Belgrade, 5 September 2024 (MIA) - Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević met late Wednesday with a Macedonian delegation led by Deputy PM and Minister for Community Relations Ivan Stoiljkovikj, Deputy PM and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski, MIA reports from Belgrade.

The meeting focused on bilateral political and economic cooperation, Open Balkan and high-speed rail between countries' capitals Belgrade and Skopje.

"Today's visit shows the level of excellent bilateral relations and is an excellent opportunity to define the next joint steps and activities. Discussions tackled the participation of the Macedonian economy in EXPO 2027 and the initiative for joint government sessions and cooperation at third markets. We also discussed enhancement of activities within the Open Balkan initiative, agreeing that intensification of economic cooperation contributes to regional peace and stability," Deputy PM Stoiljkovikj told a press conference.

He also referred to the construction of Corridor X between Belgrade and Skopje.

"The tender in Macedonian Railways is set to close this week and then we can realize what we promised - an operational railway within Corridor X. The new Government and Minister Nikoloski are paying large attention to this corridor, but other corridors as well. Macedonia intends to join the project for construction of a high-speed rail over the next 5-6 years, linking Thessaloniki, Skopje, Nis, Belgrade, Budapest and Austria," said Stoiljkovikj.

Serbian PM Vučević said both countries have many things in common, there are no open issues and "it is up to us to improve these ties, work towards strengthening the Western Balkans and join the EU, so that we are not left as the appendix amid this geopolitical context".

According to him, North Macedonia has implemented difficult reforms, which is something to be valued.

"We should set up a joint committee for economic cooperation, sign a memorandum on the gas interconnector, work on a unified software for swift border checks, cooperate within the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA), but most importantly maintain peace in the Western Balkans," said Vučević.

He congratulated the new Government of North Macedonia and highlighted the fact that an ethnic Serb has been appointed as Deputy PM.

"We thank Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski for this and we are waiting to welcome him in Belgrade," added the Serbian PM.

On Thursday, the Macedonian delegation is set to meet with Finance Minister Siniša Mali and Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović.

Photo: MIA