Skopje, 10 June 2024 (MIA) - Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi held a meeting Monday with the United States Ambassador to North Macedonia, Angela P. Aggeler, during which they noted the longstanding and firm relations between the two countries and highlighted the importance of maintaining and further strengthening them, Parliament said in a press release.

At the meeting, Gashi expressed gratitude over the continued US support for North Macedonia which is valued highly in the country, the press release said, pointing to the strategic partnership and strategic dialogue between the two governments as a firm pillar of bilateral cooperation.

Speaker Gashi said North Macedonia and the US play a very important role in the promotion of regional stability and cooperation between the Western Balkan countries. In that context, he informed the Ambassador that Parliament is chairing the South-East European Cooperation Process Parliamentary Assembly (SEECP PA) which will hold its 11th Plenary Session in Parliament on June 18-20, 2024, “as yet another sign of the country’s commitment to the enhancement regional cooperation”. 

The Speaker also thanked the Ambassador for the continued US support for North Macedonia’s Euro-Atlantic integration efforts, as well as for the significant assistance in the promotion of the country’s political processes, the press release said.

According to the press release, Ambassador Aggeler noted that Parliament is one of the most important institutions in the country and voiced satisfaction over the successful presidential and parliamentary elections which were fair, free and democratic.

“The Ambassador reaffirmed the US readiness to enhance the bilateral relations as well as the expectations that the implementation of reforms in the country continues with the goal of rule of law, judicial reform, as well as fighting crime and corruption,” the press release said.

Gashi and Aggeler, according to the press release, agreed that greater focus should be paid on economic issues in the future in order to improve the living standard of all citizens, to improve the educational system and attract more foreign investments so the country can progress on its European path and overcome all difficult challenges it faces. 

Photo: Parliament