Skopje, 1 June 2022 (MIA) — Topics of global interest and bilateral ties will be the focus of upcoming talks between high officials from the United states and North Macedonia, the first country in the Western Balkans to open a Strategic Dialogue with the US to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries and raise relations to a higher level, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The dialogue to be held in Washington will be attended by a government delegation led by Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani. The delegation also includes Defense Ministers Slavjanka Petrovska, Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi, and Culture Minister Bisera Kostadinovska Stojchevska. Additionally, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Good Governance Policies, Slavica Grkovska, will join the Strategic Dialogue via video conference. “Regional cooperation, defense and security, energy, economic cooperation, trade and investment, cultural cooperation, as well as issues in education, democratic development, fight against corruption, etc. will have an important place in the talks,” the MFA press release says. “At the same time, they will talk about the European integration of North Macedonia and the region, the country’s OSCE presidency in 2023, and current security challenges and their implications for transatlantic security.” According to the MFA, the Strategic Dialogue will result in the adoption of a statement between North Macedonia and the United States to reaffirm the joint efforts to further strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation between the two countries. mr/