Skopje, 25 September 2023 (MIA) – As part of his working visit to Ljubljana, Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski held a meeting with his Slovenian counterpart, Boštjan Poklukar, which was followed by a bilateral meeting between the Macedonian and Slovenian delegation, said the Ministry of Interior in a press release Monday.

According to the press release, Poklukar expressed gratitude over the assistance provided by North Macedonia during the devastating floods that hit Slovenia in August.

“I am glad that I am once again able to assure you that the position of the Republic of Slovenia in terms of the Republic of North Macedonia is clear – there is a universal, continuous and principled support for the country’s EU integration process. This support is being constantly reiterated by all our friends in Slovenia, which defends the European perspective of North Macedonia in all EU structures and in the bilateral consultations with third states.

“Slovenia actively supports North Macedonia’s inclusion to the new EU program and strategy, it supports the activities aimed at permanent stabilization of the region and its EU integration, and both countries successfully cooperation within the frameworks of the regional initiatives,” said Minister Spasovski

Stressing that North Macedonia’s fundamental foreign policy priorities correspond with Slovenia’s commitments to the promotion and strengthening of goodneighborly relations and cooperation in Southeast Europe, Spasovski added that constant and successful cooperation is being realized within the frameworks of the Central European Initiative.

Spasovski thanked his Slovenian counterpart and the Slovenian Interior Ministry over the positive response to the assistance request regarding the Ministry’s aviation unit in the form of donations of helicopter parts, which was finalized on Monday with the signing of a Memorandum on providing development aid.

“In the context of further deepening of mutual cooperation, I would like to propose a reactivation of negotiations, as well as a signing, and most importantly an effectuation of the Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of joint training operations, which will further strengthen the capacities of police officers and contribute to mutual networking and exchange of experiences,” said Spasovski.