Skopje, 21 November 2022 (MIA) - Continuation and promotion of cooperation between North Macedonia and Sweden, especially during next year's Swedish EU Presidency and expectations for strong support from Stockholm to Skopje's European integration processes were the focus of the talks at Monday's meeting between Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski with the new Swedish Ambassador Ami Larsson Jain. The Prime Minister wished the new Ambassador a successful mission and expressed his satisfaction for the excellent bilateral cooperation between the two countries, as well as the strengthened political and friendly ties, the Government said in a press release. PM Kovachevski emphasized that the country is focused on prosperity and this can only be achieved with good neighborly relations and a European future. Ambassador Larsson Jain congratulated North Macedonia on the start of negotiations with the EU and pointed out that the country has prepared teams that lead the screening process. During the conversation, the PM expressed gratitude for the Swedish support to strengthen institutional capacities in the area of democracy, rule of law and environment protection, which are also part of the screening process. It was also emphasized that the Republic of North Macedonia, as a NATO member, supports Sweden's accession to Alliance. In May, the Government approved the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO. The membership of Sweden and Finland in NATO is a contribution to strengthened security and stability in Europe, especially in the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine, which has led to changes in European security policy. On August 22, North Macedonia deposited the instrument of ratification of the Protocol to NATO for the accession of Sweden and Finland to the US State Department, reads the press release. dk/ik/