Following the meeting with his Montenegrin colleague DjordjeRadulovic, Minister Osmani continued his official visit to Podgorica with meetings with the President of Montenegro, Milo Djukanović, the Montenegrin Parliament Speaker AleksaBechic, Prime Minister ZdravkoKrivokapic and Deputy Prime Minister DritanAbazovic. The meetings emphasized the close and partner relations between the two countries, regarding which it was underlined that there are no open issues. These political relations should be an encouragement for a productive and proliferate economic cooperation, for which there is both interest and need, interlocutors reiterated. Further emphasis was placed on the cooperation of the two ally-countries in the framework of the Euro-Atlantic cooperation mechanismsand especially in the process of integration of the European Union. “The two countries are advocating a strong common goal, which is making special efforts for speedy implementation of the necessary reforms on the path to complete integration in the Union. On that path I would like to emphasise the important cooperation with Montenegro and especially to voice my gratitude for its firm and unreserved support for our strategic goals and commitments”, stressed the Minister, noting that the membership of North Macedonia and Montenegro in the European Union will mean opening new perspectives for our countries and citizens, as well as consolidation of the European perspective of the whole region.

The Foreign Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, during his official visit to Montenegro, met with his Montenegrin counterpart DjordjeRadulovic. The meeting reaffirmed the traditional and friendly relations between the two countries, and emphasized the readiness to find tangible forms for enrichment of sector cooperation, particularly in the real sector – economy, trade, tourism, etc. “It is always good to be among friends, visiting a friendly country, and North Macedonia and Montenegro are a good example of that. I consider today’s visit to Montenegro important both for our bilateral relations, which I also regard as excellent, and for the whole region, which is still burdened with serious challenges, especially its European future”, emphasized Osmani, thanking his colleague Radulovic for the pleasant hospitality during his first visit to Podgorica. In addition to bilateral relations, the meeting also discussed topics of cooperation within the NATO Alliance, as well as the completion of the European perspectives of the two countries. The EU enlargement process, or, more precisely – completion or unification of the continent in one union – has no alternative. When it comes to Western Balkan countries’ EU membership, the question is not ‘if’, but ‘how and when’!” Osmani emphasized. Minister Osmani’s visit to Podgorica continues with his meetings with the President of the country, Milo Djukanović, the Montenegrin Parliament Speaker AleksaBechic, Prime Minister ZdravkoKrivokapic and Deputy Prime Minister DritanAbazovic.

Today, 18 January 2021, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of North Macedonia to NATO, Dane Taleski, PhD, presented letters of credence to NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg. The ceremony was held at the NATO headquarters, in accordance with coronavirus protection protocols. The ceremony was followed by a meeting of Ambassador Taleski with Secretary General Stoltenberg. The presentation of letters of credence officially marks the start of Ambassador Taleski’s term as the first Permanent Representative of North Macedonia since our country became the 30th full-fledged NATO member on 27 March 2020. North Macedonia’s NATO membership is a fulfilment of a strategic goal and realization of one of the most important foreign policy priorities of the country that contributed to the improvement of stability and security of the country, with positive implications for the whole region. The membership in NATO is a sovereign decision of the Republic of North Macedonia stipulated with a unanimous decision of Parliament in 1993, for which there has always been a broad and strong interethnic and cross-party consensus.