President Stevo Pendarovski received the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Gabrielius Landsbergis, who is paying a working visit to North Macedonia today.
The interlocutors referred to the close bilateral cooperation through the Vilnius Group that dates back to 2000, as a platform to support the NATO accession process based on the principle of solidarity, which was well rounded with the entry of North Macedonia into the Alliance.
In the context of completing the strategic goals, the meeting also discussed the Macedonian EU file, the expected start of accession negotiations with the EU – a process that will further strengthen the stability, security, democratization of our region, and thus contribute to the overall security of the continent.
President Pendarovski thanked Lithuania for its principled support as a member of the Friends of Enlargement group and expressed hope that the continued Lithuanian commitment will be fully attained with the integration of North Macedonia into the European Union, a common goal to be achieved exclusively based on a merit system, through the prism of European values.
Regarding the current geopolitical circumstances and security implications caused by the Russian military invasion against Ukraine, President Pendarovski stressed that North Macedonia will continue to demonstrate strong solidarity with Ukraine and will continue cooperation with allies and partners within NATO and the OSCE.
North Macedonia, the President stressed, has joined the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy and the efforts to organize effective humanitarian aid through the European Union’s civil protection mechanism, and is ready to accept refugees from Ukraine.
