Tuesday, 11 January 2022
MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENT XHAFERI AND ALBANIAN PRESIDENT ILIR META
Today, the President of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, Mr Talat Xhaferi, had a meeting with Mr Ilir Meta, President of the Republic of Albania.
At the meeting, the two interlocutors highlighted that the bilateral relations between the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Albania are at a high level and there is mutual interest and opportunity for their promotion. The two states are bound by sincere friendship and cooperation, expected to be further strengthened and promoted in the future, because they share the same goals and interests internationally, that is, full membership in the European Union, security cooperation within NATO and deepening regional cooperation.
Considering that the Republic of Albania has been a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council since 1 January 2022, President Xhaferi conveyed his sincere congratulations. He further stressed that the Republic of North Macedonia remains fully dedicated to the commitments for European integration and is committed to regional cooperation. He pointed out as priorities of mutual interest the more efficient use of EU funds, joint participation in new projects under IPA II, and, above all, the work on deepening economic cooperation by promoting the economic potential and implementation of infrastructure projects that are important for the progress and stability of the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Albania. He informed the interlocutor about the latest developments in the country after the local elections, as well as the election of a new government to take place this week.
President Meta stressed that there are consolidated democratic processes in the Republic of North Macedonia and that the country has fulfilled all obligations to open negotiations for membership in the European Union, but, nevertheless, that has not happened. He expressed hope that the misunderstandings with the Republic of Bulgaria will be resolved as soon as possible and that conditions will be created for holding the First Intergovernmental Conference for the start of EU membership negotiations.
In the end, the two interlocutors agreed that even greater mutual cooperation and support is needed in the future, primarily due to the energy and economic crisis which is expected to deepen this year.