Thursday, 12 October 2017
Meeting of the President Xhaferi and the Slovakian Ambassador H.E. Martin Bezak
The President of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Talat Xhaferi realized a farewell meeting with the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Martin Bezak.
At the friendly and sincere meeting, the President of the Assembly expressed appreciation for the great bilateral support provided by the Slovak Republic to the Republic of Macedonia in handling the migrant crisis, through material and human resource support. The Slovak Republic, similar to the other states from the Vishegrad Group recognises the seriousness of the crisis and offered assistance for handling the consequences, since the Republic of Macedonia defended the borders of the Slovak Republic as well as of while Europe. In the same time, the support from the Slovak Republic to the Republic of Macedonia on the path of EU and NATO integration was welcomed.
Ambassador Bezak underlined that the Republic of Macedonia has a sincere and stabile partner in Slovakia, partner that will continuously support the Euro – Atlantic integration and the stability on international level, both in bilateral and multilateral levels. He pointed out that their famous diplomat, Mr. Miroslav Lajchak Presides the UN General Assembly and the Republic of Macedonia can count on the support in this institution as well. In addition, Slovakian Republic takes over the Chairmanship of the Vishegrad Group in 2018 and in 2019 the OSCE Chairmanship. These international forums provide wide lobbying space and space for resolution of the current affairs in the scope of the international multilateral and bilateral diplomacy, and the Slovak Republic shall defend the interests of the Republic of Macedonia.
Ambassador Bezak informed on the initiation of the Slovakian – American Project “National EU Convention”. A project which is successfully applied in all states of the Western Balkan for several years, except for the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Kosovo. The Project provides professional and competent assistance in the process of initiation of accession negotiations with the EU and is an inclusive forum that covers all segments of the state– intuitions, civil society, business community, religious institutions, and so far, it’s impeccable functioning has demonstrated visible and positive results. The official opening of the Project for the Republic of Macedonia is to happen in Skopje, next month and will be followed by series of implementing activities.
The President Xhaferi expressed strong support for the project and underlined that the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia shall remain an open institution for all kinds of initiatives that promote the international position of the state and strengthen their internal capacities. He also expressed preparedness for the proposed activities for this project to be realized in the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia since the Project is for the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia and the Assembly is their home.
The interlocutors spoke of many current affairs as well as the future priority activities of the Assembly after the finalization of the local elections. It was concluded that the parliamentary diplomacy gives wide opportunities for promotion and closer inter parliamentary diplomacy on the level of Presidents of Parliament as well as Parliamentary groups for Cooperation.