Monday, 5 March 2018
Meeting of President Xhaferi with Mr. Miroslav Jenca, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General
The President of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Talat Xhaferi had a meeting with Mr. Miroslav Jenca, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs. The meeting was also attended by Resident Coordinator of the United Nations (UN) and the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ambassador Louisa Vinton.
The President of the Assembly, Talat Xhaferi, wishing a warm welcome to the guest, noted that the Republic of Macedonia as a member of the UN since 1993, has been actively contributing to all of its agencies and programmes. The country remains dedicated to the commitment to respect the obligations arising from the membership in the area of human rights, non-proliferation of weapons, the fight against terrorism, climate change and the implementation of the Millenium Development Goals, as well as to support the Organization's peacekeeping missions in Lebanon - UNIFIL. He informed the participants that the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, on 22th December 2017 ratified the so-called Istanbul Convention of the Council of Europe on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, thus allowing the implementation of the Convention's obligations in practice.
Regarding the European integration processes, President Xhaferi underlined the commitment of the Government and Assembly to implement the envisioned reforms, especially the activities arising from the Plan 3-6-9 which are already marking their completion, the steps taken regarding the improvement of good neighborly relations through the signing and ratification of the Agreement for friendship, good neighborly relations and cooperation with the Republic of Bulgaria and confidence building measures and finding a mutually accepted solution to the dispute with Greece. Following the steps taken, the expectation for receiving a positive report with an unconditional recommendation to start negotiations for EU membership and ascertaining the country's membership to NATO this year is indisputable.
Mr. Jenca congratulated president Xhaferi on the leadership in reconciling the situation in the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia and on the implementation of the necessary reforms for which the United Nations expresses its solidarity and support to the efforts for a European future for all citizens of the country. Moreover, he pointed out the fact that Ambassador Vinton and her team in the country is available to assist in the implementation of these reforms.
Mr. Jenca expressed his gratitude on the participation of the Republic of Macedonia in peacekeeping missions, which, although small in number, demonstrate the country's commitment to support the activities of the United Nations.
Regarding the name issue, he stated that this is the right momentum and that the United Nations and its Secretary-General will support all efforts for both sides to make a step forward and find a solution that will contribute not only to the bilateral relations between the two countries, but also wider for the stability of the region. At the end, he emphasized the importance of building consensus in the country on strategic goals, such as NATO and EU membership.