Skopje, 1 November 2023 (MIA) – We’ve received strong political support from the U.S. Department of State in terms of the realization of the planned projects, considering the fact they will contribute to the further promotion of democratic processes, the strengthening of institutions, and encourage the reform processes, thereby guaranteeing the overall progress of the country, said Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani at the Forum for Strategic Dialogue between the Republic of North Macedonia and the United States of America, hosted by the Macedonian American Alumni Association.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in his address Osmani stressed that the Strategic Dialogue has transformed into a serious platform that aims to promote the strategic partnership between the two countries with a concrete plan of activates, i.e., concrete projects for cooperation in defense, economy, education, transport, energy, climate change, democratic development, fight against corruption, rule of law, trade, and other areas.

At the Forum, which was also attended by the Deputy Prime Minister for European affairs Bojan Marichikj, Culture Minister Bisera Kostadinovska-Stojchevska, the U.S. Ambassador in Skopje, Angela Aggeler, as well as the President of the Macedonian American Alumni Association, Verica Jordanova, Osmani touched upon the cooperation in education.

“I would also like to voice great satisfaction with the support of the United States for the numerous scholarships for several academic, professional and cultural exchange programs, such as: Fulbright; Hubert H. Humphrey; Kennedy – Lugar Youth Exchange and Study; Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Summer Institute, as well as others,” said the Foreign Minister.

On June 2, 2022, in Washington, Osmani and the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, launched the dialogue making North Macedonia the first of the six Western Balkan countries to kick off the process.

Photo: MFA