Skopje, 12 July 2023 (MIA) - The foreign ministers of the Austerlitz-Format or the 'Slavkov trilateral' - Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, and Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Wlachovský - will pay an official visit to North Macedonia on Thursday.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the three top diplomats have been authorized by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell to relay the EU's official positions on issues related to the country's European accession bid.

The EU Delegation to North Macedonia said the ministers will meet with President Stevo Pendarovski, Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani, Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi, leaders of political parties and members of the Parliament.

"North Macedonia is one of the closest partners of the European Union in the Western Balkans, fully aligned with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. In the context of the current geopolitical challenges, the joint visit will be an opportunity to recall that all political actors should engage to move the country forward on its EU path, which is the wish of the overwhelming majority of the citizens of North Macedonia," reads the press release. mr/ik/