Skopje, 21 September 2022 (MIA) – First Deputy PM Artan Grubi met Wednesday with new British Ambassador Matthew Lawson, wishing him success in the post and extending condolences over the death of Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II. Deputy PM Grubi and Ambassador Lawson reaffirmed the friendship between the two countries and enhancement of cooperation in the fields of economy, defense, fight against crime and corruption, as well as reforms, his Office said in a press release. Lawson congratulated Grubi on North Macedonia’s Euro-integration progress and the start of the EU accession negotiations, highlighting the UK’s support for realization of the country’s strategic objective of EU membership. On the constitutional changes, interlocutors said all political stakeholders in the country should overcome partisan interests on the path to joining the EU. The meeting also tackled the challenges related to the energy crisis and other issues of current interest – the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, reads the press release.