Tuesday, 11 May 2021
MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENT XHAFERI WITH MINISTER METNAR
The President of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, Talat Xhaferi, met today with the Minister of Defense of the Czech Republic, Mr. Ljubomir Metnar. At the meeting, President Xhaferi expressed gratitude for the continuous support that our country receives from the Czech Republic for our Euro-Atlantic and European integration.
He expressed satisfaction that Mr. Metnar visits the Republic of North Macedonia as a NATO member. He stressed that his presentation on security before the MPs is appropriate and will contribute to further strengthening the role of the committees and the Assembly as a whole, as well as the further democratization of our society. At the same time, he expressed gratitude that the Visegrad Group is among the most vocal supporters of the aspirations of the Western Balkan countries to acquire EU membership.
President Xhaferi informed that a Parliamentary Group for Cooperation with the Czech Parliament has already been established in the Assembly and that he believes that the parliamentary dimension can always help strengthen cooperation between the two countries in all areas.
The Minister of Defense, Mr. Ljubomir Metnar stressed that the Republic of North Macedonia is a very important partner for the Czech Republic and that they will continue to support the country in the process of membership in the European Union. He considers the Western Balkans to be a long-standing foreign policy priority for the Czech Republic. He stressed that the membership of the Republic of North Macedonia in the NATO Alliance strengthens stability in the entire region.
He further stressed the importance of good cooperation between the legislature and the executive in the states, as well as the good implementation of public procurement procedures in the field of defense. He pointed out that the cooperation in the field of defense and security between the two countries should continue, offering thereby expertise and experience from their twenty years of membership in the NATO Alliance.
The interlocutors agreed that the active cooperation between the two countries is particularly visible in relation to the migrant crisis, when the Czech Republic, in order 
to successfully monitor, control and protect our state border with Greece and to prevent illegal passage of migrants, sent Czech police officers to carry out joint activities with our police forces.
Both interlocutors expressed hope that the cooperation between the two countries will continue in future in many other areas such as science, education, defense, health, culture and other.