Skopje, 12 July 2023 (MIA) — Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani met for the first time with newly appointed Greek Minister of State Giorgos Gerapetritis on the sidelines of the NATO Vilnius Summit.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release, the two foreign ministers discussed bilateral relations and stronger sectoral cooperation of the two neighboring states and partners, highlighting cooperation in energy and gas connection.

Regarding the European future of North Macedonia and of the Western Balkan region, Minister Gerapetritis reaffirmed the support and clear positions of official Athens.

"Greece continues to be a solid partner of our country and the region in our efforts to successfully complete our accession process to the European Union as soon as possible," Minister Osmani is quoted as saying in the release.

The two ministers also stressed the importance of the Prespa Agreement for bilateral ties, the need of boosting cooperation in line with the accompanying action plan as well as the need of ratifying remaining documents signed between the two states.

According to MIA's Athens correspondent, the Greek MFA via Twitter said Gerapetritis and Osmani had a "fruitful discussion on strengthening bilateral relations, including the full and consistent implementation of the Prespa Agreement, and the Western Balkans' EU perspective."

This was Osmani's first meeting with Gerapetritis, who recently became the head of diplomacy in the new Greek government. The two ministers had a telephone conversation last week. mr/