Skopje, 6 July 2023 (MIA) - Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski held Thursday a tête-à-tête meeting with his Albanian counterpart Edi Rama, for talks focusing on the prospects and benefits of the Berlin Process, European Union integration, as well as the importance of further strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two neighboring countries, which are NATO members.

Kovachevski and Rama agreed that the European integration processes of both countries and the importance of an unwavering commitment is crucial at a time of strong geopolitical turmoil, so that the two countries can join the EU as full-fledged members by 2030, the Government said in a press release. 

The tête-à-tête meeting was followed by a bilateral meeting alongside the governments' delegations. 

The Macedonian delegation included First Deputy PM and Minister of Political System and Inter-Community Relations, Artan Grubi, Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj, Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Fatmir Bytyqi, Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani, Defense Minister Slavjanka Petrovska, Justice Minister Krenar Lloga, as well as Culture Minister Bisera Kostadinovska-Stojchevska. 

The Albanian delegation included Defense Minister Niko Peleshi, Minister of State and Chief Negotiator for Albania with the EU, Majlinda Duka, as well as Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Ministers of Albania, Elira Kokona. 

"Participants in the meeting jointly concluded that the Western Balkan countries, including Albania and North Macedonia, have serious work ahead, because the time has come when essential achievements will have to be delivered in terms of improving capacities, efficiency and competitiveness of the economies and the region as a whole, which will lead to swift regional economic growth and development," reads the press release. 

Therefore, the goal is to boost cooperation and regional connection between the Western Balkan countries, precisely through the Berlin process. 

Interlocutors agreed the position was clear that the EU will not be complete and successful until the Western Balkans join the EU. In addition, the meeting underlined that the Berlin Process was not a substitute for EU membership, but a process that will ensure faster integration of the countries in the region.

"Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski stressed that the Berlin Process, the Open Balkan, as well as other regional initiatives including RCC, CEFTA, CEI, SEECP, are complementary to each other, and each of them is only an additional benefit for citizens and businesses. He added that our actions within each of them should be extremely committed, because each of them is a step forward towards the European path," the press release adds.

Talks also tackled the situation in the neighboring countries, with the Macedonian delegation led by PM Kovachevski calling for de-escalation of the situation with Kosovo and Serbia and implementation of the internationally undertaken obligations on both sides, i.e. implementation of the agreement that Serbia and Kosovo reached on February 27 in Brussels, as well as the agreement reached in Ohrid on the path to normalization of relations.

As regards the cooperation between North Macedonia and Albania, interlocutors pointed out that Thursday's meeting was yet another reaffirmation of the good bilateral cooperation, within eight months since the joint government session whereat North Macedonia and Albania signed agreements and memoranda to deepen cooperation. 

The upward trend of trade with Albania has a tendency for further growth. In 2022, exports from North Macedonia to Albania stood at over EUR 102 million, which is a 7 percent increase compared to 2021 and a 40 percent increase compared to 2019.

"As NATO allies, the two countries are firmly committed to promoting and sharing common values, responsibility towards NATO and contributing to international peace operations, sharing common views regarding developments at regional and multilateral level for peace and stability in the region," reads the Government's press release. 

Photo: Government of the Republic of North Macedonia

Video: Government of the Republic of North Macedonia