day, 14 years ago, a declaration on strategic partnership with the US was signed, stepping up the relations between the two countries to yet another new level of strategic partnership which has culminated with the support for the country’s NATO membership in 2020. According to the Minister, such partnership has been characterized by great closeness, mutual trust and a multitude of projects and initiatives to support institutions at home in creating a functioning multi-ethnic democracy, as well as in all other sectors. The two governments, Osmani continued, will start this process in Washington on June 2, as recognition of the country’s achievements in general, as well as in the relations with the US. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will lead the process of strategic dialogue on our part, and the whole Government will be part of the process within the thematic priorities we set in these talks. Since we’re making the preparations in the meantime, there’s an inter-ministerial working group which includes ministers in the areas identified as most important – the rule of law, political relations, anti-corruption as one segment, cooperation in defence, cyber protection, economic cooperation, investments, creation of market economy, cooperation in energy, and other topics as part of multilateral cooperation that we have divided into thematic units,” Osmani said.. The dialogue on North Macedonia’s part will be led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and on the part of the United States it will be the State Department. “We set as important priorities the cooperation in energy, and it was also very important to open with the United States the topic of defence, cyber protection, security, as well as concrete initiatives in culture, education, movement of our citizens in the US and vice versa,” said Osmani.