Skopje, 17 June 2022 (MIA) - North Macedonia-United States relations have continually improved, as confirmed by the launch of the Strategic Dialogue in Washington at the onset of June, agreed Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, Gabriel Escobar, who is also the Special Representative for the Western Balkans, at the sidelines of the Prespa Forum Dialogue in Ohrid on Friday. North Macedonia is the first country in the Western Balkans to start the Strategic Dialogue process with the U.S. as the next advanced stage in the political and economic cooperation through identification of new projects and initiatives in mutual interest, the Government said in a press release. Kovachevski and Escobar discussed current global developments, the crisis caused by the Russian military aggression in Ukraine, which is entirely unjustified and unprovoked, while posing a serious threat to international security. PM Kovachevski said North Macedonia has continued to demonstrate its commitment to NATO-led operations and acceleration of its EU integration, while Deputy Assistant Secretary Escobar highlighted the necessity for an urgent start of the EU accession negotiations and highlighted U.S. support in reaching a mutually acceptable solution in the bilateral issues with Bulgaria. Interlocutors agreed that any further delay of the process would result in serious regional consequences and give rise to influences by third parties. In addition, Escobar said the U.S. fully supported the Open Balkan initiative, seen as exceptionally important for regional development and speeding up European integration of the Western Balkans, reads the press release.