The President of the Republic of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, pays today an official visit to the Republic of Austria. With the highest state and military honors in Vienna, President Pendarovski was received by the Federal President Alexander van der Bellen, and afterward had a bilateral meeting.
President Pendarovski, expressing his gratitude for the invitation and the hospitality shown, said at the meeting that the visit just before marking the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries is another indication that North Macedonia and Austria are friendly and partner countries.
President Pendarovski also thanked for the strong support that North Macedonia continuously receives from Austria in its European integration process and expressed confidence that the support will continue.
The two presidents also discussed the decision that North Macedonia is awaiting from the European Council for the start of the country’s accession negotiations for EU membership, when President Pendarovski stressed that a positive decision would be a deserved recognition of North Macedonia’s past role in creating good neighborly policies in Southeast Europe, as well as in the European integration processes in which our country unselfishly contributes.
The citizens of North Macedonia are expecting the date to start the accession talks this week, President Pendarovski said at a meeting with President van der Bellen, noting that there is no other alternative for the country.
The stability of the region is related to the European integration processes, President Pendarovski said, emphasizing that the Western Balkans is part of Europe and is as important for the EU project as the founding countries.
Reiterating the Austrian support for our Euro-integration processes, the Federal President Van der Bellen stressed that North Macedonia deserves to be given a date for the start of the accession negotiations.
At the meeting, Presidents Pendarovski and Van der Bellen also discussed the promotion of mutual economic cooperation. President Pendarovski underlined that Austria, as the largest foreign investor in our country with a total investment of over EUR 600 million, is an important trading partner of North Macedonia.
During his official visit to the Republic of Austria, President Pendarovski is scheduled to meet with the Federal Chancellor, Brigitte Bierlein and the President of the National Council of the Federal Assembly of the Republic of Austria, Wolfgang Sobotka.
