Thursday, 21 January 2021
MEETING OF PRESIDENT XHAFERI WITH H.E. WOUTSAS
The President of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia met with the Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to the Republic of North Macedonia, H.E. Georg Woutsas.
President Xhaferi expressed pleasure that the Austrian Parliament has recently established the Friendship Group with the Assembly and that the Chair of the Group, Ms. Stephanie Krisper in the letter addressed to the Chair of our Friendship Group, Arber Ademi, initiated intensification of the cooperation in terms of supporting our aspirations for starting the negotiations for membership in the EU.
He underlined that in the Republic of North Macedonia is highly appreciated the fact that Austria openly commits for the process of EU enlargement and provides strong support in implementation of the reforms, above all in terms of stability and the rule of law. Xhaferi expressed hope that we will be able to count on the Austrian support in the upcoming period as well.
Ambassador Woutsas, stressed that with sorrow they received the news of failing to hold the first inter-governmental conference for the start of the accession negotiations of 
the Republic of North Macedonia with the European Unions and reaffirmed the position of Austria that the states of Western Balkan historically and geographically belong to Europe and that without the membership of these countries, European Union is not complete. He stated that the Republic of North Macedonia represents a bright example on how with good will differences can be overcome and the goal achieved. Both interlocutors expressed commitment to continuing the cooperation also regarding the establishment of the Democracy Workshop in the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, following the template of the one operating in the Austrian Parliament.