Premium
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu is on an official visit to the Republic of North Macedonia on Thursday, at the invitation of his counterpart, Bujar Osmani, informs a press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) sent to AGERPRES.
According to the cited source, the schedule of the Romanian minister's visit will include, in addition to political consultations with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia, receptions by President Stevo Pendarovski and the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, Talat Xhaferi, Agerpres.ro informs.
Discussions with officials from the Republic of North Macedonia will aim to strengthen bilateral relations, with a focus on increasing and diversifying political dialogue and economic cooperation, including trade, as well as expanding sectoral cooperation between the two states, including on the basis of priorities set for the visit carried out by Minister Bujar Osmani in Bucharest on December 16, 2020.
The head of Romanian diplomacy will also emphasize the importance of cooperation for preserving the cultural and linguistic identity of persons belonging to related minorities, given the bridging role they play in the relationship between Romania and the Republic of North Macedonia.
During meetings with senior officials from the Republic of North Macedonia, Bogdan Aurescu will reiterate "Romania's firm and principled support for the European path of this country and will emphasize the strategic importance of the enlargement process of the European Union, essential for the security and stability of the entire European continent, an aspect also highlighted in the context of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine." The Romanian Minister will also express his appreciation for the prompt and complete alignment of the Republic of North Macedonia with the sanctions and measures imposed by the European Union on the Russian Federation.
At the same time, the collaboration between Romania and the Republic of North Macedonia in NATO will be discussed and the openness to the common approach, within the Alliance, of the current strategic challenges will be underlined, given the interdependence between security in the Western Balkans and security on the Eastern Flank, especially to the south, at the Black Sea.
Minister Bogdan Aurescu will also express Romania's support for the future OSCE Presidency-in-Office, which will be held in 2023 by the Republic of North Macedonia.
Last but not least, the two ministers will sign a series of bilateral documents that will contribute to the deepening of the cooperation between the two countries.
