Skopje, 30 November 2023 (MIA) — Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski had a tete-a-tete meeting Thursday with Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien, according to an official press release.

Their meeting was followed by a bilateral meeting also attended by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Political System and Inter-Community Relations Artan Grubi, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Economic Affairs, Coordination of Economic Sectors and Investments Fatmiri Bytyqi, Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj, Minister of Defense Slavjanka Petrovska and Deputy Minister of Justice Viktorija Avramovska Madikj.

The meeting welcomed the constructive role of North Macedonia as chair of the OSCE as well as the country's contribution to peace in the region and the world, the release says.

"Prime Minister Kovachevski and US Assistant Secretary of State O'Brien confirmed the great friendship between North Macedonia and the US, based on mutual trust," the release adds, stressing the importance of the strategic partnership with the USA in the further development of the country.

Meeting participants noted that political stability is of key importance in the ongoing reform processes.

The country, the release points out, is at a pivotal moment of reaching "the European quality of life that Macedonian citizens deserve, a functional implementation of the rule of law and an improved legal institutional framework as part of the negotiations process with the EU."

According to the release, the conclusion of the meeting was that the country's political leaders and all stakeholders should carefully consider the importance of North Macedonia taking the next step on the road to the EU to ensure the country's European future.

"This step is expected from North Macedonia as a contribution to democratic progress and to the perspectives of the entire Western Balkans, and in the interest of the European continent's stability and security," the release adds. mr/