Skopje, 14 March 2022 (MIA) – EU High Representative Josep Borrell’s visit to Skopje is timely and a concrete sign of our strong friendship and coordination efforts to address the consequences arising from Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani said during a meeting with Borrell, who is also the European Commission Vice-President. The visit, Osmani added, is also a manifestation of the strong support for the EU accession process of North Macedonia and the whole region. The interlocutors agreed that the war conflict in Ukraine is a strong violation of the basic principles of international law, a serious blow to democratic order and serious blow to Europe’s security architecture all the while constituting a real threat to world peace and stability also in terms of the implications it might have on the Western Balkan countries, the Foreign Ministry said in a press release. “Our stalled EU integration process is the source of systemic vulnerability, which is skillfully used by external actors in their activities. There is no room to doubt the countries that are ready to align with the common European values, principles and standards. This situation is an imperative for the EU members to make joint efforts to come to a consensus and decide about the opening of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania. The region as a member of the EU is a crucial security, political and economic added value for the bloc,” FM Osmani said. It is the only way, concluded Osmani and Borrell, for the European Union to strengthen its strategic role in the foreign and security policy and take a strategic lead. “To resume the enlargement policy is key for the security and unity of the entire continent and the strength of the Euro-Atlantic alliance,” said the press release. EU foreign policy chief Borrell welcomed North Macedonia’s full alignment with the joint foreign and security policy of the EU, said the Ministry.