President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova received the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Juraj Blanar, who is currently on an official visit to the country.
The meeting reaffirmed the friendly Macedonian-Slovak relations between.
Siljanovska-Davkova highlighted the importance of Slovakia’s continued support for Macedonia’s path toward the European Union, emphasizing that the accession process must be credible, predictable and based on merit and the fulfillment of the Copenhagen criteria.
In her view, gradual integration, including access to the European Single Market, EU funds and joint programs, helps bring the country closer to the EU, but it cannot serve as a substitute for full membership.
She expressed readiness for a comprehensive dialogue with the Republic of Bulgaria, in the spirit of European principles and values as enshrined in the founding documents.
Minister Blanar reaffirmed Slovakia’s interest in and commitment to the European integration of the Western Balkan countries, including our country.
He expressed strong support for the Macedonian-Bulgarian dialogue as the only way to overcome existing issues. As on many previous occasions, the Minister emphasized that Slovakia opposes any double standards in the treatment of EU candidate countries.
The interlocutors highlighted the close linguistic and cultural ties between the two countries, rooted in the work of the All-Slavic brothers Cyril and Methodius.
The President expressed deep gratitude for the publication of the first textbook for learning the Macedonian language for Slovak speakers, as well as for the establishment of the first Macedonian language lectureship at the Faculty of Arts in Nitra.
