Skopje, 21 November 2023 (MIA) - Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who is paying an official visit to North Macedonia on Tuesday, held a tête-à-tête meeting, followed by a bilateral meeting between the two delegations.

The meeting, which was also attended by Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani, Defence Minister Slavjanka Petrovska and Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski, reaffirmed North Macedonia's role as a valued NATO ally, a member state that significantly contributes to the achievement of NATO's goals and remains committed to participating in its operations and missions, the Government said in a press release.

Talks highlighted concrete political and economic benefits to the country from its NATO membership, adds the press release. PM Kovachevski stressed that the stability and security, made possible through the NATO membership, are of huge importance to the development of the economy, and are of direct benefit to both citizens and companies in North Macedonia.

"Interlocutors pointed out that it is extremely important for both the country and region that North Macedonia, which is on an equal footing with its allies, actively participates in discussions on regional, European and global security, sharing its specific approach to constructively resolving challenges through open dialogue, as a basis for building and developing good neighborly ties," the press release reads.

In 2020, North Macedonia became the 30th member state of NATO - the most powerful Alliance in the world. Together with other member states, it ensures the peace and stability of about one billion people in the world who share the same values, the press release adds. ssh/nn/

Photo: Government of the Republic of North Macedonia