Skopje, 5 August, 2024
I would like to express my gratitude for this open, honest and serious meeting, which we held as two prime ministers of our republics, the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of North Macedonia, but also with our delegations, since we had a multitude of topics and issues which we discussed and which are obviously for the mutual and common good.
I was together with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs. Donika Gërvalla – Schwarz, with the Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu, and with the Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Liburn Aliu, in addition to advisers and the ambassador our esteemed here, Florian Qehaja.
The Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of North Macedonia have good bilateral relations, based on common values and with a clear aim for European integration. We appreciate the continuous efforts of the Republic of North Macedonia for integration into the European Union and we wish that as soon as possible the negotiations for membership in the European Union will begin. North Macedonia, as our neighbor, is a member of NATO. We are grateful for the contribution of the peacekeeping military contingent of the North Macedonian troops within KFOR, thus supporting the efforts for a safe, peaceful and stable environment for the entire Western Balkans region.
Both our countries have bilateral cooperation in every field. In the diplomatic aspect, we welcome the continued support of North Macedonia in our efforts to integrate into international organizations, especially the Council of Europe and NATO. We aim to strengthen cooperation within the Berlin Process, this is the only comprehensive regional platform with the final beneficiaries being the citizens of the region.
In terms of economics and trade, as Prime Minister Mickoski also said, we have raised the trade exchange to a value of about half a billion euros, and in this cooperation, there are also mutual investments in both countries, while this half a billion euros is in rising because we also have a positive trend. For several years now, North Macedonia has been the place where we export a lot of high-value Kosovo goods, another fact that is on the rise.
So, in this doubling of exports of the Republic of Kosovo in general, a significant part is the rise of exports precisely in North Macedonia.
In terms of security and defense, we continue to have good cooperation. We are looking forward to the operationalization of the common border points, especially this one in Hani e Elez and Bllacë, which will facilitate the ever-increasing circulation of our citizens. We all know that we have many relatives on both sides of the border. Even my deputy, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Donika Gërvalla Schwarz, comes from Skopje as her birthplace, her mother is also from Skopje, as is the mother of the Speaker, Glauk Konjufca.
And, as Prime Minister Mickoski said, we are interested in having as much free circulation as possible between citizens, and for this reason, undoubtedly, this road which connects the border of Kosovo with Skopje, when it is fixed and put into use, will help tremendously.
We support the further strengthening of cooperation in the field of defense, especially in relation to the implementation of the existing bilateral military agreement.
The Republic of Kosovo expects to build even more road and rail transport connections with North Macedonia in order to facilitate the circulation of people and goods.
We reiterate the fact and value that the Republic of North Macedonia is a member state of NATO, of this alliance of democratic countries, militarily the most powerful not only in the world but also in the history of mankind.
We want to have good neighborly and European relations both as states and as peoples.
We will work together with the new Government in order to further strengthen bilateral cooperation based on good faith and mutual interest.
Thank you!
Last modified: August 6, 2024