In a cordial and friendly atmosphere this evening a meeting was held between the President of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev and the former Prime Minister of Greece, Alexis Tsipras. Tsipras visited our country at the invitation of the respectable magazine “Economist” as one of the speakers of the WB Summit: “Reinforcing the momentum for European integration” which takes place in Skopje.

The interlocutors talked of the benefits arising from the Prespa Agreement and underlined that this Agreement deserves the overall support coming from both countries.

The decision achieved with the Agreement that was signed in Prespa changed the reality between the two countries and created a new, positive dynamics in the relations between the countries in the region, concluded Prime Minister Zaev and former Greek Prime Minister Tsipras.

Furthermore, they stated that as of June 17th last year, when the foundations were laid for new friendship and strategic partnership, the cooperation between the countries has deepened.

At the meeting Zaev and Tsipras concluded that there have been numerous benefits, such as increased trade exchange by 20% in just one year, initiation of procedures for new border crossings between the two countries, close cooperation in the area of defence which is part of the shared policies arising from NATO, regarding the air policing of North Macedonia, as well as reinforcement of cooperation in many other areas.

At the meeting which took place in Prime Minister’s Zaev cabinet both interlocutors welcome the forthcoming full-fledged NATO membership of our country whose final phase, the ratification of Accession Protocol, started exactly in the Parliament of Greece.

Zaev and Tsipras welcome the strong support for commencement of negotiations between our country and the EU and stated that this support comes not only as a result of the Prespa Agreement and the positive effects of the resolution of the bilateral dispute between North Macedonia and Greece, but is also due to the fulfilment of the domestic reforms.