Skopje, 1 July 2023 (MIA) – Due to its comprehensiveness, the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) represents an excellent platform for political dialogue, where regional issues can be addressed at the highest level, thereby paving the way for a quicker European and Euro-Atlantic integration of the region, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani at a press conference Saturday marking the beginning of the country’s SEECP Chairpersonship.

The slogan of the country’s chairpersonship of the initiative is “Bridging Divisions, Building Trust”.

With the goal of a timely, coordinated and successful preparation and realization of the chairpersonship, the Government will form a working group, which will be headed and coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and will define the program and the calendar of activities, while also being responsible for their implementation during the one-year chairpersonship.

“My firm commitment, which I am promoting in my role as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office as well, is to jointly pave a path of opportunities provided by dialogue, a step forward in relation to the past, and the overcoming of open disputes. North Macedonia is already leading this path through the Ohrid Framework Agreement, the Friendship Treaty, the Prespa Agreement, as well as the solution for the removal of the blockade of our EU accession path last July, as evidence of our commitment to this original European cause,” said Osmani.

North Macedonia assumes the Chairpersonship of the initiative, while it is chairing two other organizations – OSCE and the Adriatic Charter (A5).

“Currently the region faces three exceptionally important, separate, yet intertwined processes. One is the need for EU integration without delay, for which I can conclude that there is a never before seen dynamics within the EU to accelerate this process. Then, there is also the complex geopolitical situation on the European continent related to the Russian military aggression in Ukraine, and the unsolved bilateral disputes in the region. All three elements, directly impact the dynamics of the overall developments in the region,” said Osmani.

The other priorities of the country’s chairpersonship of the SEECP, according to the FM, will be: strengthening of democracy, fundamental rights and values, rule of law, anti-corruption, security and stability, respect for international rule-based order, tackling climate challenges and encouraging green growth, joint construction of trans-European transport corridors, sustainable development in the region by encouraging trade, investments in human capital, strengthening competitiveness in the private sector, and the stimulation of a digital transformation focused on people.

The Foreign Minister said the North Macedonia’s SEECP Chairpersonship will represent an opportunity for further affirmation of North Macedonia.

Photo: MIA