Skopje, 22 December 2025 (MIA) – Following the opening of Albania's Consulate General in Struga, North Macedonia is expected to open a Consulate General in Korçë next year, and talks are also under way on cooperation in other areas, good neighbourliness and exchange of various projects, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski told Monday's joint press conference with Albanian Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Elisa Spiropali, who is paying her first official visit to the country.  

Macedonian FM Mucunski pointed out that the cultural ties between the two countries are strong, also in the area of ​​protection of the Macedonian national minority in Albania. According to him, this is evidenced by several activities implemented in the past year.

"I would also like to express my gratitude for the excellent cooperation on bilateral level as regards protection of the Macedonian national minority living in the Republic of Albania. We continue together through the prism of many initiatives that can unite us. Elisa and I have frequently met in the recent period on many different forums, focusing on our common priorities. I am particularly pleased that as part of her mandate as Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, she decided to make one of her first visits to the region precisely in Skopje," said Mucunski. 

Albanian Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Spiropali underlined that when two countries share common goals, they find the time for visits and for joint cooperation in all spheres, in order to improve the lives of citizens. Spiropali noted that geography has made the two countries neighbours, history has taught them to be friends, and economy makes the two countries partners.

"European integration is a top priority in Albania's foreign policy, as well as for the Albanian people. For us in Albania, it is a great achievement that in 13 months we have opened 34 chapters. Particularly in the area of the rule of ​​law, the fight against corruption and respect for minorities. Once again, it has been shown that our path is the right one and that Albania's European future is inseparable from the trajectory of the Western Balkans. We do not see this process as a competition between candidate countries, but as a path that we take together, a destination that is inevitable and is a natural belonging of our peoples," Spiropali said. 

She stressed that Albania strongly supports the country on its European path, because the two countries are partners. 

"Albania backs Macedonia's integration in the European Union, because we share a common future," Spiropali stressed. 

Photo: MIA