Skopje, 30 August 2022 (MIA) – Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani met Tuesday with United States Deputy Assistant Secretary and Special Representative to the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, at the sidelines of the Bled Strategic Forum, expressing satisfaction from the recent North Macedonia-U.S. Strategic Dialogue that is already producing preliminary results in the form of grants for strengthening the rule of law, culture and defense. “The strategic dialogue provides a precisely defined framework for further development of bilateral relations, whereas the strategic partnership is further strengthened. We are committed to defining the future activities arising from the strategic dialogue and aim to strengthen the reform processes and guarantee the country’s democratic progress and prosperity,” said FM Osmani. Osmani and Escobar referred to North Macedonia’s Euro-integration processes with a focus on the recent start of the EU accession negotiations, a step that represents a significant investment in the stability and progress of the region, especially in the context of the current security challenges, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release. Interlocutors also saluted the countries’ alliance in NATO, highlighting the support to Ukraine and the common pledge for defense of the modern democratic principles and values while strongly condemning the Russian military invasion.