Skopje, 14 November 2022 (MIA) – Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi met Monday with OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Margareta Cederfelt, expressing particular satisfaction with the visit that is taking place ahead of North Macedonia’s 2023 OSCE Chairpersonship.   Xhaferi expressed hope that the visit will greatly contribute to the strengthening of cooperation between the future Chairpersonship and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the collective efforts to overcome the challenges faced by the Organization.   He stressed that the Republic of North Macedonia highly values OSCE’s role in the development of democratic processes in the country, and particularly the activities of the OSCE Mission in Skopje, which in recent years has contributed in numerous areas, especially in the strengthening of parliamentary independence, the supervisory function, the democratic role and the promotion of gender equality and youth policies, the Parliament said in a press release.   As regards North Macedonia’s 2023 OSCE Chairpersonship, he noted that the main priority goal will be contribution to the efforts and processes for peace, stability and cooperation in the OSCE region, based on the principles and values of the Organization, which are seriously threatened by Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine.   “The OSCE Chairpersonship comes at the most challenging times facing the Organization in recent history, when trust and dialogue are seriously shaken, and North Macedonia considers it its duty, both to the people of Ukraine and to people around the world who are victims of conflicts, to continue efforts to find ways to resolve conflicts through reasonable dialogue and diplomacy,” reads the press release.   President Cederfelt presented the work of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, as well as all its working bodies, especially since the beginning of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine and the measures taken to deal with the consequences. She stressed the need for unity among the OSCE participating countries at a time of military aggression against Ukraine, which represents a major global challenge facing all. She also briefed Speaker Xhaferi on the latest initiatives to change the rules of operation of the OSCE PA that should take place in the coming period.   Cederfelt, the press release adds, showed particular interest in the start of North Macedonia’s EU accession negotiations, as well as in the Open Balkans Initiative.   In addition, interlocutors exchanged views on other important activities and difficulties facing the Western Balkans, as well as the OSCE region and beyond, such as relations with China, cyber attacks, climate change, and the situation in Afghanistan.