Skopje, 13 October 2021 (MIA) – North Macedonia’s President Stevo Pendarovski on the sidelines of Wednesday’s International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism “Remember – React” in Malmo, met with Portugal’s Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva, discussing possibilities for the country’s progress in the European integration, ahead of the European Union meetings by the end of this year. Extending gratitude for Portugal’s support so far and its constructive proposals on overcoming Bulgaria’s blockade, President Pendarovski underlined that a prolonged stalemate in the EU enlargement process would have long-term negative consequences on the development and stability of the entire region. He expressed expectation that Portugal’s support will intensify in the coming period, his office said in a press release. “Pendarovski and Santos Silva expressed expectation that even during Slovenia’s EU Presidency a step forward will be made in North Macedonia’s EU accession process,” reads the press release. In this regard, it adds, Pendarovski stressed that Portugal’s support in the process of North Macedonia’s EU accession, particularly in the field of environmental protection, administration reforms and agriculture is welcome. In addition, Pendarovski and Santos Silva discussed bilateral relations, voicing readiness to promote overall relations, as well as the development of political dialogue at the highest level. The two also stressed the need to strengthen cooperation in economy, the press release reads.