By editorial staff
North Macedonia and Albania, as neighboring and friendly countries, share the same values and have a common future, said Dimitar Kovachevski, SDSM leader and mandate holder to form a new government at Wednesday’s meeting with Albanian President Ilir Meta, MIA reported.
According to Kovachevski, that common future is in the EU, and he was convinced that both countries would soon start negotiations for EU membership because both North Macedonia and Albania had done everything they have been asked to do. “It is now the EU’s turn,” he said.
According to the reports released by SDSM, the two discussed a number of topical issues at the meeting but focused on mutual cooperation, the Open Balkans initiative, and the European integration process.
The Albanian president said the progress that North Macedonia has made over the past few years is obvious. He welcomed the One Society for All concept, describing it as a unique example in the region, and stressed that the start of negotiations between Albania and North Macedonia is not only important for both countries but in the interest of the entire Western Balkans region.
Kovachevski expressed confidence that cooperation between the two countries would be further intensified through the Open Balkans. He believes that this is not an alternative to EU membership, but can be a great help in joining the Union.
Kovachevski also announced the intensification of Corridor 8 infrastructure projects, which will ensure better connectivity between North Macedonia and Albania.
Earlier President Meta was received by his counterpart Stevo Pendarovski who welcomed his Albanian guest and it’s reported they exchange views on various issues touching upon bilateral ties between the two countries and regional issues.
In the meantime Meta met with the leader of the opposition, the Chairman of VMRO-DPMNE, Hristijan Mickoski.
Meta announced that together with Mickoski they exchanged valuable views on strengthening cooperation between the two countries and stressed the important role of the opposition in Albania and North Macedonia, with the common goal of opening membership negotiations in the European Union as soon as possible.
“It was a pleasure meeting the leader of the main Macedonian opposition, the Chairman of VMRO-DPMNE, Mr. Hristijan Mickoski. We exchanged valuable views on strengthening cooperation between our countries and stressed the important role of the opposition in Albania and North Macedonia, with the common goal of opening membership negotiations with the European Union as soon as possible. I praised the commitment and contribution of VMRO-DPMNE and Mr. Mickoski in the democratic developments of recent years in the neighboring country, as well as the expressed will to improve interethnic coexistence and strengthen relations between the two peoples,” said President Meta.
In the frame of the 2-day visit to Skopje President Meta met with the leader of the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), Ali Ahmeti. In a Facebook post,
President Meta published some photos of this meeting on his FB account saying:
“We exchanged valuable assessments of the developments in our countries with a focus on accelerating the integration processes that enable the opening of membership negotiations with the European Union as soon as possible. We assessed together that the implementation of the major project of Corridor 8 will connect our countries more and will be essential for a better future of the citizens of Albania and North Macedonia.”
On Tuesday, Meta had a meeting with Speaker of North Macedonia Parliament Talat Xhaferi. “It was a fraternal meeting and open conversation with Speaker of Republic of North Macedonia,” said Meta. / Argumentum.al
