Skopje, 23 November 2022 (MIA) – Minister of Interior Oliver Spasovski met Wednesday with Austrian Federal Minister of Interior Gerhard Karner as part of his working visit to Vienna, saying the meeting reaffirms the traditionally good cooperation between the two ministries and countries, especially after the implementation of the bilateral agreement on police cooperation. “Police cooperation regularly takes place through information exchange, expert meetings, joint projects, within the framework of the operational cooperation with Frontex, as well as within some international initiatives, platforms and partnerships,” said Spasovski. Spasovski expressed his gratitude for the participation of Austrian police officers in the joint operations at the southern border, which, he said, significantly contributed to the capacities of the Macedonian border police and in the fight against illegal migration and migrant smuggling, the Ministry of Interior said in a press release. “The joint operation was of immense help and support, and stood out as one of the most successful operations of its kind, since over 20,000 illegal attempts to cross the border are prevented every year, 90 percent of which are at the southern border,” said Minister Spasovski. Spasovski expressed his gratitude for the commitment of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Interior to the implementation of the initiative for a “Joint Coordination Platform” which has the potential to assume a leading role in the coordination of activities for efficient prevention of illegal migration. “The initiative identifies the needs in key areas, at the same time recognizing the regional approach and the development of relations with the origin countries as necessary for the establishment of a sustainable return migration, and it focuses on the various forms of return migration and its different phases,” said Spasovski. Regarding bilateral cooperation, Minister Spasovski underscored it is often reflected in the joint action in international organizations of which both countries and ministries are members. “There is also the cooperation within the International Centre for Migration Policy Development, as part of which, North Macedonia’s initiative to establish cooperation with the migrant origin countries is awaiting implementation,” said Minister Spasovski. He added that as a transit region, it is necessary for North Macedonia and other countries of the Western Balkans to formalize their cooperation with the Silk Road countries in order to ensure the return of migrants as a key prerequisite for an efficient border security system. “This is one of the biggest challenges for us since we lack readmission agreements with the majority of the origin countries, largely due to the lack of diplomatic communication. We hope that after the initial establishment of contact and the presentation of the problems faced by the origin countries and the transit countries, we will be able to find a common solution and manage to negotiate and sign readmission agreements,” said Spasovski. The MoI expressed his personal gratitude for the Austrian support of North Macedonia both at a political and an operational level, with the hope that mutual support and cooperation would help both countries to tackle organized crime and all other types of crime they face. Minister Karner welcomed the excellent cooperation between the two ministries and expressed his confidence it will intensify in the upcoming period. He expressed gratitude to the joint teams of police officers at the border with Greece, for their commitment in the fight against illegal migration and migrant smuggling. After the meeting, in a statement to the media, Spasovski and Karner reaffirmed the traditionally good cooperation between the two ministries and their commitment to its further expansion, reads the press release. ad/ik/