New York, 22 September 2025 (MIA) - A meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative was organized by the Republic of North Macedonia, which holds the one-year Presidency for the 2025-2026 period, on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Monday. 

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski said this is a significant regional initiative that brings together several countries from Europe, not only from the Balkan region, MIA reports from New York. Among them is Italy, he noted, which is a member of this initiative and participates in its work.

"It is our pleasure to start the working week at the General Assembly with our hosted event. This year we hold the Presidency of this initiative. We will be able to discuss issues related to mutual economic ties, issues related to European integration, youth, culture and everything that is important for our country to position itself well on the international stage. We are also pleased that we are the political hosts, while our hosts are popular Macedonians and successful businessmen who have a chain of several restaurants in the U.S. And this is, among other things, an opportunity for us, in addition to promoting the country, to promote successful Macedonian businessmen in the United States," Mucunski said in a statement on the meeting. 

Minister of European Affairs Orhan Murtezani, who is also part of the state delegation led by President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova to the UN General Assembly, stressed that the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative gives additional weight and dynamics to the country's European integration.

"The Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, together with the Adriatic-Ionian Strategy, of which our country holds the Presidency this year, are very important for North Macedonia's European integration process, because together with all candidate countries in the region and several member states, we are sitting at the same table and further intensifying cooperation on certain topics, such as tourism, transport and other topics that aim to connect at a regional level first, between the candidate countries and the member states from the region, and further with the EU single market. Such initiatives are welcome because they give additional weight and additional speed to our European integration process," Minister Murtezani said. 

Under the motto “Strengthening Regional Unity, Advancing the European Future”, the Macedonian Presidency reaffirms its commitment to deepening integration and cooperation between members and their ties with the European Union. Mucunski stressed the need for a credible EU enlargement process, noting that the Western Balkans must remain a strategic part of the European future.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the event represents a historic moment reaffirming shared commitment to regional cooperation, European integration and constructive multilateralism.

In this context, the meeting presented the priorities of the Macedonian Presidency: strengthening EU integration and regional trust, digital transformation, better infrastructure connection, cultural cooperation and youth support.

At a time of global uncertainty, participants in the meeting sent a clear message: "Unity is our strength, European integration - a common goal."

Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade / print screen