Brussels, 19 September 2024 (MIA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Timcho Mucunski, who is accompanying Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski on a working visit to Brussels, met Thursday with NATO’s outgoing Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, at the Alliance’s headquarters.

As Minister Mucunski shared on his Facebook profile, during the meeting with Stoltenberg, he expressed personal gratitude for Stoltenberg’s outstanding contribution to Euro-Atlantic security and presented him with a plaque in recognition of his achievements.

“I highlighted his leadership during turbulent times, which greatly strengthened and modernized the Alliance, making it more credible and better equipped to preserve peace and stability,” Mucunski said in the post.

He also added that during the conversation, he emphasized Stoltenberg's important support for our membership and his personal efforts in promoting peace in the Western Balkans, as well as his commitment to NATO’s open-door policy, which is crucial for regional stability. 

Our NATO membership is a long-term strategic commitment and contributes to the strengthening of collective security, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski said in his remarks at a reception organized Wednesday at the Brussels NATO headquarters to mark the country's Independence Day, Sept. 8.

FM Mucunski spoke about the challenges the country was facing on its European path. He said commitment to implementing reforms was essential to the country's reaching EU standards.

On the country's EU membership prospects, Mucunski said integrating the countries of the Western Balkans into the bloc was important not only for the country's stability but also for the stability of the entire region.

In his remarks, Mucunski reiterated the state's strong support for Ukraine, adding that the country, as a responsible partner, remained committed to the common values ​​of the Alliance and to global peacekeeping efforts.

Today, Mucinski, together with the Minister for European Affairs, Orhan Murtezani, will accompany Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski in meetings with the EU Council President Charles Michel, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi, and Director-General of the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations Gert Jan Koopman.

Mickoski, along with leaders from other Western Balkan countries, attended a working lunch organized by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, at noon. The main topics of discussion were mutual cooperation and the EU's Growth Plan for the region.

Photo: FB