Skopje, 16 June 2022 (MIA) – It is necessary to immediately start negotiations with the EU, because any delay in the process for the country will mean loss of time and trust in the Union, and in times of crisis caused by the conflict in Ukraine, it can also mean a major security risk for the region. This was stated by Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj at Thursday’s bilateral meetings with the Deputy Minister for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Aleš Chmelař, and the Secretary of State for the European Union at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain, Pascual Navarro, as part of the Prespa Forum Dialogue. Talks with Deputy Minister Chmelař reaffirmed the Czech Republic’s principled position for start of EU negotiations for full-fledged membership of the Republic of North Macedonia, as well as of the entire Western Balkans, which will also be a top priority of the Czech EU Presidency, the Secretariat for European Affairs said in a press release. Marichikj and Chmelař also discussed about topics related to the cooperation between the two countries, particularly areas to be promoted through exchange of experience in the process of EU negotiations, as well as through expert and institutional support. Deputy PM Marichikj and Secretary of State Navarro agreed that Western Balkans’ integration should remain a top priority of the Union, adding that it is time for leadership and brave decisions, and the chance should not be missed to start negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania. Interlocutors believe that the region should move forward, not backwards. The two stressed that the uncertainty is a serious consequence facing the entire continent due to the war in Ukraine, which needs to be understood as a major signal that the Union should consolidate and strengthen security. As regards the cooperation between North Macedonia and Spain, Marichikj and Navarro exchanged views in terms of deepening the successful decades-long cooperation in areas of mutual interest, particularly in economy, tourism, culture and education, in the spirit of European values.