Skopje, 12 July 2023 (MIA) – Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj met with the Ambassador Jim O'Brien, Head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination at the US State Department, and nominee for Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, and discussed current processes led by North Macedonia and its role in preserving regional stability.

Deputy PM Marichikj underscored that the unequivocal and friendly US support has played an important role in preserving stability and multi-ethnic character of the Macedonian society, as well as in achieving the strategic goal - NATO membership. In this regard, Marichikj voiced expectation that the fruitful cooperation between the two countries will continue in the EU integration process, as well as in the implementation of the reform agenda, the Secretariat for European Affairs (SEA) said in a press release.

Ambassador O'Brien, who has significant experience in the Western Balkan region, said that North Macedonia must remain steadfast in fulfilling the vision for the EU and is making excellent progress on its way to securing the European perspective, which will make it a key factor for regional stability and the definition of new European borders.

Marichikj thanked O'Brien that the United States recognizes our leadership and appreciates the commitment to the reforms which, as he said, "we must continue more dynamically, with a special focus on the rule of law and the fight against corruption, as the key prerequisite for progress in the European integration.”

“The interlocutors agreed that the trust and union we have in NATO, together with the strategic partnership, have improved the relations between the two countries and strengthened the readiness of the US administration to provide strong support to North Macedonia in negotiations with the EU, aimed at reaching the European values faster and achieving our strategic goal,” reads the press release.

Considering the importance of the EU negotiation process for the prosperity and development of the region, Marichikj expressed his satisfaction with the attention that the USA is paying to the Western Balkans, with the assurance that the Government will make every effort to keep North Macedonia a positive example and promoter of Euro-Atlantic values in the region, reads the press release.

While in Washington, Marichikj, accompanied by SEA state secretary Drita Abdiu Halili, will also meet with Gabriel Escobar, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs and Special Representative to the Western Balkans.

Photo: SEA