Skopje, 17 June 2022 (MIA) - President Stevo Pendarovski held a bilateral meeting with UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, as part of the Prespa Forum Dialogue in Ohrid on Friday. Talks reaffirmed North Macedonia’s strong commitment and contribution to multilateralism. Pendarovski expressed support for the vision of global cooperation and effective multilateralism translated in the report of Secretary General Guterres "Our Common Agenda", agreeing with DiCarlo that unity and close cooperation between countries is needed to achieve the goal of ensuring progress in peace, dignity, equality. This is especially relevant in the current context of the military aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the President’s office said in a press release. He stressed the country's readiness to support the reform processes initiated by the UN Secretary General in the context of conflict prevention, sustainable development and governance reforms. The President thanked the UN for its focus on the Western Balkans and welcomed the current UN-supported regional youth project aimed at strengthening social cohesion and regional cooperation in the context of EU integration in the Western Balkan countries. The President stressed that the continuous UN engagement in North Macedonia contributes to strengthening the country's capacity in key sectors and to the implementation of the reform agenda in the context of the EU integration process. DiCarlo expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the Prespa Forum Dialogue, organized under the auspices of President Pendarovski. She stressed the temporary acceptance of Afghan citizens in the country during the withdrawal of international representatives from Afghanistan, assessing it as a particularly humane gesture that is highly valued at the UN. She also reaffirmed the UN’s positive attitude towards this country, given the demonstrated constructiveness and political will to resolve issues through dialogue and negotiations, as well as the country’s activities within the Organization. dk/nn/