President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova received today the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, Kestutis Budrys, who is paying an official visit to the country.
The interlocutors welcomed the opening of the diplomatic mission of Lithuania in Skopje, as well as the decision of the Macedonian Government to open an embassy in Vilnius, expecting intensified political dialogue, greater economic and cultural cooperation, as well as better overall relations between the two countries.
The President sees significant untapped potential for development in the areas of information technologies, cybersecurity, education and innovation.
Ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara, Siljanovska-Davkova confirmed the country’s determination, as a credible ally in the Alliance, to continue contributing to collective security and stability.
She thanked Lithuania for its principled and continuous support for the Macedonian European integration, especially as part of the “Friends of Enlargement” group.
The President also expects Lithuania, as the EU Council Presidency next year, to commit to a credible and predictable accession process, based on the Copenhagen criteria.
For Siljanovska-Davkova, bilateral condition of identity nature is a dangerous precedent that could be fatal for the European Union’s enlargement policy.
For Minister Budrys, the current geopolitical moment imposes the need for accelerated enlargement.
He welcomed our reform achievements to date, emphasizing the importance of their continuation.
For him, the EU enlargement will be a top priority during the Lithuanian EU Council Presidency in 2027.
The interlocutors agreed that the integration of the Western Balkans is a geopolitical and security issue of particular European interest.
