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.

The Foreign Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, during his official visit to Greece met with the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the Alternate Minister of European Affairs, VarvitsiotisMiltiadis.   The discussions focused on dynamisation of overall relations between the two countries through committed implementation of the Agreement for Strategic Partnership (Prespa Agreement), in order to develop and strengthen the joint strategic partnership.   “Only through joint efforts we can turn the strategic partnership into a long-term and stable friendship, which, as neighbouring countries, will certainly bring better life for the citizens of both countries. In the region, we have a new reality, we proved that all challenges can be efficiently resolved through common and coordinated efforts. Hence, I firmly believe that the cooperation between North Macedonia and Greece is undoubtedly a new integrative power for the whole region”, Osmani emphasized.   At the meetings, Greece’s active engagement in the part of the European integration of North Macedonia was also highlighted, whereupon it was underlined that the country remains our consistent supporter, one of the main lobbyists and promotors in this process, which is of interest for the two countries, but also of key importance for whole region.   “The European perspective of Balkan countries must not be threatened. We must all invest in development of good-neighbourly relations, increase regional cooperation and preserve the European future of the region. Only through breaking the stereotypes of the past and creating stable friendships can we provide a prosperous future of our citizens”, Osmani concluded.   Osmani had a successful visit to Greece with a packed and ambitious agenda, which reaffirmed commitments to intensifying and deepening close cooperation and reaffirmation of the process of building trust between the two countries as an example of good-neighbourly relations in the region.